OSCE SMM Chief Monitor Çevik welcomes beginning of disengagement from Petrivske

KYIV, 9 November 2019 – The Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, Yaşar Halit Çevik, welcomed the beginning, today, of the withdrawal of forces and hardware from the Petrivske disengagement area. 

After SMM monitoring officers had observed Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel and members of the armed formations leaving the disengagement area, with their weapons, the Chief Monitor reaffirmed the SMM’s commitment to monitor and verify the process. “Additional SMM patrols, supported by static cameras and unmanned aerial vehicles, have been deployed,” he said. “We welcome any steps towards progress and stand ready to assist.”