Russia has officially recognized its participation in Ukraine conflict - Ukraine at TCG

According to Ukrinform, the Ukrainian delegation reported this in a statement on its Facebook page.

"We congratulate Russian representatives on this courageous step: it is difficult to acknowledge the reality after eight years of consistent lies," the Ukrainian delegation said.

"We wish Russian diplomats strength and inspiration in overcoming the next barrier: official recognition of the full responsibility of the Russian leadership for starting and continuing the international armed conflict in eastern Ukraine. This is the main guarantee of the real peaceful resolution," the Ukrainian delegation said.

According to the authors of the statement, "we once again congratulate the Russian Foreign Ministry and support its leadership in their bold steps in favor of ending Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. Hold on, we know how difficult it is for you now."

The post also gives a link to a comment by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova "in connection with the detention of Russian citizen A. V. Kosyak in Ukraine."

On October 17, Russian-backed forces blocked the exit from the OSCE SMM's forward patrol base in the temporarily occupied city of Horlivka. Observers were also not allowed to leave the hotel. OSCE monitors were told that "they were not allowed to leave the hotel premises until the member of the armed formations reportedly detained by the Ukrainian Armed Forces inside the disengagement area near Zolote on 13 October had been released."

On October 13, Russian occupation forces resorted to a gross provocation as an armed group wearing armbands of the Joint Center for Control and Coordination were caught red-handed on a reconnaissance mission under the guise of a demining effort near the abandoned positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. One of the group members, Russian national Andrey Kosyak born in 1978, was detained on the spot. Weapons and ammunition were seized from him. Ukraine's law enforcement agencies suspect the man of committing a serious crime in 2010 in accordance with Article 115 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine

The OSCE SMM reported on October 18 that the Mission had resumed its work in Horlivka.

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