OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Daily Report 161/2020 issued on 8 July 2020

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region.
• Small-arms fire was assessed as directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flying close to and over the areas close to the disengagement area near Petrivske.
• The SMM followed up on reports of shelling in Horlivka, and its mini-UAVs spotted recent craters near Spartak and Zaitseve, Donetsk region.
• Members of the armed formations continued to deny the Mission passage at checkpoints along official crossing routes in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.*
• The Mission continued monitoring all three disengagement areas: It observed people inside the disengagement area near Zolote during night hours and recorded ceasefire violations inside the disengagement area near Petrivske.
• The SMM saw civilians queuing to travel towards government- and non-government-controlled areas at entry-exit checkpoints and checkpoints along the contact line. At a temporary checkpoint of the armed formations near Olenivka, the SMM observed long waiting hours and poor conditions for about 200 pedestrians queuing to travel towards government-controlled areas.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.*