WASHINGTON, November 27 (Sputnik) — Washington denounces the recent attack on a Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) patrol of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Ukraine, the US State Department has said in a statement.
"The United States condemns the reported attack on an OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) team, traveling between Kirove and Shumy in eastern Ukraine on November 26," the statement, released Wednesday, says.
We call on all parties to refrain from any actions that endanger the safety of the OSCE mission in Ukraine," the statement adds, stressing that "any attacks on, or threats to, OSCE monitors or equipment are unacceptable".
Earlier, the SMM stated in a spot report that a rocket-propelled grenade and multiple anti-aircraft rounds were fired at its patrol traveling, between two Ukrainian military checkpoints in the Donetsk region on Wednesday.
According to the SMM, the monitors were not injured and returned safely to their base following the attack.
The SMM was deployed in Ukraine in March, following a request by the Kiev government and a consensus decision by all 57 OSCE participating states. The mission is meant to contribute to reducing tensions and fostering peace, stability and security in the conflict-torn Ukraine.
The conflict in Ukraine escalated in mid-April, when Kiev launched a military operation against independence supporters in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, who refused to recognize the new government which came to power as a result of a February coup.
The two sides reached a ceasefire agreement in September, but have since accused each other of violating the truce.
