KYIV/BRUSSELS. March 24 (Interfax) - The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (OSCE SMM) has reported escalation of fighting in and around the village of Shyrokyne, 20 kilometers from Mariupol, in the Donetsk region.
It said the hostilities "had led to further deaths and injuries, as well as displacement and damage to infrastructure."
"I call on all sides to stop fighting, respect all provisions of the Minsk package, and allow for the provision of humanitarian aid and access of the OSCE monitors to Shyrokyne," said Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine.
"Both sides in this area continue to violate numerous provisions of the Minsk agreements, including those related to cessation of fire, prohibition of attacking moves, withdrawal of heavy weapons, and deployment of UAVs," he said.
Apakan further noted that all sides need to exercise maximum restraint as the civilian population is the main victim of these violations. "Many residents have fled to safer ground. Their homes and civilian infrastructure have been severely damaged," he added.
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Serbia's Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic also expressed his concern over an increase in fighting in southeast Ukraine and urged all sides to respect the ceasefire.
"An outbreak of heavy fighting east of Mariupol over the last two days is unacceptable. I call on all parties to strictly respect the ceasefire and continue implementing the Minsk agreements in line with the package of measures agreed on 12 February," he said.
"The OSCE will continue to do its utmost to help lower tensions and promote normalization of the situation," Dacic added.