REUTERS
The United States has once again called on Russia and the terrorists Moscow has been supporting to cease fire in eastern Ukraine immediately, according to a statement by State Department spokesman Mark Toner.
"The United States is closely monitoring the growing violence in eastern Ukraine in recent weeks and the continuing failure of the combined-Russian separatist forces to honor the cease-fire called for under the Minsk agreements," reads the statement published on the State Department website.
Read alsoATO daily report: almost 50 enemy attacks, 4 WIA Washington condemned Friday’s targeting of OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) monitors and the seizure of an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle by combined-Russian separatist forces.
"It is imperative that these forces halt their attacks on civilian infrastructure, including the Donetsk water filtration station," Toner said.
The United States called on Russia and the separatist forces it backs "to immediately observe the cease-fire, withdraw all heavy weapons, and allow full and unfettered access to the OSCE monitors."
Read alsoArmed men open fire close to OSCE SMM in Yasynuvata and PikuzyAs UNIAN reported earlier, late Friday, February 24, a high voltage line was damaged as a result of enemy shelling, which led to a halt in power supplies to Avdiyivka and a local coking plant.
The Russian side to the Joint Center for Ceasefire Control has refused to provide written guarantees of a ceasefire.
Earlier on February 24, "DPR" militants opened fire at OSCE SMM patrol and seized their unmanned aerial vehicle.