Daily and spot reports from the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine

On both Saturday and Sunday, the SMM observed more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with 27 May. The Mission followed up on allegations of shelling on both sides of the contact line. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and noted armoured combat vehicles and newly laid mines in the security zone. The SMM monitored the situation of civilians at checkpoints and observed border areas not controlled by the Government. In Chernivtsi, the SMM monitored a peaceful march to celebrate a Jewish holiday. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted on three occasions in areas not controlled by the Government. East of Shyrokyne, near a “DPR” checkpoint, an armed man fired warning shots and pointed his weapon at the SMM, forcing the patrol to leave the area...

The SMM observed fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and a similar number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region compared with the previous day. An SMM foot patrol came under small-arms fire near Yasynuvata. The Mission followed up on allegations of shelling between 24 and 26 May near Stanytsia Luhanska and of casualties. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and noted armoured combat vehicles and anti-aircraft weapons in the security zone. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted on six occasions, including when it lost all communication with its long-range unmanned aerial vehicle near Horlivka...

The SMM observed more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared to the previous day. The Mission followed up on reports of shelling and civilian casualties. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and noted armoured combat vehicles and an anti-aircraft weapon in the security zone. The SMM observed the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO), monitored the situation of civilians at checkpoints, and observed border areas not controlled by the Government. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted on seven occasions. The SMM monitored the situation of demobilized veterans in Chernivtsi and Lviv regions...

The SMM observed a similar level of violence in Donetsk region and recorded an increased number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. The Mission conducted crater analysis in Staromykhailivka. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and noted armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. The SMM followed up on reports of casualties from a landmine incident in Pavlopil where four Ukrainian Armed Forces servicemen were killed and three injured. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted on five occasions, mainly in areas not controlled by the Government...

The SMM observed an increased level of violence in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions as compared to the previous reporting period. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and noted the presence of armoured combat vehicles and other hardware in the security zone. It continued to monitor the situation of civilians at checkpoints. The Mission facilitated adherence to the ceasefire and monitored the repair of essential infrastructure. Its freedom of movement was restricted three times in areas not controlled by the Government.*...

The SMM observed a marked decrease in the level of violence in Donetsk region as compared to the previous reporting period. Luhansk region remained relatively calm. The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and noted the presence of armoured combat vehicles and anti-aircraft weapons in the security zone. The Mission observed the full re-opening of the Olenivka crossing route, and learned that people had stayed overnight at the Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint near Berezove. A man died from a heart attack while queuing at a checkpoint south of Stanytsia Luhanska. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted once, in an area not controlled by the Government...*

The SMM observed a similar level of violence in Donetsk region both on 21 and 22 May as compared to 20 May and observed an increase in the number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region on 21 May and fewer on 22 May- compared to 20 May. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and noted the presence of armoured combat vehicles and anti-aircraft weapons in the security zone. The Mission followed up on reports of shelling and conducted crater analysis in government-controlled Avdiivka. Some 600 people gathered in front of the residence of SMM monitors in Donetsk city. It also monitored events on the occasion of the “Day of Heroes” in Lviv and a protest in Chernivtsi. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted on eight occasions, exclusively in areas not controlled by the Government...