KYIV, 7 April 2016 – Ertugrul Apakan, Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), expressed concern today regarding the highest level of ceasefire violations in the Donetsk region since the sides recommitted to the ceasefire in September 2015. He noted as particularly troubling the extremely high number of incidents involving the use of heavy weapons and mortars.

Apakan stressed that “the environment the sides have created along the contact line is unacceptable. The deterioration in the security situation has also hampered repairs of essential infrastructure – vital to restoring some normality in people’s lives.”

“In light of these worrying developments, we call upon all sides to honour the commitments they have made, in particular in upholding a sustained ceasefire and ensuring the safety of civilians in the conflict zone,” said the Chief Monitor.