Ukrainian side of JCCC says militants' shelling may disrupt arms withdrawal

"Tensions along the contact line abruptly escalated on October 18, 2015, when the second stage of arms withdrawal began, exhibiting a lasting trend of further deterioration. In all, in the period from October 18 till November 6 the Ukrainian mission to the JCCC observed 26 violations of the ceasefire and 361 provocative attacks of militants on positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the 'gray zone' aimed to incite Ukrainian Armed Forces units to return fire," says the statement published on the Ukrainian Defense Ministry website on Saturday evening. The Ukrainian side of the JCCC sees such activity of militants as purposeful attempts to destabilize the region and their unwillingness to meet the obligation to cease fire and to reduce tensions along the contact line. "As a result, this may disrupt the arms withdrawal process and lead to further escalation of the conflict," the statement said. The Ukrainian army "is ready to adequately and resolutely respond to provocations but their efforts are focused on  he fulfillment of the Minsk agreements," it said. The Ukrainian side of the JCCC said also that the latest escalation of tensions happened during preparations for a meeting of foreign ministers in the 'Normandy format' in Berlin. "Over the past day alone, November 6, shift officers of the Ukrainian mission to the JCCC observed 26 provocative attacks on positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces by use of small arms, large-caliber machineguns and grenade launchers," the document said. The shelling incidents are obstructing demining operations and repairs done ahead of the winter season which may cause a humanitarian catastrophe in the region, the JCCC said. "If the practice of provocative shelling on ATO positions and peaceful populated areas goes on, the Ukrainian mission to the JCCC will have to propose that the situation be discussed at the Trilateral Contact Group," the statement said. Besides, the Ukrainian side of the JCCC expressed its concern about ongoing restricted access of OSCE SMM monitors to weapon storage sites in DPR and LPR territories and obstruction of flights of OSCE drones by radio-electronic warfare means. "In the opinion of the Ukrainian mission to the JCCC, an expansion of the OSCE SMM, the installation of surveillance cameras in the Donetsk airport zone and Shyrokyne and the activity of unmanned aerial vehicles will help objectively assess the situation. The Ukrainian side is ready to make an input in the resolution of the aforesaid problems," the statement said.