The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) cannot confirm the report that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have taken control over the village of Novooleksandrivka in Popasna district of Luhansk region, which is situated in the “grey zone” on the disengagement line in Donbas.
Monitors cannot reach this village due to risks of booby traps on the single access road, which is why the SMM cannot confirm the takeover of the village, OSCE SMM Principal Deputy Chief Monitor Alexander Hug said at a press briefing in Kyiv on Feb.2 However, many sources in the village have reported that Ukrainian forces have entered it, he said.
Monitors at the advanced patrol base in Kodiyevka saw 100 blasts near Novooleksandrivka over a 1.5-hour period overnight, he said.
On Jan.31, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said, citing Ukrainian Military TV, that its forces had taken over Novooleksandrivka.
