Ukraine denies security guarantees to OSCE SMM

Ukrainian armed forces refused to provide security guarantees to the OSCE SMM members during their evacuation from Stanitsa Luganskaya, the deputy head of the LPR Mission to the JCCC Roman Ivanov said.

"We received information from the OSCE SMM today on a safety guarantees request for the mission's evacuation in Ukraine-controlled Stanitsa Laganskaya," he said.

The LPR provided such guarantees, but at the last minute the SMM informed that Ukraine has not provided similar guarantees, meaning that they did not provide a corridor for their evacuation.

"We consider this move an attempt of Ukrainian forces to use international observes as a live shield to cover their criminal activities," Ivanov said.

Kiev forces shelled the LPR 33 times on February 24, 177 times on February 23, 144 times on February 22, 65 times on February 21, 63 times on February 20, 49 times on February 19, 31 times on February 18 and 29 times on February 17.

The Ukrainian government launched the so-called anti-terrorist operation against Donbass in April 2014.

The members of the Contact Group have announced ceasefire more than 20 times since the autumn of 2014. Kiev forces regularly violated the truce opening fire with large caliber artillery, mortars and tank guns which were to have been withdrawn from the contact line under the accords. *t