OSCE SMM: the number of ceasefire violations in Donbas decreased by 60 per cent after recommitment to the ceasefire

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Since the recommitment to the ceasefire last Wednesday, the number of ceasefire violations in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine decreased by 60 per cent, compared to the average daily figures during the weeks preceding the recommitment. “The kinetic activity remained low until September 4, when the number of recorded ceasefire violations equaled to the 3 / 4 of those prior to the recommitment. Since then the situation has improved,” reported Alexander Hug, Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. The number of cases when Minsk-proscribed weapons were used has significantly decreased as well.

The majority of ceasefire violations were concentrated in the areas east of Mariupol, around Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport and Svitlodarsk-Debaltseve.

However, Alexander Hug noted, the overall situation remains “tense and unpredictable”, notably because of the wide presence of Minsk-proscribed military hardware along the contact line.

The SMM monitors confirmed that one civilian was killed and one more injured last week. “On 28 August, a man died during an explosion in non-government-controlled Dokuchaievsk and on 27 August a woman sustained gunshot injuries in government-controlled Verkhnotoretske,” Mr. Hug elaborated.

Alexander Hug confirmed that the OSCE team in Kherson region continues monitoring the situation in Armyansk, in the north of occupied Crimea.

“Our monitoring team in Kherson is following these developments very closely. In this context we also cooperate closely with the Government authorities that are examining the situation,” said Mr. Hug. He added that the Mission is concerned with safety and security of their colleagues and “will take protective measures should the situation demand those”.