The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine perceived with concern reports on the   threat to security of the monitors of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) in Ukraine due to the likely interference of the Russian Federation special services into the work of the SMM aimed at discrediting the SMM's monitoring activities in line with its mandate.

In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested the SMM to inform on the measures that would be taken to avoid the recurrence of such cases in the future.

The Ukrainian side condemns any actions that negatively affect the safety of SMM monitors, including threats to their address, restriction of freedom of movement or theft of official or private data.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine strongly condemns the continuation by the Russian Federation of a purposeful policy of aggression against Ukraine, including by undermining the authority of the SMM and preventing the Mission from fulfilling its mandate.