Statement by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine regarding the incident in the disengagement area near Zolote on 13 October

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) is closely following the recent developments related to the incident in the disengagement area near Zolote on 13 October. On that day, the SMM patrols were present on both sides of the contact line near the disengagement area where they were monitoring adherence to a localized ceasefire to enable vegetation clearance along the road that traverses the area. All relevant observations concerning this activity were duly reflected in SMM Daily Report of 14 October 2021.

The SMM did not observe the event directly. It received information from the Ukrainian Armed Forces and from the armed formations only after it had occurred. In compliance with its reporting methodology, uncorroborated indirect information cannot be included in the Mission’s reports. However, the SMM stands ready to facilitate the dialogue on the ground between the sides should they wish to seek such facilitation, and this readiness has already been communicated to the sides.

The SMM is a civilian Mission tasked by the OSCE Permanent Council to gather information and report on the security situation; establish and report facts in response to specific incidents and reports of incidents; monitor and support respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as to facilitate dialogue on the ground in order to reduce tensions and promote normalization of the situation. The Mission reports on all relevant facts which it observes directly, and includes this information in its publicly available reports.