EU extends satellite support to Ukraine monitors

By

The Associated Press

An OSCE observer (R) looks at a cannon of Ukrainian Armoured Personnel Carrier at their position near the Ukrainian eastern city of Soledar, in the Donetsk region on February 27, 2015. Isolated clashes were reported in eastern Ukraine on February 27, 2015, where government forces reported three soldiers killed, despite a truce with pro-Russian rebels appearing to take hold. Ukraine says the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the frontline with pro-Russian rebels is going on. AFP PHOTO / ANATOLII STEPANOV (Photo credit should read ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP/Getty Images)

BRUSSELS — The European Union is prolonging its satellite imagery support to help observers monitor the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement Friday that satellite imagery “allows for more in-depth monitoring of the situation in areas where regrettably monitors still do not have access.”

The support, totaling €3 million (U.S. $3.2 million), will allow the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe to map areas observers can’t reach and report on any damage or population and equipment movements.

Fighting between Ukraine government forces and separatist rebels has killed more than 9,800 people since April 2014.

A 2015 peace deal helped reduce the scale of fighting in the east, but violence has continued and attempts at a political settlement have failed.