Starting from March 8 when the cease-fire regime began in the Donbas the insurgents killed 12 and wounded 44 Ukrainian soldiers.
This was stated at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council by the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to international organizations in Vienna Ihor Prokopchuk.
“One month after the last cease-fire commitment was declared on March 8, Russian armed forces carried out 239 attacks by using various types of weapons, including 144 attacks by using weapons prohibited by Minsk agreement. They fired 1010 mortars and 53 artillery shells on the positions of the Ukrainian military and residential areas. As a result of these attacks, 12 Ukrainian servicemen were killed, and 44 were injured,” said Prokopchuk.
He pointed out that on April 5, Russian armed forces fired at Ukrainian positions from artillery systems of 152 and 122 mm caliber. An analysis of the debris of shells found at the scene of the shelling showed that the invaders used guided 152-mm artillery munitions of the Krasnopol type.
“These shells belong to the latest high-precision developments of Russia and are in service with artillery units of the Russian armed forces and are manufactured by the Kalashnikov military-industrial company,” said Prokopchuk.
The Ukrainian diplomat added that the Russian armed forces continue to expand their positions in violation of the agreed contact line in the Donbas and refuse to discuss the additional measures proposed by the Ukrainian side as part of the negotiations in Minsk to establish a sustainable and comprehensive ceasefire.
“As we approach the Easter holiday, we urge the Russian side to fulfill its responsibility as a participant in the conflict and really fulfill its obligations on a cease-fire – long and irreversible. It will also require further steps to implement the security of the Minsk agreements: the withdrawal of all Russian troops, mercenaries and weapons from the territory of Ukraine under OSCE monitoring,”emphasized Prokopchuk.