OSCE records 8,500 ceasefire violations in Donbas over two weeks

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) during the period from January 27 to February 9 recorded almost 8,500 ceasefire violations, according to a status report as of February 10, 2020.

“Between 27 January and 9 February, the SMM recorded almost 8,500 ceasefire violations, fewer compared to about 8,900 in the previous two-week period,” the report reads.

The SMM continued to observe anti-tank mines and unexploded ordnance on both sides of the contact line. Specifically, SMM unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) spotted about 150 anti-tank mines near Verkhnoshyrokivske and about 110 near Orikhove.

"The SMM recorded 26 weapons in violation of their respective withdrawal lines, compared to 89 in the previous two-week period: three in government-controlled areas and 23 in areas outside government control," the report notes.

In addition, the Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted 55 times (50 in non-government-controlled areas, predominantly in southern Donetsk region).

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