OSCE observers record 39 ceasefire violations in Donbas on Feb 16

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine recorded ten ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and 29 ceasefire violations in Luhansk region on February 16, according to daily report 38/2021, published by the SMM on February 17.

"In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded ten ceasefire violations, including eight explosions (seven of which undetermined and one impact of an undetermined weapon)," the report reads.

According to the report, all of these violations occurred at southerly directions of the Donetsk Filtration Station (15km north of Donetsk) and at northerly directions of the disengagement area near Petrivske (nongovernment-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk).

In the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded one ceasefire violation in Donetsk region.

"In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 29 ceasefire violations, all explosions, 20 of which occurred in areas south-south-west of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (15km north-east of Luhansk)," the SMM said.

In the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded 26 ceasefire violations in Luhansk region.

In addition, the report states that an explosion occurred near the Petrivskyi deployment area near the Mission patrol.

"On 16 February, an SMM patrol comprising five members and two vehicles was positioned about 1.5km north-east of the disengagement area near Petrivske, on the road between Petrivske and Styla (non-government-controlled, 34km south of Donetsk), to monitor the security situation near the area. At 12:51, the patrol members, of whom two were outside and three inside the vehicles, saw black smoke and subsequently heard an explosion (and felt a shock wave) at an assessed range of 300–400m north of its position," the report said.

According to the report, the patrol was unable to assess the weapon used and the direction of fire and immediately left the area and relocated to Styla.

Photo: OSCE