News and press releases

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. • The Mission saw damage to a farm near Novoluhanske. • On 23 August, it saw members of the armed formations taking down a wall at their former forward position and personnel from the State Emergency Services of Ukraine cutting trees and branches inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. • Small-arms fire was assessed as directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near Zolote-5/Mykhailivka. • The SMM spotted weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near government-controlled Raihorodka and non-government-controlled Ternove. • It saw new anti-tank mines south of the bridge in Shchastia. • An SMM long-range UAV spotted a cargo train heading south-west as well as a cargo train probably loaded with coal in Kumshatske.

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and fewer in Luhansk region. • The Mission continued to monitor the situation in the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. • The SMM saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near non-government-controlled Bile. • The Mission monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate repairs to and the operation of essential civilian infrastructure, including repairs to a phenol sludge reservoir near Zalizne. • Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued, including at a checkpoint in non-government-controlled Verkhnoshyrokivske.*

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region. • The Mission continued to monitor the situation in the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. • The SMM saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. • The Mission monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate repairs to and the operation of essential civilian infrastructure, including repairs to a phenol sludge reservoir. • Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued, including at checkpoints in non-government-controlled Verkhnoshyrokivske and Donetsk city’s Petrovskyi district.

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and a similar number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. • A man was injured by a mine explosion near government-controlled Illienko in Luhansk region. • Small-arms fire was assessed as directed at SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle near Luhansk city. • The SMM continued to monitor the situation in the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. • The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region. • It saw a fortified position and trenches of the armed formations near Novooleksandrivka. • The SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate repairs to and the operation of essential civilian infrastructure, including repairs to a phenol sludge reservoir. • Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued, including at a heavy weapons holding area in a government-controlled area of Donetsk region.

• Compared with the previous 24 hours, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations both in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. • A man was injured due to gunfire in Zaitseve. • Small-arms fire was assessed as directed at SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicles near Pervomaisk and Smile. • The SMM continued to monitor the situation inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. • The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near government-controlled Yasnobrodivka and non-government-controlled Ternove. • The SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate repairs to and the operation of essential civilian infrastructure, including repairs to a phenol sludge reservoir. • Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued, including at a checkpoint near non-government-controlled Verkhnoshyrokivske.

Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons increased at both BCPs compared to the previous week.

• Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 16 and 17 August, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. • Between the evenings of 17 and 18 August, the Mission recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours. • The SMM continued to monitor the situation inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. • The Mission recorded ceasefire violations inside of the Zolote and Petrivske disengagement areas. • It saw self-propelled howitzers in violation of withdrawal lines near Mariupol. • The SMM saw unexploded ordnance near Popasna, Novohryhorivka, Verkhnoshyrokivske, and Shyrokyne. • The SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate the operation of essential civilian infrastructure at the Donetsk Filtration Station and the pumping station near Vasylivka. • Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued, including at a checkpoint near Kreminets where members of the armed formations behaved aggressively towards the Mission.