OSCE records significant increase in ceasefire violations near Zolote

“In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded a five-fold increase in the number of ceasefire violations, including about 80explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 30 explosions),” reads the report as of April 8, No.83/2020.

The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas north-east, south-east and south-west of the disengagement area near Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk).

According to the report, on April 7, while positioned at six locations around the disengagement area near Zolote, “the SMM heard about 45 undetermined explosions and 60 bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, all assessed as outside the disengagement area but within 5km”.

At the same time, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, including a similar number of explosions (about 65), compared with the previous reporting period (about 60explosions).

“The majority of ceasefire violations, including about half of the explosions, were recorded within a 5km radius around the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) (15km north of Donetsk)and at south-westerly directions of Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk),” reads the report.

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