Members of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Special Monitoring Mission (OSCE SMM) did not attend the May 9 military parades in Donetsk and Luhansk, and the organization says that holding such parades was "in violation of the Minsk agreements."

"The SMM did not attend the military parades but monitored the general security situation on the ground. The OSCE fully respects the right of people to celebrate events of cultural, religious or historical importance," the OSCE SMM said in a statement posted on its Facebook account.

"The SMM is mandated to monitor the ceasefire and other provisions of the Minsk agreements including the withdrawal of weapons, and the presence of heavy weapons in Luhansk and Donetsk cities for 9 May parades are in violation of the Minsk Agreements and a threat to people," it said.