OSCE: Number of civilian casualties in Donbas decreases threefold

The number of casualties in Donbas decreased significantly in the fall of 2015.

This was stated by OSCE Special Envoy in the Trilateral Contact Group for the settlement of the Donbas conflict Martin Sajdik, BelTA news agency reports.

"The number of civilian casualties has decreased more than threefold (for September-November compared with the previous three-month period, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights)," Martin Sajdik said.

He also noted that the security situation significantly improved after the ceasefire had been started to be generally observed in early September, the package of measures on the withdrawal of tanks, artillery (of less than 100mm caliber) and mortars (of less than 120mm caliber) had been signed, and the heavy weapons had been withdrawn from the contact line.

Summing up the year 2015, Martin Sajdik also noted that 12 priority areas for mine clearance had been identified, and 80 captives had been released.

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