MOSCOW, November 30 (Sputnik) – Monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) have not seen any Russian military equipment crossing the Ukrainian border, Chief Observer of the OSCE Observer Mission has said in an interview with Polskie Radio.
"In the region that we patrol nothing like that was observed," Paul Picard said Saturday, when asked about reports of Russian tanks, soldiers and military equipment allegedly crossing into Ukraine.
Picard added that the OSCE mandate covers the Donetsk and Gukovo checkpoints and that "around these checkpoints we have seen nothing like that".
The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SSM) to Ukraine was deployed in March following a request to the OSCE by the Ukrainian government. The monitors are to contribute to reducing tensions and fostering peace, stability and security in Ukraine and on the Russian-Ukrainian border.
In mid-April, Kiev authorities launched a military operation against independence supporters in Ukraine's south-eastern regions. Some 3,700 people have been killed and more than 9,000 have sustained injuries since the beginning of the armed conflict, according to UN data. The warring sides agreed to a ceasefire on September 5, but since then have repeatedly accused each other of violating the truce.
The West has been accusing Russia of meddling in Ukraine's internal affairs and aiding independence fighters. These claims have not been supported with any evidence.
Russia has sent several humanitarian aid convoys to the Donetks and Luhansk regions in south-eastern Ukraine to help local residents live through a severe humanitarian catastrophe.
