U.S. urges Russia to force armed groups in Donbas to stop intimidating OSCE monitors

13:13, 23.06.2017 1 min read

Washington has accused the pro-Russian armed groups in the southeast of Ukraine of systematically obstructing the activities of OSCE observers and called on Moscow to use its influence to end this "campaign of intimidation."

"We call on Russia to use its influence to end this campaign of intimidation and honor its commitment to allow free, full and safe access to the OSCE monitors," State Department spokesman Heather Nauert said, commenting on reports of the shelling of an OSCE mission vehicle on June 20.

The diplomat is convinced that behind the attack on the observers were "Russian-backed, Russian-sponsored and Russian-prepared separatists."

According to Nauert, the U.S. is "deeply concerned" about a pattern of violence by Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine targeting unarmed civilians of a European mission monitoring the conflict in region.