The Organization of Security and Cooperation on Europe (OSCE) has canceled its monitoring mission in Eastern Ukraine.
The cancellation follows protests near the organization’s HQ in Donetsk, which the separatists control, OSCE chief monitor said on Sunday.
Nearly 200 pro-Russian protestors stood in front of OSCE monitors on Saturday.
The protesters demanded the release of a rebel officer, whom Ukraine’s military captured the week before.
The mission had dealt with protests before, that the separatists, whom Moscow backs, organized.
However, this time the protesters blocked the entry point to the hotel where the monitors reside.
“Because of our safety concerns, safety rules and considerations, we suspended our operations,” Yaşar Halit Çevik said.
Also, he added that the monitors had not yet felt any threat from the protesters.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine dates back to 2014 when Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine.
Russia said the move was necessary to protect the ethnic Russian population after street protests toppled Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich. Yanukovich was a Kremlin ally.
Ukraine said that the fight between its military and rebel separatist forces has killed 14,000 people.
Moscow, however, denies having forces in Eastern Ukraine and rejects the allegations Kyiv made.
The separatists claim that Ukraine’s military captured one of their officers, Andrei Kosyak.
They said he was captured near the frontline on Wednesday, while he participated in a joint committee to oversee a ceasefire.
Ukraine’s defense ministry said that Kosyak belonged to a group of Russian agents who were in the undercover reconnaissance mission.
