News and press releases

On 23 June an SMM patrol comprising two armoured vehicles and six members was stationary in a residential area in government-controlled Zolote-4, approximately 300m north of the Zolote disengagement area (60km north-west of Luhansk). All patrol members were outside the vehicles.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM observed a fresh impact site in Zaichenko. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas; it recorded ceasefire violations in Zolote disengagement area. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including in Olenivka.* “DPR” and “LPR” refused to provide the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination with written security guarantees which facilitate the implementation of SMM’s mandate...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM followed up on reports of casualties in Yasynuvata and Pikuzy and observed fresh impact sites south of the bridge in Shchastia. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas; it recorded ceasefire violations near Zolote disengagement area and inside Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area.

An armed man opened fire at and violently attacked the SMM in Yasynuvata. The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission confirmed that one elderly woman had been seriously injured by an explosion in Yasynuvata. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas; it recorded ceasefire violations near Zolote disengagement area. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including in Pikuzy.* The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines. An SMM unmanned aerial vehicle spotted, for the first time, the presence of 13 anti-tank mines near Pikuzy. The SMM observed long queues of civilians travelling across the contact line at Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. It continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to power lines between Almazna and Zolote. The Mission visited one border area not under government control. In Kyiv the SMM continued to observe a protest by supporters of the former Aidar battalion...

On 20 June an SMM patrol (1) comprising two armoured vehicles and six members was stationary at an observation post at “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata railway station (16km north-east of Donetsk), when it saw two men in military-style attire, one armed with an assault rifle (AK-type) walking in a western direction about 80m away. Another SMM patrol (2) comprising two armoured vehicles and six members was positioned about 150m west of the other patrol and about 100m from the two men. At 11:06, both patrols heard one burst of small-arms fire assessed as coming from the area of the two men...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations and fewer explosions in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM confirmed the death of a man in Zhovte and observed damage caused by shelling in Pikuzy and Sakhanka. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas; it recorded ceasefire violations in Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area and heard an explosion near Zolote. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including in Khreshchatytske when the SMM attempted to corroborate reports of a civilian casualty in the area.* The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. It continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to power lines between Almazna and Zolote. The SMM observed a protest by supporters of the Aidar battalion outside the Kyiv City office of the Security Service of Ukraine...

Between the evenings of 16 and 17 June the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 17 and 18 June the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. It confirmed one elderly woman had died from a gunshot wound in Sakhanka. The SMM observed damage to multiple civilian properties due to shelling in Shchastia, Starolaspa, Yasynuvata and Obozne...