Last week, the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission has documented more than 5500 violations of the ceasefire regime in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine. “Over the past week, we have noticed significant progress in eastern Ukraine. However, despite the signed agreements, their full implementation does not take place”, reported Alexander Hug, Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, during an online press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. In particular, 10 violations were recorded near Zolote and one near Petrivske, in the areas where disengagement is supposed to occur.
Last week, the Mission documented 44 cases of deploying military equipment with violation of designated lines of deployment, 31 of them – on the territory controlled by so-called “LNR” and “DNR”, 13 – on the territory controlled by Ukraine. In particular, the observers noticed 31 rocket launchers near Khrustalnyi and Miusynsk, on the territory controlled by so-called “republics”. Another eight MLRS were present in the area controlled by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Malinovka. Observers report a large number of new anti-tank mines in the area of Novokalynove, Bohdanivka, Vodiane, controlled by Ukrainian military and also in the area of Viktorivka and Pikuzy, on the territory controlled by so-called “LNR” and “DNR”.
Alexander Hug noted progress in restoring civilian infrastructure. In particular, the repair of the South Donbas water pipeline in the industrial zone between Avdiivka and Yasynuvatahas been completed. “Working together, people on both sides of the contact line were able to do this in one of the most violent places in Donbas. […] It’s a significant development, one which we hope will lead to more”, said Alexander Hug. At the same time, he noted that the situation with water, gas and electricity remains unstable.
Alexander Hug reminded that crossing the demarcation lines is still problematic. Civilians, whom observers met at the entry and exit checkpoint in Maiorsk, talked about corruption cases in such places. According to them, they have to spend 2 days on the crossing in order to gain access to pensions and other social benefits. In Stanytsia Luhanskaup to 8,000 people traveling every day through the entry and exit checkpoint are forced to cross a broken bridge on foot.