Daily and spot reports from the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region on both 25 and 26 February compared with 24 February. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations on 25 February compared with 24 February and fewer on 26 February compared with both 24 and 25 February. The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties and shelling in Avdiivka, Yasynuvata, Betmanove, Popasna and Zolote. Firing and explosions occurred near the SMM in Katerynivka. The SMM observed weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Petrivske and Zolote, but its access remained restricted.* Its freedom of movement was restricted further on both sides of the contact line. The Mission continued to note the presence of mines. It visited three border areas not under government control. It continued to monitor the blockade of railway tracks near Kryvyi Torets and Hirske. The SMM monitored public gatherings in Kherson and Kyiv...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk compared with the previous reporting period, with the majority of explosions concentrated in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport area. In Luhansk region the SMM also recorded more ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting with over 110 artillery explosions in the western parts of the region.

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 explosions in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24-hour period. The SMM observed weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Petrivske and Zolote, but its access remained restricted.* The SMM faced three conditional restrictions of its freedom of movement in areas outside of government control south-west of Donetsk and near Horlivka. The Mission visited two border areas currently not under control of the Government. It continued to observe the blockade of railway tracks near Hirske. In various cities the SMM observed generally peaceful public gatherings related to socio-economic demands...

The SMM recorded more explosions in Donetsk region compared with the previous 24-hour period and no explosions in Luhansk region. The Mission observed impact sites in Pikuzy. The Mission saw weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines. Its freedom of movement was restricted on both sides of the contact line. The SMM, in co-ordination with the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), facilitated and monitored repairs of critical infrastructure. The Mission continued to monitor the situation of civilians near the contact line and to observe blockade of railway tracks near Hirske, Bakhmut and Shcherbynivka. It monitored a peaceful demonstration of about 15,000 people in Kyiv...

The SMM recorded a similar number of explosions in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24-hour period. The Mission followed up on reports of civilian casualties and shelling. The Mission saw weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines. Its freedom of movement was restricted on both sides of the contact line.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous 24-hour period. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, but more explosions compared with the previous 24-hour period. The SMM, in co-ordination with the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), facilitated and monitored repair of power supply to the Donetsk Water Filtration station and Avdiivka. The Mission observed restoration of electricity in Avdiivka. In areas not under government control the SMM observed a number of weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines in Luhansk region. The Mission continued to observe the blockade of railway tracks near Hirske. In various cities the SMM observed generally peaceful demonstrations commemorating the events on Maidan in Kyiv three years ago. In Kharkiv, the SMM followed up on media reports of an alleged shooting incident on the night of 17 February...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period in Donetsk region on both 18 and 19 February. In Luhansk region, the SMM observed more ceasefire violations on 18 February but fewer on 19 February. The SMM confirmed civilian casualties in Avdiivka and Trudivske and observed infrastructure damage as a result of shelling in Avdiivka, Trudivske, Pikuzy, Novooleksandrivka, and Zolote.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Petrivske and Zolote, but its access remained restricted.* Outside of the disengagement areas the sides also continued to restrict the Mission’s monitoring, particularly in areas not controlled by the Government.* The SMM noted three tanks and two anti-tank guns in violation of withdrawal lines in areas not under government control and one howitzer in violation in an area controlled by the Government. It noted 29 weapons missing for the first time from a storage site not under government control. The Mission continued to observe the blockade of railway tracks near Hirske. It followed up on reports of vandalism at two banks in Kyiv...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Petrivske and Zolote, but its access remained restricted.* Beyond the disengagement areas, too, the sides continued to restrict the Mission’s monitoring on numerous occasions through direct denials of access or other impediments, including by not removing mines.* The SMM noted weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line and noted weapons missing from storage sites. It observed the blockade of railway crossings near Hirske. The SMM facilitated repair of a power line between Svitlodarsk and Horlivka. It visited two border areas currently not controlled by the Government. The Mission followed up on the situation at a camp for Crimean Tatar activists near Chonhar...