“Tonight the location of the mission members of OSCE SMM was attacked. In an arson attack four vehicles of the mission were destroyed. We have already initiated an investigation into the crying incident that night.
At the moment there are many versions, one of which is the most likely, it’s the action of a sabotage group. Law enforcement agencies of the DPR have already abandoned all efforts at exposing and finding those responsible. On behalf of the government of the Republic, I would like to express my extreme outrage in connection with the incident.
The OSCE mission is the only way to convey to the world community the truth about what is happening in the Donbas. Perhaps the OSCE representatives were not always objective, for various reasons, ranging from technical, to the requirements of high politics, but we are definitely not interested in ending the OSCE SMM.
Moreover, I am convinced that it is the presence of SMM OSCE in the DPR allows us to restrain the activities of the armed forces of Ukraine. Without their presence in the Republic, we would be exposed to more violent attacks from Ukrainian side.
In addition, I would like to note that the recent increase in the incidents of attacks SSG (sabotage scouting group). It is worth remembering blown up on the eve of the bridge in Telmanovo or permanent disruption to the railway. The recent shooting of civilians in the buffer zone in the area of Gorlovka by Ukrainian’ punishers was especially tragic.
Naturally, we have tightened security of mission members and will make every effort to prevent a repetition of the situation in the future.”
© Denis Pushilin
