OSCE Chief Monitor in Ukraine Ertugrul Apakan urges sides to cease fire, demands respect for security of SMM monitors

KYIV, 10 November 2016 - Following a recent sharp increase in fighting in eastern Ukraine, Ertugrul Apakan, Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), called on the sides to exercise maximum restraint and establish a full and sustainable ceasefire.

“The SMM continues to observe a deterioration of the situation in Donbas, registering over 2,000 explosions daily with a high number of incidents involving the use of weapons proscribed by the Minsk agreements, including multiple-launch rocket systems. I urge the sides to abide by the commitments they have made in Minsk. They must stop fighting now, withdraw weapons, and allow for a safe and secure environment for civilians,” he said.

Apakan expressed his strong concern about the recent incident threatening SMM monitors in the village of Verkhnoshyrokivske, Donetsk region. “I strongly condemn violence against our unarmed civilian monitors who provide impartial information about the situation on the ground and foster peace. These attacks are unacceptable and I call on the sides to ensure safety and security for the SMM monitors throughout Ukraine,” Apakan stressed.

The Chief Monitor reiterated that a full and sustainable ceasefire is an essential step towards the normalization and peace that the people of Ukraine need.