OSCE Mission in East Ukraine Detects Over 750 Explosions in One Day

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine recorded more than 750 explosions in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions between July 18 and 19, according to a report released Wednesday.

VIENNA (Sputnik) — The mission said it had noted an increase in ceasefire violations in the turbulent east Ukrainian provinces, with 600 explosions detected in Donetsk alone. Some 400 of them were recorded by the SMM camera in the strategic village of Shyrokyne on the Black Sea.

"In Lugansk region, the SMM noted an increase in ceasefire violations recorded, including more than 150 explosions, primarily near government-controlled Lobacheve and Stanytsia Luganska," the report reads.

The mission added it had observed eight multiple rocket launchers, a towed howitzer and two self-propelled howitzers in government-controlled areas, in violation of the withdrawal lines.

Last year, the Ukrainian armed forces and pro-independence militias in eastern Ukraine agreed a peace deal, which stipulated a ceasefire and creation of a buffer zone along the line of contact, including withdrawal of heavy artillery from the area.