News and press releases

The SMM observed a relatively low level of violence in Donbas. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and visited a border area not controlled by the Government. The SMM noted long queues at checkpoints and monitored the situation affecting civilians living near the contact line. It followed up on reports of shelling in “DPR”-controlled Dokuchaievsk and on reports of casualties due to an explosion in Donetsk city. The SMM also monitored the situation of IDPs. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted on three occasions...

The SMM observed a relatively low level of violence in Donbas. The Mission observed the presence of hardware in the security zone. It monitored the situation of civilians at checkpoints near the contact line. The SMM visited border areas not controlled by the Government. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted on three occasions on both sides of the contact line....*

The SMM observed a slightly higher level of violence in Donetsk region both on 14 and 15 May as compared to the previous two days and recorded a low number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region on 14 May and none on 15 May. The Mission observed the presence of weapons and hardware in the security zone. It noted the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance. The SMM monitored the situation affecting civilians near the contact line and at checkpoints on both sides of the contact line. It visited border areas both in government- and non-government-controlled areas. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted on three occasions on both sides of the contact line...*

The SMM observed a slightly higher number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Luhansk region compared to the previous day. The Mission observed weapons within withdrawal lines and others in holding areas. Armed men pointed weapons at the SMM at the unmanned aerial vehicle ground control station in a government-controlled area. The SMM observed the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance. The Mission followed up on the proliferation of weapons in areas outside of the Anti-Terrorism Operation (ATO) zone...

In Donetsk region, the SMM noted an increase in the number of recorded ceasefire violations compared with the previous day. In Luhansk region it continued to note a low level of ceasefire violations. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair to essential infrastructure, and at one occasion “DPR” members prevented it from doing so. The Mission monitored the situation affecting civilians in areas near the contact line. It monitored an area close to the border not under government control. The Mission observed a protest in Kyiv...

In Donetsk region, the SMM noted a decrease in the number of recorded ceasefire violations compared with the previous day. In Luhansk region it continued to note a low level of ceasefire violations. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair to essential infrastructure. The Mission observed mine hazard signs near an entry-exit checkpoint and continued to observe the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance. It monitored an area close to the border not under government control and was prevented from monitoring in another*. The Mission monitored the situation affecting civilians in areas near the contact line...

In Donetsk region, the SMM noted a sharp increase in the number of recorded ceasefire violations compared with previous days. In Luhansk region it continued to note a low level of ceasefire violations. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and to observe mine hazard signs in the security zone. The SMM noted long queues at the contact line. It monitored a demonstration by veterans in Ivano-Frankivsk. The SMM’s freedom of movement was restricted on numerous occasions.*...