OSCE SMM records significant reduction of violence in Donbas

OSCE SMM has declared a significant reduction of violence levels in Donbas.
“We have already noted a drop-off in violence but it is still too early to say if the sides are truly committed to abiding (by the ceasefire), and, certainly, if they are responsible about it, they can achieve it,” OSCE SMM Principal Deputy Chief Monitor Alexander Hug said at a briefing in Kyiv on Friday.
He recalled that the sides have recommitted not to violate the ceasefire.
“We had a similar pledge last year. It brought considerably reduced levels of violence for almost two months,” he said.
Hug said in the week before last – between 15 and 21 August – the SMM recorded more than double the number of ceasefire violations, compared to the previous week. According to him, the number of recorded mortar rounds nearly tripled and the number of artillery rounds recorded doubled in Donetsk region during that week, between 15 and 21 August.
“We have not seen such intense violence since April 2016,” he stressed.
OSCE SMM recorded a 25% decrease in the number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region between August 22 and August 28 and a 150% increase in Luhansk region compared to the previous week.