Latest news from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received until 18:00 hrs, 27 May (Kyiv time)

This update is provided for the media and the public

Clashes in Donetsk between the Ukrainian army and armed separatists continued. The situation was also tense in Luhansk. Other parts of the country remained calm.

The Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) team in Kharkiv visited Borova district, neighbouring Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The entrance to the police station in Borova (140 kilometres southeast of Kharkiv, 75 kilometres north of Sloviansk) was blocked by a truck. Many sandbags lay around the building, and the door was secured with additional measures. The entrances to the building of the local administration were reinforced with security personnel and permanent security structures. The rural area of the district appeared calm, but the SMM observed several checkpoints manned by military and police. According to the SMM’s interlocutors, agricultural goods are being transported to Donetsk and Luhansk regions without interruption.

The SMM team in Luhansk was informed by police interlocutors that 12 high-ranking police officers from the region were abducted by armed separatists on 26 May, at the checkpoint in Shchastya (24 kilometres north of Luhansk), on their way back from Svatove (155 kilometres northwest of Luhansk) where they had participated in a working meeting with the Police Chief in Luhansk region. The SMM’s interlocutors added that negotiations are being conducted with armed separatists controlling the city to have the officers released.

The SMM visited the town of Lysychansk on 26 May (90 kilometres northwest of Luhansk). The city centre appeared calm and quiet, with shops and fuel stations open, and public transport functioning. By-passers to whom the team spoke were, however, anxious about their safety.

One of the two journalists abducted by separatists on 25 May (see the SMM Daily Report published on 27 May 2014) was released.

The anti-terrorist operation in Donetsk continued. SMM monitors observed jets flying over the centre of Donetsk between 11:35 and 13:05. On 26 May, Donetsk’s Mayor appealed on TV to the inhabitants not to leave their flats. In Donetsk city, most shops were closed and there were few people on the streets. The SMM contacted several hospitals and international organizations to find out more about the number of wounded and dead during clashes on 26 May. In a telephone conversation the Deputy Regional Police Commander put the figure at 35 confirmed dead and 15 to 20 injured.

The SMM is making all possible efforts to have the four monitors of the Donetsk team  with whom contact has been lost (see press release of  27 May), released; and will report further when additional information is available.

The SMM monitored in Odesa a demonstration by supporters of mayoral candidate Edward Hurvitz. At the same time the SMM saw a group of people paying their respects in front of the Trade Union building on Kulikove Pole. The two groups were about 150 metres apart. When the supporters of Hurvitz, associated with the Maidan activists, moved towards the Trade Union building, the police formed a line between the groups and prevented tensions.

The situation in Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv and Kyiv regions was calm.

The SMM observed the hearing of the former head of Kyiv city administration, Oleksandr Popov on 26 May. Upon leaving the court building, water and iodine was poured on the former official by his opponents.