OSCE: Ceasefire Continues to be Violated in the East

Observers of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine witnessed a number of violations of the ceasefire in the east of Ukraine on March 21^st and 22^nd.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reports that most shootings were recorded near separatist-controlled Donetsk airport, near the village of Peski, which is under the control of Ukrainian troops, and near the village of Shirokino, 20 kilometers from Mariupol. Attacks in these and several other towns in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions were carried out not only with small arms, but also mortars and artillery.

The OSCE report states that the local “commander” of the “DPR” unit in Shirokino, part of which is now controlled by the separatists, refused to discuss with the OSCE representatives the possibility of temporary local truce to deliver humanitarian aid to the civilian population of the village. He refused to do so as long as the OSCE withhold a report from him on the investigation of his statements from last week, when he argued that the Ukrainian military shot his truck close by. He also demanded that the OSCE stop flying its drones over his positions.

Observers talk about more than ten cases over the weekend, when representatives of both parties to the conflict to impeded the movement of the group.

OSCE representatives made statements on the situation in Shirokino on March 23^rd, which called on the parties to cease hostilities and do not forget about the fate of civilians.