OSCE fears escalation in Donbas

KYIV, September 24 /Ukrinform/. The OSCE records relatively calm situation in the ATO area, but calls on the parties to take further steps to consolidate the positive results.

Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE SMM to Ukraine Alexander Hug said this at the briefing in Kyiv on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Our monitors have been recording relatively calm situation for the third week in a row. In Donetsk region, particularly near Horlivka, the situation remains tense. However, in the area of the destroyed Donetsk airport, we recorded even fewer cases of ceasefire violations than in the previous week. We have recorded not a single case of the use of heavy weapons in Luhansk region. There were days when we did not record violations of the ceasefire at all," he stressed.

According to Hug, there is the risk of new escalation, in particular, because of carrying out the military exercises close to the contact line.

"Too many weapons that caused so many deaths and injuries remain in the territory, which should be a safe haven. There should be no weapons," Hug stressed.

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