Daily and spot reports from the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission observed an impact site and damage to a fence near a residence in Novooleksandrivka. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas and recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including in Oleksandrivske and Samiilove, two settlements near the border with the Russian Federation.* The Mission observed armoured combat vehicles and a surface-to-air missile system near Svobodne, in a zone within which deployment of heavy armaments and military equipment is proscribed according to the Memorandum. It facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance to the thermal power plant in Shchastia, a water pumping station near Artema and power lines near Druzhba. The Mission visited two border areas not under government control. The SMM monitored large gatherings in Kyiv, including in front of the national Parliament building, and a gathering in Chernivtsi...

At 13:27 on 24 February 2017, the SMM heard a burst of small-arms fire (three to five shots) at close range while preparing to launch a mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from the north-western edge of non-government-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), about 130m south-east of the M-04 highway. (The SMM patrol was attempting to launch the UAV to monitor the reported shelling of the Donetsk water filtration station.)

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and a similar number in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties from the Trudivski area of Donetsk city’s Petrovskyi district, Amvrosiivka and Zalizne. The SMM continued monitoring all three disengagement areas and recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas.* The Mission observed a probable mortar and a probable surface-to-air missile system in violation of withdrawal lines in an area under government control near Hranitne. It facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance to power lines in Druzhba and the Donetsk Filtration Station. The Mission visited a border area not under government control. The SMM monitored gatherings in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odessa...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region the Mission recorded an increase in ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period, mostly north-west of Kadiivka. The SMM continued monitoring all three disengagement areas and recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote disengagement areas. Its access remained restricted in all three areas. The Mission observed anti-tank mines inside the Zolote disengagement area where it had recently facilitated and monitored demining activities as part of preparatory work to clear the road and possibly open a new entry-exit checkpoint. The SMM facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance to the Donetsk Filtration Station and power lines in Druzhba. The Mission continued to monitor an ongoing gathering in Kyiv...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM continued monitoring all three disengagement areas. The Mission observed that three civilians were let through the government checkpoint north of the Zolote disengagement area but were denied passage to areas not under government control. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including again in Samiilove, a settlement close to the border with the Russian Federation, and in Boikivske.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. It facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance to essential infrastructure in Shchastia and near Artema. The SMM visited three border areas not under government control. The Mission continued to monitor an ongoing gathering in Kyiv where it observed reduced numbers of participants.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region between the evenings of 20 and 21 October compared with the previous reporting period and more between the evenings of 21 and 22 October compared with the previous 24 hours. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations between the evenings of 20 and 21 October compared with the previous reporting period and fewer between the evenings of 21 and 22 October compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission followed up on reports of civilian casualties in Yenakiieve and Donetsk city’s Kyivskyi district. The SMM saw damage to civilian properties in residential areas in Dokuchaievsk and Kruta Hora. The SMM continued monitoring all three disengagement areas; it recorded ceasefire violations and visited impact sites inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including in Siedove, a settlement close to the border with the Russian Federation, and in a compound of a heavy weapons holding area in an area outside of government control. The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. It facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance to essential infrastructure near Vesela Hora. The SMM visited two border areas not under government control...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations both in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24 hours. In the Trudivski area of Donetsk city’s Petrovskyi district, the SMM heard small-arms fire near the area where it was flying an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), assessed as aimed at the UAV.* The Mission saw damage to an office building in Lutuhyne. The SMM continued monitoring all three disengagement areas; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas. It facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance to essential infrastructure near Svitlodarsk, Shchastia, Krasnyi Lyman and Artema. The SMM visited four border areas not under government control. The Mission continued to monitor a gathering in front of the national Parliament building in Kyiv.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations both in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24 hours. In the Trudivski area of Donetsk city’s Petrovskyi district, the SMM heard small-arms fire near the area where it was flying an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), assessed as aimed at the UAV.* The Mission saw damage to an office building in Lutuhyne. The SMM continued monitoring all three disengagement areas; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas. It facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance to essential infrastructure near Svitlodarsk, Shchastia, Krasnyi Lyman and Artema. The SMM visited four border areas not under government control. The Mission continued to monitor a gathering in front of the national Parliament building in Kyiv.

At 11:15 on 3 March, positioned south-west of  “DPR”-controlled Khreshchatytske (formerly Krasnoarmiiske, 33km north-east of Mariupol) the SMM observed what it assessed to be two self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) and one command vehicle moving from south to north and turning east at locations 2-3km east from SMM’s position. The SMM moved further south-east, and at 11:50 reached a location about 500m east of the spot where it had assessed the weapons could be located...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations both in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of a man in Donetsk city injured by the explosion of an explosive device while handling it. The SMM continued monitoring all three disengagement areas and recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas and elsewhere, including near Khrustalnyi. The SMM saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Kostiantynivka and Tsukuryne. The Mission facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance to the thermal power plant in Shchastia, a water pumping station near Artema and a water pipeline between Olenivka and Dokuchaievsk. In Kyiv, the SMM monitored the security situation at a court and an ongoing gathering in front of the national Parliament building.