Over 510 fresh cease-fire violations reported in eastern Ukraine: OSCE

By Jeyhun Aliyev

KOSTIANTYNIVKA, Ukraine (AA) - A total of 516 cease-fire violations were registered as of Wednesday evening in eastern Ukraine, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine said Thursday.

The mission recorded 510 cease-fire violations, including 20 explosions, in the Donetsk region.

Meanwhile, in the Luhansk region, the mission came across six truce violations.

The mission also continued monitoring the disengagement areas near the urban-type settlement Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote town, and Petrivske city, it said.

It also went on to follow up on the situation of civilians, "including at three entry-exit checkpoints and two corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations" in the Luhansk region.

Also, the mission visited "two border crossing points outside government control" in the Luhansk region, the statement added.

Russia recently amassed tens of thousands of troops near Ukraine’s eastern border, prompting fears that the Kremlin could be planning another military offensive against its former Soviet neighbor.

Moscow has denied that it is preparing to invade and said its troops are there for exercises. It has also issued a list of security demands, including that Ukraine not join NATO.