NEKHOTEYEVKA CHECKPOINT (Belgorod region). Dec 20 (Interfax) - The activity of the Russian mission to the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) was limited over recent months, and the Russian officers had practically no access to the contact line, mission head Lt. Gen. Sergei Kostarev who left Ukraine together with the group of 75 Russian officers said.
The withdrawal of the Russian mission to the JCCC has been accomplished, Kostarev said. He noted that the Russian officers were assigned to the JCCC at the request of Ukrainian General Staff Chief Viktor Muzhenko for helping settle the intra-Ukrainian conflict, he said.
"The Russian officers were diligently performing their duty and often risked their lives to help restore peace in southeastern Ukraine. Actions of the Ukrainian side maximally limited the JCCC's activity over the recent months, the presence of our mission on the Ukrainian territory became extremely complicated, and the Russian officers had practically no access to the contact line," Kostarev said.