OSCE: Militants shelled the area of Donetsk airport

WATCH IN ENGLISH

Kyiv, June 11, 2015 – Donetsk airport remains the epicenter of fighting between the Russian backed separatists and the ATO forces. “The combat intensified in airport area on June 9 where the OSCE mission registered 331 explosions”, – said Michael Bociurkiw, spokesman for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine at the press-briefing.

According to the spokesman of the OSCE SMM the situation in and around Maryinka has largely been stabilized. On June 8, seven Ukrainian servicemen were killed near Krasnohorivka, North of Maryinka in a mine explosion. The SMM registered eight explosions near Shyrokyne on June 9 and unexploded ordnance of the 122-mm mortar.

The situation in Luhansk region remains tense, shelling continues in Shchastia, Tryokhizbenka, Zolote and Stanytsia Luhanska.

Michael Bociurkiw noted that despite their declared commitment none of the sides have completed withdrawal of heavy weaponry. The SMM’s UAVS registered tanks and firing positions not far from the combat line on both the sides of the conflict. UAVs also spotted concentration of weapons on the railway station near Komsomolske controlled by the so-called “DPR” including seven tanks, 35 military trucks and 25 APCs.

Furthermore, humanitarian condition in eastern Ukraine remains severe. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, almost five million people are in need.

The OSCE noted that 21 new monitors joined the mission. There are 484 monitors currently working in Ukraine. The Mission consists of 772 staff members including international and national staff.