12:09 23.01.2018

Attacks double in Donbas' Svitlodarsk sector - OSCE

2 min read
Attacks double in Donbas' Svitlodarsk sector - OSCE

 The number of ceasefire violations has increased in the military operation zone in Donbas, the Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, Alexander Hug, said from Donetsk at a press briefing conducted by Skype.

Observers saw a spike in violence on the contact line over the week, and the number of ceasefire violations rose, Hug said. The OSCE SMM is particularly concerned about the situation in the Svitlodarsk sector, where the number of violations doubled week-on-week, he said.

About 400 explosions were recorded by the SMM patrol base in Svitlodarsk on January 18, Hug said.

The conflicting sides are not committed to the agreement on the disengagement of forces and hardware and the demining operation; instead, they are planting additional mines, Hug said. The observers have seen anti-tank mines in DPR-held Petrovske and in the vicinity of Kyiv-held Viktorivka. They have also seen freshly dug trenches everywhere, he said.

The SMM has seen hardware in the disengagement area of Petrovske controlled by Kyiv, Hug said. Hardware has been seen at firing positions in LPR-controlled Obozne, as well, he said.

Instead of pulling out weapons, the sides are increasing their forces and hardware in trenches and dugouts, Hug said. The OSCE has observed readiness to continue the conflict throughout eastern Ukraine, he said.

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