GUKOVO, August 07. /ITAR-TASS/. The international mission sending observers to monitor southern Russia’s Rostov region bordering eastern Ukraine will be increased to 16 personnel, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said on Thursday.

Only four observers were currently in place and they could not work 24 hours a day, said mission chief Paul Piccard.

Sixteen personnel would include the head-of-mission and three administrative staff, he said, adding that observer strength would be increased on Friday.

The mission is mandated to work for three months at Gukovo and Donetsk checkpoints. All 57 OSCE member-countries must decide whether the group's work continues or is given broader powers, Piccard said.