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Security situation in Donbass continues to deteriorate — OSCE

According to OSCE Special Representative for Ukraine Martin Sajdik, "the number of ceasefire violations is growing"

© EPA/ALEXANDER ERMOCHENKO, Archive

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MINSK, February 10. /TASS/. The security situation in the embattled Donbass region in eastern Ukraine is aggravating, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Special Representative for Ukraine Martin Sajdik said on Wednesday.

"The overall security situation in the conflict zone in Ukraine continues deteriorating," Sajdik said following the talks of the political, security and economy subgroups of the Contact Group on the settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. "The matter was in the center of attention of the 10 February session of the subgroup on security."

"Today a microbus was blown up by an antitank mine, leaving several civilians dead," Sajdik said. "I would like to offer sincere condolence to friends and families of the victims. The OSCE's Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) underlines the importance of mine clearance in the conflict zone."

According to Sajdik, "the number of ceasefire violations is growing."

"The sides should give an answer about the matter," he said, adding that the sides are not implementing heavy weapons withdrawal.

Sajdik said that the failure to honor the commitments to ceasefire regime poses problems for the SMM, which is now expanding its land action capabilities. The mission's observers continue having problems with travels in the conflict zone.

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