DONETSK. Dec 5 (Interfax) - The process of disengagement of opposing military forces will be deemed completed once verified by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM), head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) mission to the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) Ruslan Yakubov told the press.
"Today, December 5, in implementation of the agreements reached in the Contact Group and in view of the renewal of the sides' commitments with regard to the implementation of the framework agreement, during the negotiation process the chief of the DPR mission to the JCCC officially notified the OSCE SMM of the completion of all measures taken in accordance with the approved schedule on fixing violations in Disengagement Area No. 3 near the populated locality of Petrivske," Yakubov said.
As of December 5, 2019, all forces and military equipment of the DPR Militia were withdrawn from the area, and appropriate mine-clearance operations finished, including works on clearing the territory of explosive objects and unexploded ordnance. All fortifications and other military facilities were dismantled on the part of the DPR, he said.
The DPR has completed the dismantling of fortified structures and other military facilities in the disengagement area, Yakubov said.
"The process of rectifying violations in the area where the disengagement was completed earlier will be considered completed once verified by the OSCE SMM, which will inspect operations finished by the sides, and after a corresponding report is published. According to the schedule, verification must be exercised on December 6," he said.
The Ukrainian mission to the JCCC has requested an extension to security guarantees through January 5, 2020 to continue the operations that were to be fully completed by December 4, 2019 under the work schedule.
"According to the information we have, the Ukrainian side is continuing demining operations in the disengagement sector. The dismantlement of all fortified structures and other military-purpose facilities has not been completed either," Yakubov said.