Spot Report by the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine: Men in military-style clothing point heavy machine-gun at SMM patrol near Verkhnoshyrokivske

This report is for the media and the general public.

An SMM patrol comprising two armoured vehicles and six members were stopped by armed men at a checkpoint near “DPR”-controlled Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, 29km north-east of Mariupol) at 09:57. As the patrol waited to pass through the checkpoint and proceed further east into non-government-controlled areas the SMM observed a partially covered and unattended heavy machine-gun (12.7mm) ten metres in front of the first SMM patrol vehicle. A few minutes later, two men in military-style clothing approached the heavy machine-gun, reloaded its ammunition and pointed it directly at the first SMM patrol vehicle. They then repeated this action. After a few minutes, as the armed men moved the heavy machine-gun toward a stationary military-style vehicle (Ford Transit painted in camouflage pattern) they stopped and pointed the gun directly at the first SMM patrol vehicle from a distance of three metres. The SMM left the location at 10:16 and proceeded further east into non-government-controlled areas as planned. The SMM returned safely to base in Mariupol at 16:15.

The SMM informed the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination and asked it to follow up on the incident.