New OSCE Report on Ukraine Says Ukrainian Forces Obstruct Monitors Movement

‘The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)’s Special Monitoring Mission said on Saturday it was denied access to an east Ukrainian territory controlled by Ukrainian armed forces, according to OSCE’s fresh situation report.

The SMM said it was stopped Saturday at a government-controlled checkpoint on the northwestern edge of Luhansk.

“After 15 minutes the SMM was told that the battalion commander did not grant the SMM permission to proceed,” the report said, adding the mission contacted the Ukrainian chief of staff at the government’s Joint Center for Control and Coordination, who agreed to investigate.’

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