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OSCE: Civilian casualties in Donbass are growing

OSCE hopes to sign a document on disengagement of forces in three new points in Donbass in the next two days

© EPA/IVAN BOBERSKYY

MINSK, July 13 /TASS/. Civilian casualties in Donbass are growing, Martin Sajdik, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine, said after a meeting of the Contact Group for settlement in eastern Ukraine.

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Contact Group suggests creating 10 security zones in Donbass, strengthening OSCE mission

"The number of casualties among the civilian population is growing. I consider it to be sad and inadmissible," he said touching upon the general situation in Donbass.

"I am urging all the sides [in the Donbass conflict] to avoid them [civilians casualties]," Sajdik stressed.

Sajdik also said that the humanitarian group had discussed the release of prisoners and problems of identification of missing persons.

"My personal disappointment on this matter has not decreased. It has grown deeper," Sajdik stressed.

According to Sajdik, OSCE hopes to sign a document on disengagement of forces in three new points in Donbass in the next two days.

Read also

"The OSCE hopes to sign a document on the disengagement of forces in three new points in Donbass in the next few days. The security group will continue its work tonight, and possibly tomorrow, as its head [Ertugrul] Apakan hopes, it will sign the document in the format of a video conference," Sajdik said.

Sajdik also complained about the recently emerged difficulties linked to practical preparation by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) of recommendations to disengage the forces. "Last week, the SMM deputy chief was denied the right to visit the sections at which the forces were supposed to be disengaged.

Read also

More than 9,300 killed in Donbass conflict since April 2014 — UN

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