OSCE sees militants with 'JCCC' armbands near bypass bridge in Stanytsia Luhanska

"On 19 October, inside the disengagement area near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw three members of the armed formations (wearing armbands with "JCCC" written on them) for the first time at the entrance of the temporary pedestrian bypass bridge," the report said.

The following day, October 20, OSCE observers "again saw members of the armed formations (wearing armbands with "JCCC" written on them) at the entrance of the temporary pedestrian bypass bridge and between the southern edge of the broken section of the bridge and the checkpoint of the armed formations."

In December 2017, officers of the Russian Armed Forces were withdrawn from the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) and they left Ukraine.

There was no information about the return of these Russian officers who officially stayed in Donbas. Only the Ukrainian side of the JCCC has operated since then.

The Ukrainian delegation to the OSCE has repeatedly stated that the appearance of men in military uniforms wearing armbands with "JCCC" written on them, which was recorded by the OSCE mission in non-government controlled area near Stanytsia Luhanska, is a gross attempt to legitimize Russia's military presence in the area.

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