Daily and spot reports from the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine

The SMM observed a large number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. It continued to visit heavy weapons holding areas and permanent storage sites. The Mission encountered freedom-of-movement restrictions, mostly in areas not controlled by the Government. It continued to facilitate and monitor repair work on critical infrastructure along the contact line. The Mission monitored a protest march in Lviv in which participants called for the release of so-called political prisoners...

The SMM observed ceasefire violations in Donetsk and in Luhansk regions. It continued to visit heavy weapons holding areas and permanent storage sites. The Mission encountered freedom of movement restrictions in areas not controlled by the Government. In Kyiv, the SMM monitored two marches. It continued to facilitate and monitor repair works on critical infrastructure...

The SMM observed a number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, but none in the area of Donetsk airport. In Luhansk region, it also observed instances of ceasefire violations, including live-fire exercises. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to critical infrastructure. The Mission monitored the humanitarian situation in villages near the contact line. The SMM’s freedom of movement was restricted in areas not controlled by the Government...

The SMM observed a number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In Luhansk region, it also observed instances of ceasefire violations, including live-fire training. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted, mostly in areas not controlled by the Government.* In Zaitseve, the SMM conducted crater analysis and observed a damaged house. In Marinka it facilitated and monitored repair works on the local gas pipeline...

On 10 February at 11:51hrs, the SMM heard a powerful explosion in Kramatorsk (95km north of Donetsk). From their position at Kramatorsk Boulevard #41, the SMM assessed that the sound of the explosion came from approximately 1.5 kilometres south-east, near Kramatorsk airport (where the Ukrainian authorities have deployed an “Anti-terrorist Operation” (ATO) base). The SMM also observed a white smoke trail in the direction of the explosion. At 12:00hrs, the SMM contacted the “ATO” command, which did not have further information. The SMM did not go to the airport for security reasons...

The SMM observed a number of ceasefire violations across Donetsk region. In Luhansk region, it also observed instances of ceasefire violations, including live-fire training. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The Mission continued also to facilitate repairs to vital civilian infrastructure. The SMM met with a civilian wounded by a booby trap in Zaitseve. The SMM faced restrictions to its freedom of movement once in a government-controlled area and three times in “LPR”-controlled areas...

The SMM observed a small number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In Luhansk region, it observed no ceasefire violations. “LPR” members restricted its freedom of movement on six ocasions. The Mission continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs of critical infrastructure. The SMM also followed up on reports of civilians injured during shelling in Zaitseve, the water shortages in Luhansk city.

On 5 February, the SMM followed up on the shelling which reportedly struck the Kirovskyi district in Donetsk city on 4 February from 11:40 to 11:45hrs. The same shelling salvo reportedly hit the direct surrounding of the Kindergarten No. 381, a neighbouring street near the Kindergarten and Donetsk Hospital No. 27. The SMM inspected the three aforementioned different sites located in the Kirovskyi district on 5 February between 10:00 and 15:00hrs.

Due to adverse weather and other operational requirements, the SMM limited its patrolling in Donbas in order to conduct first aid, evacuation and medical evacuation drills. The SMM however, did observe ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. The Mission monitored the situation at crossing points at the administrative boundary line between Kherson region and Crimea. In Lviv, the Mission monitored a meeting between the Regional Council and representatives of different Russian national cultural organizations. The SMM monitored events marking the Day of Unity of Ukraine on 22 January 2016 in Chernivtsi and Lviv.

The SMM observed a number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, mainly at and around Donetsk airport and in Marinka. In Luhansk region, the Mission observed ceasefire violations including the use of Addendum-regulated weapons and heavy weapons during live-fire exercises on both sides of the contact line. “DPR” and “LPR” members restricted the SMM’s freedom of movement.* The SMM could reach certain non-government-controlled border areas in Luhansk region for the first time.