The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned Russia's ban on the activities of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine and has expressed interest in continuing it.

"Because of the position of the Russian Federation, the mandate of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, which key tasks were to reduce tension and develop peace, stability and security, is terminated today. The blocking of the mission's mandate confirms Moscow's conscious choice in favor of further waging an aggressive war against Ukraine," the ministry said in a statement released Thursday evening.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that Russia is not interested in the work of the OSCE SMM, which was supposed to record numerous violations of the norms of international humanitarian law by the Russian invaders, the facts of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. "However, the destructive position of the Russian Federation will not allow either the military and political leadership or the direct executors of criminal orders to avoid responsibility," the ministry added.

"Ukraine has always supported the mandate of the OSCE SMM and emphasizes its interest in continuing the mission's monitoring activities within the entire internationally recognized territory of our state. In this context, we express our strong support for the efforts of the Polish Chairmanship and the OSCE Secretary General to ensure an effective OSCE presence in Ukraine," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.