Spot Report by OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM): Beginning of disengagement at Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area

This report is for the media and the general public.

At 12:00 on 26 June, the SMM observed the beginning of the disengagement process at the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area.

The Mission saw the launch of flares by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the armed formations, signaling both sides’ readiness to disengage. Subsequently, the SMM saw members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and members of the armed formations leaving their most forward positions and exiting the disengagement area, together with their weapons. The Mission also saw other members of the armed formations with their weapons, including an anti-aircraft gun, exiting the disengagement area west of the Prince Ihor monument.

On 27 June, the SMM observed deminers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and of the State Emergency Service as well as deminers of the armed formations conducting demining activities inside the disengagement area. It also saw members of the armed formations with weapons and other hardware exiting the area west of the Prince Ihor monument. In addition, the Mission again noted that the most forward positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and of the armed formations were empty of armed personnel, weapons and hardware. Two other positions of the armed formations on top of a hill south and south-west of the bridge were also seen by the SMM to be empty of personnel or hardware.

The Mission will continue to monitor the situation. More detailed information can be found in SMM Daily Reports.