During the last week, the most intense fighting in eastern Ukraine took place near Yasynuvata. This was informed by Alexander Hug, Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, during a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
He reminded that last week the parties once again renewed their ceasefire commitments under the Minsk agreements. On Friday, August 25, the first day after a renewal of commitments, the OSCE SMM recorded a 53% decrease in the number of ceasefire violations – from 654 to 300. On Saturday, August 26, the monitors recorded 47 ceasefire violations, on Sunday – 151. “On Monday, the OSCE SMM recorded 173 ceasefire violations, on Tuesday – 431, on Wednesday – 186. The pause is over,” stated Alexander Hug.
During this week, the SMM recorded 112 cases of heavy weapons placement in violation of the agreed disengagement line: 65 of them – in the territories not controlled by the government, 47 – in the government-controlled territories. Last Saturday, on August 26, the SMM recorded 7 MLRSs near government-controlled Poltavka, 18 MLRSs – near not controlled by the government Miusynsk, 20 howitzers, and another MLRS – near Buhaiivka. “We can monitor all segments of the contact line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the cameras capture violations when they occur,” emphasized Alexander Hug.
The Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine noted that the freedom of movement of the Mission in Zolote and Petrivske remains restricted because of the refusal of the parties to conduct full-scale demining. “The parties must cease hostilities, withdraw weapons and troops,” stressed Alexander Hug.