Spot report by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), 12 December 2014 2014: OSCE SMM Patrol stopped and threatened

This report is for media and the general public. 

SMM patrol of two vehicles was stopped and threatened by “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”) forces in Pyschevyk (23km North-East of Mariupol city, located in the security zone).

At 10:15hrs, an SMM patrol of two vehicles was stopped in Pyschevyk by 16 “DPR” members, some of whom pointed their weapons at the patrol. Two SMM members immediately exited the first vehicle and announced that they were representing the OSCE. Some “DPR” members approached the second vehicle and attempted to break its window.  The “DPR” ordered the SMM staff to hold their hands up and stand next to their vehicles while they conducted a search of the two SMM vehicles.  One “DPR” member struck a SMM monitor on the leg with the butt of a rifle, causing a minor soft-tissue injury.

The SMM was then instructed to “proceed” further down the road towards Oktyabr (28km North-East of Mariupol), followed by a BTR-82 armoured vehicle. The “DPR” directed the SMM approximately a kilometre away towards Oktyabr where the staff members were again asked to exit their vehicles. Following some 30 minutes of hold-up and negotiations, and as a result of the SMM patrol leader’s insistence that they speak to their commander, the “DPR” members allowed the SMM to leave under the condition that they proceed to “DPR”-controlled Pavlopil to verify shelling which had allegedly occurred earlier in the morning.