Joint Ceasefire Control Center announces escalation of situation in eastern Ukraine
The Ukrainian contingent of the Joint Ceasefire Control Center (JCCC) drew attention to the fact that after the Tripartite Contact Group in Minsk’s decision on August 26 this year on an indefinite ceasefire, the "silence regime” started from midnight of August 31st.
During the first two days the situation along the entire front line returned to a semblance of control. However, as early as September 2nd, separatist groups again began to use weapons prohibited by the Minsk agreements. One explosion of a 120mm mortar-fired mine was recorded. On September 5th, separatist armed groups fired at the territory controlled by the Government of Ukraine with 37 mines fired from 120mm mortars and 52 mines fired from 82mm mortars. This was reported on the Facebook page of the press center of Ukrainian Army headquarters.
"Overall, in the first ten days of September, 214 attacks on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, settlements and critical infrastructure facilities of the Donbas were recorded, committed from the territories controlled by the separatists. Thirty of them were made with the use of weapons prohibited by the Minsk agreements. The enemy fired at our side with 410 rounds of ammunition. Despite the fact that the situation remains generally under control, there is a steady trend towards its escalation," the statement says.
The Ukrainian representatives of the JCCC were especially concerned that on September 11th, for the first time since the beginning of the introduction of a complete ceasefire, separatist groups used 120mm artillery systems and fired on positions of Armed Forces of Ukraine in the direction of Mariupol. 12 explosions of artillery ammunition were recorded there. During the day, JCCC observers recorded the use of 120mm and 82mm mortars, with 78 and 14 mine explosions, respectively.
"It should be noted that most of the attacks are indirect and serve as a provocation to draw fire from the Armed Forces of Ukraine. However, the Armed Forces of Ukraine steadily observed the Minsk agreements and open fire only in case of a threat to the life of their servicemen, civilians and destruction of important facilities of the infrastructure of the region," the message of the JCCC states.
Separatist forces have significantly stepped up the use of unmanned aerial vehicles. In the first ten days of September more than 30 UAV flights were recorded. On September 9th it registered a record number of 12 enemy drones. Enemy snipers were also actively operating. More than 18 times they opened fire on the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
"The shelling from the areas controlled by the separatists hampers the repair work in the settlements along the demarcation line. The Ukrainian side of the JCCC promptly informs the Special Monitoring Mission of the OSCE in Ukraine about all cases of the separatists using weapons banned by the Minsk agreements and provides its representatives with the relevant documents containing proof, photos of explosions of the ammunition," the statement says.