The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) has been encountering hindrances to the movement of its patrols in Donbas, OSCE SMM Principal Deputy Chief Monitor Alexander Hug told a press conference in Luhansk on Tuesday.

Observers are doing their job to the extent permitted by the sides, however, their movement is limited, which affects the ability to operate on both sides of the contact line, Hug said.

For instance, an OSCE patrol planned to travel via the Debaltseve-Svitlodarsk road on July 17 but the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) failed to clear the area of mines, Hug said.

More mines are being planted on this crucial road, and observers are unfortunately unable to monitor the activity in the highly dynamic area, he said.

The OSCE SMM is not shirking its job; it is the conflicting sides that are doing the utmost to deny the OSCE the opportunity to work and fulfill its mandate, Hug said.