UNIAN
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's (OSCE) monitoring mission to Ukraine cannot confirm the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the conflict zone in Donbas, the mission's chief monitor Ertugrul Apakan has said, German news broadcaster Deutsche Welle reports.
According to Apakan, the statements that heavy weapons have been withdrawn and stored in secure areas remain so far only words, and not deeds.
Meanwhile, Russian-backed militants in the Donbas claim that they have already begun withdrawing armored vehicles and artillery from the contact line in many areas. One of the leaders of so called "Donetsk People’s Republic" Eduard Basurin, said that the OSCE observers are able at any time to verify this.
Under the new agreement on implementing the Minsk peace agreements, Kyiv forces and the Russian-backed militants have to completely withdraw their heavy weapons from the line of contact.