Petrovskoye, Nov 9 – DAN. Representatives of the OSCE SMM and the DPR Mission to the JCCC have arrived at the disengagement area in the Petrovskoye area, DAN correspondent says.
Nearly 50 journalists are present.
The renewal of the disengagement is expected to begin at 1 p.m. GMT +3.
Earlier, Pushilin confirmed the DPR is ready to disengage forces in the Petrovskoye area on November 9. The OSCE SMM was informed.
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. The 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.
The disengagement was completed in the Petrovskoye zone in October 2016 for the first time. Later Ukraine troops infiltrated back. Donetsk has been demanding to restore parity ever since.
The Contact Group endorsed a plan to eliminate violations in Petrovskoye (DPR) and Zolotoye (LPR) on October 1.
On November 1, the renewal of disengagement was completed in the Zolotoye area (LPR).
As for the Petrovskoye area the disengagement was planned for October 4, but Kiev derailed it.
The Framework Agreement is key to further bilateral withdrawal of forces from the contact line which could significantly contribute to the peaceful settlement in the region. *ot