OSCE records sharp increase in ceasefire violations: more than 1,800 per day

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) has recorded 363 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and 1,491 in Luhansk region, according to an OSCE SMM report of June 25.

“In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 363 ceasefire violations, including 122 explosions (one airburst, one impact and 120 undetermined explosions),” the report reads.

The majority of ceasefire violations occurred at northerly and easterly directions of Staromykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 15km west of Donetsk) and in areas south-east of Avdiivka (government-controlled, 17km north-east of Donetsk), some of which were recorded during the day on 24 June at southerly and south-westerly directions of the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) (15km north of Donetsk).

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded 1,491 ceasefire violations, including 253 undetermined explosions.

The majority of ceasefire violations occurred at easterly directions of Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk), including some at south-westerly and westerly directions of the disengagement area near Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk).

Last week, the SMM recorded about 2,000 ceasefire violations, which is 265% more than a week earlier.

Following agreement reached at the meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group on 22 July 2020 regarding additional measures to strengthen the ceasefire, from 00:01 on 27 July 2020 until the end of the reporting period, the SMM has recorded at least 38,598 ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions (including 11,952 explosions, 6,247 projectiles in flight, 235 muzzle flashes, 123 illumination flares and at least 20,041 bursts and shots).

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