Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Special Monitoring Mission (OSCE SMM) Alexander Hug has called on the opposing sides in Donbas to observe the "school truce," which will take effect on Wednesday, August 29.

The OSCE SMM urges the opposing parties to observe the ceasefire, Hug said at a press briefing in Donetsk, adding that the sides can end the hostilities if they want to.

They must ensure that all of their forces know that complying with the ceasefire is mandatory, and the orders must be issued and published so that children can go to school in peace, he said.

The opportunity presented by the ceasefire's taking effect at 12:01 on Wednesday cannot be missed, Hug said.

For a lasting truce, it is necessary to disengage forces and military hardware and withdraw heavy weapons from the contact line, he said. If these measures are implemented, a steady and irreversible ceasefire will be achieved, Hug said.

The opposing sides should provide OSCE SMM monitors free access along the entire contact line, he said.

Constant attacks on OSCE SMM drones make it impossible for the mission to use its full capacity to help the conflicting parties comply with their commitments, Hug said.

The Trilateral Contact Group agreed on the new truce at its last meeting.