The Russian military stole more than 50 OSCE cars: the European Union demands their return
European officials announced the possible use of armored vehicles in the war with Ukraine. The occupiers have been holding three employees of the organization in Donbas since April last year.
The Russian military must release all detained employees of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) and return their stolen cars. This is stated in the statement of the European Union following the meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on January 19.
EU officials emphasize that over the past 11 months, Russia has attacked not only Ukraine, but also the main principles and values of the OSCE.
Last weekend, the OSCE received new alarming reports about the transfer of more than 50 armored mission vehicles from Russia to eastern Ukraine. They can be used in a war with Ukraine, which is absolutely unacceptable, the organization said.
Militants of the ‘DPR’ and ‘LPR’ often did not allow representatives of the OSCE mission to the objects
Photo: US Embassy in Ukraine
The invaders have been illegally detaining 3 OSCE SMM employees since April 2022, they were charged with extremely dubious charges, the OSCE reminded.
‘Russia should immediately and unconditionally release all detained SMM employees and return the property to its rightful owner – the OSCE and its member states,’ the EU representatives emphasized.
According to Neil Bush, Great Britain’s ambassador to the OSCE, the Russian Federation is obliged to provide comprehensive explanations of the reasons for the seizure of SMM vehicles and their use in Donbas.
Bush condemned the apparent theft and misuse of OSCE vehicles. Britain, as Bush noted, will support Ukraine with all resources to stop Russia’s aggression.
‘The OSCE has no personnel or vehicles in the east of Ukraine. Russia is well aware of this,’ the British representative added.
OSCE SMM employees were captured in Donetsk and Luhansk – what is known
On April 24, 2022, it became known about the detention of employees of the OSCE monitoring mission in occupied Donetsk and Luhansk by pro-Russian militants.
Three members of the SMM were detained in Donetsk and Luhansk
Photo: Hromadske
‘The OSCE is extremely concerned that members of the SMM’s national mission have been detained in Donetsk and Luhansk. The OSCE is using all available channels to facilitate the release of the staff,’ the organization said in response to a request from Reuters.
Deputy Ambassador of Great Britain to the OSCE Deirdre Brown criticized Russia for refusing to extend the mandate of the SMM mission in Ukraine.
‘And now we have received alarming reports of threats to equipment and deployment of the mission by Russian proxy forces in Donbas, as well as the capture of SMM personnel,’ Brown said.
The OSCE special monitoring mission has been working in Ukraine since March 21, 2014. The Government of Ukraine submitted a corresponding appeal to the organization. The mission started working after the consensus decision of 57 OSCE participating countries. SMM observers worked without weapons — they prepared reports on the security and humanitarian situation in Donbas, based on their own observations.
We will remind, on March 31 last year, the OSCE said that they failed to agree on the extension of the mandate of the Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine due to the position of Russia.
The OSCE announced the closure of the SMM in Ukraine on April 29, 2022 due to Russia’s reluctance to extend the mandate of the mission in Ukraine.
