OSCE Drones Locate Mortar Firing Positions in E Ukraine Residential Areas

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine spotted firing positions in residential areas on both sides of the contact line in Donbas, the organization's report said Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Heavy artillery pullout from the line of contact was one of the key provisions of the February Minsk peace agreement on Ukraine reconciliation.

"In government-controlled Marinka, the SMM UAV observed mortar firing positions located in a residential area," the report said.

Eight towed artillery guns were located in the Kiev-controlled town of Paraskoviivka, in Donetsk Region, the SMM report stated.

According to observers, an SMM UAV saw a concentration of heavy artillery, including nine main battle tanks (MBTs), one howitzer with self-propelled guns and 16 armored personnel carriers (APCs) in the Rozdolne residential area, 30 miles south-east of Donetsk, an area currently controlled by the Donbas militia.

Despite the February 15 ceasefire agreement between Kiev forces and independence supporters in eastern Ukraine, the fighting in Donbas region has continued.

Last week, reports emerged of intensified shelling near the town of Marinka, close to Donetsk, prompting EU Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic to call the renewed hostilities the biggest ceasefire violation since the truce was initiated.