Spot Report by OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM): Shelling close to SMM near Verkhnioshyrokivske

This report is for media and the general public.

At 10:10 on 9 November, having crossed into non-government controlled areas, an SMM patrol (of six members in two vehicles) at the entry-exit checkpoint south-east of “DPR”-controlled Verkhnioshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, 85km south of Donetsk), heard five outgoing explosions followed by five impacts; two-three impacts were seen about 100 metres south-south-east. Then, the SMM heard and saw a further three to five impacts, some about 50 metres south-east of its position. The SMM could not determine the weapons used.

At the same time, a second SMM patrol (of six members in two vehicles) - located about 30-50 metres west of the first SMM patrol - heard and saw one impact about 50 metres south-east of its position. The SMM saw “DPR” members taking shelter in bunkers at the checkpoint, and a “DPR” member directing civilian cars away from the checkpoint into “DPR”-controlled areas. The first SMM patrol drove east away from the checkpoint as the second patrol was signalled to stop by the same “DPR” member. After seeing an impact about 25 metres south-east of its position the second SMM patrol drove east through the checkpoint.

As the first SMM patrol drove east in the direction of “DPR”-controlled Khreshchatytske (formerly Krasnoarmiiske, 86km south of Donetsk), it saw at least seven impacts about 25-50 metres south-east of its position. On the outskirts of Khreshchatytske the second SMM patrol observed a military-type truck travelling west carrying armed men, who then jumped from the vehicle and took cover between houses as the impacts hit.

The first SMM patrol stopped in “DPR”-controlled Khreshchatytske to wait for the second SMM patrol. The first SMM patrol observed three to five impacts coming to within 50 metres of their position, and left the area moving south-east toward “DPR”-controlled Oleksandrivske (formerly Rozy Liuksemburh, 90km south-east).

As the two SMM patrols attempted to leave “DPR”-controlled Oleksandrivske and travel west, it saw that a large truck had blocked the road approximately 150 metres away. Two civilians standing next to the truck made obscene gestures toward the SMM. Both SMM patrols left the area using an alternative route and headed north to Donetsk city, where it arrived safely. The SMM informed the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination.