26.04.2017, LPR.
On April 26, the Ukrainian side shelled the territory of the Lugansk People’s Republic (the LPR) while Ertuğrul Apakan, Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine was visiting the LPR, the LPR People’s Militia official representative, lieutenant-colonel Andrey Marochko stated during his briefing at the Lugansk Information Centre.
Marochko says, “Knowing that the OSCE SMM Chief Monitor to Ukraine Ertuğrul Apakan is present on the territory of the Republic with a working visit, the Ukrainian military violated the ceasefire five times .”
He explained that these actions are a provocation, as the shelling was conducted from the place close to socially significant facilities. The People’s Militia representative stated, “Yesterday at 9:30 p.m. from the territory of the high pressure gas-distributing station in the community of Lobachevo, the Ukrainian military launched an attack using grenade launchers and small arms. After no return fire followed, they repeated their provocation at 10:30 p.m. This time they used an 82mm mortar.”
On April 23, one officer from the OSCE mission was killed, and another one was wounded after their car struck a landmine in the LPR. Consequently, the OSCE SMM Chief Monitor to Ukraine Ertuğrul Apakan went to see the place of the incident on LPR territory near the community of Pryshyb.
Apakan’s goal, according to him, was to provide support to the observers and to better understand the situation. Speaking about his colleague’s death, the OSCE SMM Chief Monitor to Ukraine stated that despite the tragedy, they are committed to fulfill their mandate and secure peace for the people of Ukraine.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
