Donetsk, May 16 – DAN. Ukrainian troops have made a 2.5km advance into a demilitarized zone outside Petrovskoye village, where the disengagement of forces and hardware took place in October 2016, the DPR mission to the JCCC reported.

"In accordance with reports provided by the DPR Armed Forces, Ukrainian forces have advanced 2.4 km into the disengagement zone No. 3. As the result of the maneuver the distance between the sides contracted to 950-1700 meters."

The DPR Command continuously observes Ukrainian troops developing new position in the demilitarized zone. Several positions have been revealed at 800-1500 meters distance from Petrovskoye, armed with large caliber machine-guns and grenade launchers.

Earlier in the day the DPR envoy to the negotiations Denis Pushilin’s press secretary Viktoria Talakina said that Ukrainian armed forces had advanced in Petrovskoye and Zolotoye disengagement areas and developed fortifications there, also deploying military equipment.

"The most acute issue on the security group agenda today was the derailment of the Framework Decision implementation in all the three pilot areas. Based on the OSCE SMM open data, generally corresponding to the DPR Armed Forces reports, the representatives of the Republics noted a complete disruption of the Framework Decision on disengagement of forces and hardware implementation."

LPR and DPR representatives initialed a Framework Agreement on pullback of forces in Donbass on September 21-23, 2016, which was also signed by representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE. T

he document provides for three disengagement areas around Zolotoye, Stanitsa Luganskaya (LPR territory) and Petrovskoe (DPR territory). Security zones of at least zone two km wide and two km long are to be established in each sector. Disengagement has only been completed in Petrovskoye (October 7, 2016) and Zolotoye (October 1, 2016).

Dozens of attempts to disengage in Stanitsa Lugansksya area have been disrupted by the Ukrainian side.

The Framework Agreement is key to further bilateral withdrawal of forces from the contact line which could significantly change the nature of peaceful settlement in the region. *ot