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OSCE observers find Kiev forces’ unaccounted for artillery in east Ukraine — report

According to the report posted on the OSCE website, 5 Msta-S self-propelled howitzers were even not declared by the Ukrainian side, in violation of the Minsk agreements

VIENNA, March 30. /TASS/. Members of the special monitoring mission (SMM) of the organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have found artillery of the Ukrainian armed forces in the area of Volnovakha in the country’s east, the SMM said in a report on Monday.

According to the report posted on the OSCE website, 5 Msta-S self-propelled howitzers were even not declared by the Ukrainian side, in violation of the Minsk agreements.

"In an area near of government-controlled Volnovakha, the SMM observed five 152mm self-propelled howitzers (2S19 ‘Msta-S’) stationary at a location from which they should have been withdrawn. These had not been included in the list of heavy weapons in accordance with the Minsk package of measures, previously provided to the SMM," the report says, in particular.

The SMM mission members also observed an MT-12 100mm anti-tank gun in the area of government-controlled Zolotoye and two main battle tanks (MBT) in the area of government-controlled Gorskoye. In the area of "LPR"-controlled Krasnyi Luch, the SMM observed twelve self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika 122mm). In the area of government-controlled Chabanovka the SMM spotted two Ural trucks with 122mm BM-21 Grad MLRS. Near Novotoshkovskoye, the SMM observed also one dug in MBT T64.

The observers also visited several sites with weapons withdrawn from the contact line. "On 29 March SMM revisited one holding area in "DPR"-controlled territory and found all the weapons previously recorded in situ. The SMM also visited one "DPR"-controlled holding area for the first time. SMM noted the identification numbers of the weapons. Both areas are compliant with the respective withdrawal lines. The SMM visited one holding area in "LPR"-controlled territory. The location was compliant with the withdrawal lines," the report says.