Moldova expresses its profound concern in connection with the dramatic escalation of the situation in eastern Ukraine and firmly condemns the attacks on the city Mariupol, which ended in numerous casualties among civilians. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova issued a communique, expressing compassion and condolences to the grieving families and their relatives, IPN reports.

In this connection, the Ministry underlines the necessity of objective international investigations, including with the participation of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, into the armed incidents that affect civilians in the region.

The Ministry calls on the international players involved to step up efforts to obtain a ceasefire and to implement the Minsk agreements. Moldova pleads for using all the available international instruments for establishing peace and stability in the eastern region of Ukraine, by obeying the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the neighboring state.