Daily and spot reports from the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine

On 27 May an SMM foot patrol comprised of ten members (including a paramedic) was near “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) to follow up on a reported incident involving a “DPR” member injured by sniper fire. The SMM was accompanied by the Russian Federation Armed Forces Major General at the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) and seven armed “DPR” members. The incident had allegedly occurred during a period for which the SMM jointly with the Ukrainian and Russian Generals at the JCCC had facilitated adherence to the ceasefire, in order to enable “DPR” members to recover the bodies of three armed “DPR” members reportedly killed in action the previous day...

At 09:28, the SMM lost all communication with its long-range unmanned aerial vehicle flying over “DPR”-controlled Ozerianivka (35km north-east of Donetsk), on the south-western outskirts of “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk). Emergency procedures were activated but the UAV did not respond. Shortly before communications were lost, the UAV had spotted a multi-purpose tracked vehicle (MTLB) with a surface-to-air missile system (9K35 Strela-10, 120mm) mounted on top...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region between the evenings of 26 and 27 February compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM observed houses damaged by shelling in Zolote and Pikuzy. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Petrivske and Zolote, but its access remained restricted.* The Mission reviewed video footage from the SMM camera in Zolote that revealed ceasefire violations near the disengagement area on 25 February. The SMM observed weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines. The SMM noted the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance in Nova Marivka and Zolote, and near Shchastia. A “DPR” member returned an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle seized by armed men in Yasynuvata on 24 February. The Mission monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable maintenance and repairs near Artema and Krasnyi Lyman. The SMM monitored the blockade of a railway track near Hirske. It visited two border areas not under government control. The SMM monitored public gatherings in Kyiv and observed removal of graffiti from a bank in Odessa, as well as a cross erected in a Jewish cemetery in Ivano-Frankivsk...

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.

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.