Illegal armed formations are increasing their combat potential in the areas of Donbas outside the Ukrainian government control, the Ukrainian side of the Joint Centre for Control and Coordination of ceasefire (JCCC) has reported, quoting the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM).
According to the OSCE SMM, in the southeastern part of Luhansk (territory of the airfield), the militants of the armed formations of the Russian Federation concentrated seven units of T-72 tanks, seven multiple launch rocket systems BM-21 Grad, seven self-propelled howitzers 2S1, seven anti-aircraft missile systems 9K35 and 10 towed howitzers of various modifications.
The SMM also recorded at least 14 antitank mines on the northeastern outskirts of the village of Zaychenko, the antiterrorist operation HQ quoted the Ukrainian side of the JCCC as saying on Facebook.
In addition, observers confirmed that 40 tanks of various types are located near the settlements of Buhayivka and Kruhlyk (Luhansk Region).
"The Russian occupying troops continue concentrating weapons and equipment directly in populated areas, thereby endangering civilians along the entire contact line," the post reads.
"The Ukrainian side of the JCCC regards the provisions of the Geneva Convention, the norms of international law, the Minsk agreements on the removal of heavy equipment and weapons from the disengagement line of the sides as systematic neglect by the leaders of the occupation administration of the Russian Federation. The Ukrainian side of the JCCC once again says that such actions on the part of Russian administrations pose danger to civilians, full-fledged operation of enterprises and infrastructure of Donbas," the JCCC said.