OSCE monitors come under fire in Donbas, U.S. points to militants

Washington has condemned an attack by pro-Russian separatists on members of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine in the area of the anti-terrorist operation in Donbas.
A respective statement was released by the U.S. Department of State on Wednesday evening, a Ukrinform correspondent reported.
“The United States condemns the reported attack on an OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) team traveling between Kirove and Shumy in eastern Ukraine on November 26. The SMM reported that a rocket-propelled grenade and multiple rounds of 23mm anti-aircraft ammunition were fired from a location to the southeast toward the OSCE team. These shots appear to have been fired from separatist-controlled territory,” reads the statement.
The United States described as “unacceptable” any attacks on, or threats to, OSCE monitors or equipment. “We call on all parties to refrain from any actions that endanger the safety of the OSCE mission in Ukraine,” the State Department said.
The U.S. side also thanked the members of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission for their bravery and service.
“We again call on Russia and the Russia-backed separatists to provide OSCE monitors with full access to carry out their mandate to report on the security and human rights situation throughout Ukraine, facilitate dialogue, and monitor the implementation of the Minsk agreements, including along the international border,” reads the document.

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