Ukrainian Foreign Ministry demands that Russia cease provocations against OSCE SMM
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine demands that the Russian Federation cease provocations against observers of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM). Russia must also guarantee their access to all occupied territory of separate areas of Donetsk and Lugansk.
“We demand that Russia implement its obligations within the Minsk Agreements, that they immediately cease provocations against OSCE observers and that they guarantee full, safe and unhindered access to all occupied territory of separate areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, including the area of the Ukrainian-Russian border that is temporarily uncontrolled by Ukraine,” the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry’s press service announced on Thursday, in response to the shelling of an OSCE SMM patrol.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the shelling of the OSCE observers’ patrol by separatists in the Vodyane settlement, Donetsk region on the 22nd of June 2016. “This shelling was carried out with 82mm mortars that should have been withdrawn in accordance with the February 12th amendment to the Minsk Agreements,” the Ministry said. The homes of local residents were burned as a result of the shelling.
“We consider this case another attempt of Moscow and its puppets to intimidate OSCE observers, to undermine SMM efforts on stabilization of situation at the contact line and to hinder the impartial and fair reporting of the constant ceasefire violations and violations of the withdrawal of weapons by Russia and its militants,” the commentary said.