You're reading: OSCE SMM opens patrol base in Schastia, Luhansk Oblast

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Special Monitoring Mission (OSCE SMM), on Wednesday, opened a new advanced patrol base in the town of Schastia (Luhansk Oblast), which under the Ukrainian government's control.

The new advanced patrol base is situated no less than 500 meters from the dividing line that will enable the OSCE monitors to be closer to the areas, where the highest number of violations are being recorded, and urgently react to the reports about the incidents, OSCE SMM Principal Deputy Chief Monitor Alexander Hug said at the opening ceremony, the OSCE website said.

He said that the SMM permanent presence also needed to stimulate the sides to observe the ceasefire regime and the Minsk agreements more thoroughly.

The SMM informed the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) about the opening of the new base, and gained support from the Ukrainian and Russian JCCC sides.

The base in Schastia is the ninth mission’s advanced patrol base in eastern Ukraine, and the fourth one in Luhansk Oblast, the OSCE said.