Spot Report by the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine: Shot fired close to SMM near Znamianka

This report is for the media and the general public.

At 12:10 on 24 March, an SMM patrol of four mission members in two armoured vehicles stopped at an abandoned bus stop  about 800m west of “LPR”-controlled Znamianka (36km north-west of Luhansk) to monitor the ceasefire. On disembarking the SMM heard eight single shots of small-arms fire approximately 1km south. Three men wearing camouflage clothes were within 20 metres of the vehicles. The SMM recognized one of the men as an “LPR” member from previous visits to the area. A second man was armed with an assault rifle (AK-47). The SMM informed him of the patrol’s intention. Less than a minute later the SMM heard the third man, who was about 20m west of the patrol, cock a pistol (type undetermined). He then fired one shot straight into the air and shouted in Russian “Get out of here quickly! Mortar fire!”[1]

The patrol did not see or hear mortar fire. The patrol returned to its vehicles and departed, due to security concerns. No SMM members were hurt or vehicles damaged. The SMM informed the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) about the incident.

[1] [1] “Уезжайте […] быстрее, миномет работает!”