News and press releases

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. • The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Mariupol, Volnovakha and near Khrustalnyi. • The Mission observed ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area. • The Mission continued to observe hardship faced by civilians at checkpoints along the contact line. • The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure. • Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued in all three disengagement areas.* • In Chernivtsi, the Mission saw a gathering in relation to the change of religious affiliations of local churches.

Compared with the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region. The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to critical civilian infrastructure and to allow for the transfer of a body across the contact line. The Mission observed for the first time anti-tank mines near Pyshchevyk and mine hazard signs near Nelipivka. A man died from natural causes at the entry-exit checkpoint in Marinka. Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. The Mission’s freedom of movement was also restricted at non-government-controlled checkpoints near Novoazovsk, Kozatske and Oleksandrivske in Donetsk region.

Compared with the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Small-arms fire was directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle near Vrubivka. The Mission observed trench extensions in and near the Petrivske disengagement area. The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure. Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. The Mission’s freedom of movement was also restricted at a non-government-controlled checkpoint near Novoazovsk in Donetsk region.* In Chernivtsi, the Mission saw gatherings in relation to the change of religious affiliations of local churches...

Compared with the previous 24 hours, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region. A man was injured by small-arms fire in Donetsk city. Small-arms fire was directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle near Chermalyk. The Mission saw a tank in violation of withdrawal lines in Luhansk city. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure. Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued in all three disengagement areas and elsewhere. The Mission’s freedom of movement was also restricted in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions at a checkpoint near Novoazovsk and a compound of the armed formations in Stare.* The Mission saw a gathering in Kyiv on the occasion of the presidential inauguration...

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 decreased at both BCPs compared to the previous week.

Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 17 and 18 May, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Between the evenings of 18 and 19 May, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours. Explosions occur close to the SMM near the Zolote disengagement area. The SMM recorded ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area. The SMM observed damage caused by small-arms fire in residential houses in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka and fresh craters in Pervomaisk. The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure. Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. The Mission’s freedom of movement was also restricted at checkpoints in non-government-controlled Staromykhailivka, Verkhnoshyrokivske and Donetsk city, as well as at a heavy weapons holding area in a government-controlled area...

Compared with the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. A woman was injured from shelling in Oleksandrivka. The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure. Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. The Mission’s freedom of movement was also restricted near government-controlled Bohdanivka and near non-government-controlled Zaichenko, Bezimenne and Novoazovsk, all in southern Donetsk region.* The Mission saw an LGBTIQ rights gathering and counter-gathering in Chernivtsi.