OSCE: ‘dramatic increase’ in Ukraine ceasefire violations
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has seen a significant increase in frontline attacks in eastern Ukraine. “In recent days, the OSCE branch monitoring for Ukraine has observed a dramatic increase in kinetic activity in the east of the country,” the organization said in a statement on Saturday. According to the OSCE, the number of attacks is comparable to that reported before the July 2020 ceasefire.
In Donetsk, 222 ceasefire violations were reported on Thursday, including 135 explosions. On Wednesday there were still 189 reports, compared to 24 on Tuesday. In Lugansk, 648 violations were reported on Thursday, compared to 402 on Wednesday and 129 on Tuesday.
The armed conflict between Kiev and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine started after Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. More than 14,000 people have been killed since then. In 2020, Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE agreed to a ceasefire. However, the threat of an invasion of Ukraine by Russia has increased tensions in the region.
The OSCE has called on both sides to “abide by the agreed commitments and to take all necessary steps to ease tensions and work towards an immediate de-escalation, so as to benefit the lives of innocent civilians.” “, the statement reads.