Translated material
OSCE observers reached Debaltseve
OSCE observers were able to reach Debaltseve, which was occupied by pro-Russian separatists on February 18. According to the press secretary of the monitoring mission, Michael Botsyurkiv, the observers reached Debaltseve with the Red Cross, having received security guarantees from the separatists.
Botsyurkiv spoke about the humanitarian situation in the area of the Donetsk airport: “The situation there is catastrophic. People there for almost 7 months remain without electricity, without water.” The mission cannot yet tell anything about the fate of the Ukrainian prisoners in Debaltseve, since they have not yet seen anything “with their own eyes”.
- On February 18, Ukraine withdrew troops from Debaltseve, an important strategic point. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko stated that the withdrawal of troops was planned; the military claimed otherwise .
- The fighting for Debaltseve has been going on since January 2015.
- On February 15, in accordance with the Minsk agreements, hostilities in Ukraine were to cease. The OSCE should monitor the observance of the truce.