OSCE tries to secure release of staff held in eastern Ukraine

A damaged car is seen at the site of a military strike, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, April 23, 2022. REUTERS/Oleksandr Lapshyn

ZURICH (Reuters) - The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said on Saturday it was trying to secure the release of a number of Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) staff members who had been detained in eastern Ukraine.

"The OSCE is extremely concerned that a number of SMM national mission members have been deprived of their liberty in Donetsk and Luhansk. The OSCE is using all available channels to facilitate the release of its staff," its media office said in response to a query, giving no more details.