Joint inspections of combat positions in the Donbass are not part of mandate of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM). This was reported by head of the press and public information department of the SMM Dragana Nikolic Solomon in response to OstroV's information request.
"The mandate of the OSCE SMM does not provide for a joint inspection, and any changes in the mandate of the Mission require a consensus decision by the 57 OSCE participating states", - the response to the request says.
"The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) is an unarmed international civilian mission established by the OSCE Permanent Council Decision No.1117. According to the mandate, among other things, the Mission's task is to monitor and impartially report on the situation, as well as to build a dialogue on the ground", - the monitors reminded.
As previously reported, a joint inspection of the marines' combat positions with the Russian occupiers and the OSCE SMM would take place in the area of responsibility of the 503rd Marine Corps today at 14:00. Allegedly, the occupiers have "irrefutable evidence" of engineering work there, prohibited by additional measures to control the ceasefire. Meanwhile, the OSCE SMM states that after July 5, the JS units did not undertake any engineering work on the indicated section of the front line. Occupation authorities of the "DNR" assure the opposite and threaten Ukraine to attack the AFU positions in order to destroy the "illegally erected" fortifications. The Ukrainian side agreed to admit representatives of occupation forces of the "DNR" to the positions of the Marine Corps battalion in order to prevent the implementation of the ultimatum delivered.