The February 18 attack by Russian-backed forces near Zolote again reminded residents of the town of how easily Russia can direct a return to the levels of violence they experienced in 2015.

Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Mission to the OSCE Harry Kamian said this at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on Thursday, February 27, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Since we last met, the situation in Ukraine has again taken a worrying turn. On February 18, Russia-backed forces executed an offensive using heavy weapons prohibited under the Minsk agreements close to the Zolote disengagement area. The Special Monitoring Mission observed several thousand explosions that day, one 22-year old Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier was killed, several more were wounded, and the residents of Zolote were reminded of how easily Russia can direct a return to the levels of violence they experienced in 2015," Kamian said.

The offensive was launched on the five-year anniversary of Russia-led forces’ capture of Debaltseve days after the third Minsk agreement known as the “Package of Measures” was signed, a cynical provocation that served only to demonstrate Russia’s continued aggression.

As reported, Russian-backed forces attacked Ukrainian positions near the villages of Novotoshkivske, Orikhove, Krymske, Khutir Vilnyi and Popasna early on February 18, killing one Ukrainian serviceman and wounding another five.

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