DONETSK. July 2 (Interfax) - The self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) claims there were 54 shells attacks by the Ukrainian military on Thursday and suggested that the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) register the absence of militias in Shyrokyne.
"At present, the situation around compliance with the Minsk agreements is getting critical through the Ukrainian government's fault. Today there were 54 shell attacks carried out with multiple rocket launchers, mortar launchers and tanks, and 120mm and 152mm artillery. All this goes to show that Poroshenko does not need peace in Donbas. Our weapons have been removed to the stipulated areas," DPR senior defense official Eduard Basurin told reporters on Thursday.
There have been no militiamen in Shyrokyne since Wednesday, he said.
"We suggest that the OSCE visit Shyrokyne and verify this fact. At the same time, the shelling of Shyrokyne by Ukraine continues. Today there were 17 shell attacks. We call for immediate instructions for Ukrainian troops to withdraw. Full responsibility for the disruption of the Minsk agreements lies with Ukraine. We are awaiting a response from Ukrainian troops," Basurin said.
The number of casualties has started to increase, leading to an escalation, he said. "To defuse tensions, without waiting for an agreement to be signed in Minsk, we took a unilateral decision on de-militarization of Shyrokyne," he said.