Daily and spot reports from the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine

The situation in Mariupol and the surrounding area raises concern due to increased military activity, primarily to the east of Mariupol city. Reportedly, heavy fighting in the area of Shyrokyne (24km east of Mariupol city) and Bezimenne (34km east of Mariupol city) is taking place. Local residents are nervous and fear that Mariupol may be attacked soon.

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by the parties and security considerations*. The situation remained largely calm in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions with only sparse ceasefire violations recorded by the SMM. The SMM observed considerable queues of civilian vehicles waiting at checkpoints to cross both into government-controlled and non-government controlled areas...

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by the parties and security considerations*. The situation remained largely calm in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions with several ceasefire violations recorded by the SMM. The SMM followed up on a fatal accident in “DPR”-controlled Torez.

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by the parties and security considerations*. The SMM recorded some ceasefire violations and continued spotting heavy weapons both in Luhansk and Donetsk regions. The majority of international humanitarian organizations operating in “LPR”-controlled areas of Luhansk region were told to leave before the weekend. The SMM observed concentrations of tanks at a few training sites in areas not controlled by the government...

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by the parties and security considerations*. The SMM noted a large concentration of tanks in a “DPR”-controlled area along the contact line. The SMM recorded some ceasefire violations, demining and training in Donbas, and an incident in Kharkiv...

The SMM established an advance team in Mariupol to monitor the security situation in the area. This presence is being strengthened.

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by the parties and security considerations*. The situation remained largely calm in Donbas with only one non-training ceasefire violation recorded by the SMM. “DPR” members at a checkpoint pointed weapons at and threatened to shoot SMM members...

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by the parties and security considerations. The situation in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained relatively calm with no ceasefire violations recorded by the SMM. The SMM observed tensions but no incidents during the blockade of the three crossing points to Crimea...

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by the parties and security considerations. The situation in Donetsk region and in Luhansk region remained relatively calm and the SMM did not record ceasefire violations on 19 September, but observed six explosions and some small-arms fire on 20 September. The SMM observed tensions but no incidents during the blockade of cargo trucks at three crossing points to Crimea...

On 24 August the SMM entered Luhansk city which, due to heavy fighting, it had last visited on 21 July...