The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Donbas has warned about a lesser scope of observation of Donbas ceasefire breaches due to the recent patrolling incident.
Operations of OSCE SMM monitors have been limited since April 25; for instance, patrols are now using only asphalt or concrete roads, OSCE SMM Principal Deputy Chief Monitor Alexander Hug told a press briefing in Kyiv on April 28.
The mission’s capacity to visit certain areas of the contact line or heavy weapon storage sites is now limited, and the mission may be reporting fewer violations for now, he said.
Security of OSCE SMM personnel is a priority, Hug said, noting that it was very important to bring the culprits behind the patrolling incident to justice.
An OSCE SMM vehicle was blown up by a mine in the Slovianoserbsk district of the Luhansk region on April 23. A mission paramedic from the United States was killed, and two mission employees suffered injuries. A German monitor was hospitalized with a concussion.
