Latest news from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) based on information received until 18:00 hrs, 30 May (Kyiv time)

This update is provided for the media and the public

The overall security situation in Donetsk region remains very volatile, with sporadic infighting  between various groups. Public security and safety is of the highest concern. The situation in Luhansk region is volatile. Other parts of Ukraine remained calm. SMM has not reestablished contact with the 4 monitors from Donetsk Team, nor with the  4 monitors and interpreter from Luhansk Team with whom it lost contact on 26 May and 29 May respectively.

SMM monitored a rally of around 100 unarmed people in front of the Region Administration of  Kharkiv demanding an end to the anti-terrorist operation in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.  Flags of the Yugo-Vostok movement, the LDPR party from Russia, Ukraine’s Socialist  Progressive Party and the “Kharkiv People’s Republic” were seen. Some posters had the following slogans: “Save the Donbas people from the Ukrainian army”.

Ukrainian authorities confirmed that an attack on a Ukrainian military convoy was carried out in the late afternoon on 29 May near the southern city of Izyum. Increased activity at the local bus station was noted, with an increase of passenger traffic (from 2 to 15 busses a day/400 persons day) from Izyum to Kharkiv of people reportedly from the Donetsk region (Sloviansk in particular).

In Luhansk and Donetsk, the situation remained very volatile. Due to security restrictions, SMM was not able to carry out duties and monitor the situation in both Donetsk and Luhansk areas of  responsibility. SMM observed 5-6 trucks with armed and uniformed men driving towards the  Donetsk Region Administration Building. According to media, the so- called “Batallion Vostok” took control of the Regional Administration Building, previously controlled by ‘Donetsk People’s Republic’ in the centre of Donetsk.

In Dnepropetrovsk, there were two separate arson attacks – one on an abandoned building in the city centre and the other one on a parking lot where 18 minibuses were burnt.

The situation in Kherson, Odessa, Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv and Kyiv remained calm.