The Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine Ertugrul Apakan expressed regret for the recent increase in the number and the gravity of ceasefire violations in eastern Ukraine, the press service of the mission reported.
“I am particularly concerned by the use of heavy weapons in Staromykhailivka, Krasnohorivka and the Kuibyshevskyi district of Donetsk city,” the Chief Monitor said.
Ertugrul Apakan recalled the clear commitments to the ceasefire made by the sides in the Minsk Protocol and Memorandum of September 2014 and the Package of Implementation Measures of February 2015 and urged the sides to honour their commitments under the accords reached.
“SMM monitors have observed and reported two months of relative calm, and tentative steps by people in some areas towards rebuilding their lives and communities. We urge all sides not to turn back the clock on these positive developments and to honour their commitments and work towards a durable peace,” Apakan said.
It is said that since the beginning of November SMM monitors have reported that the level of violence has increased, especially near the remains of Donetsk airport.
