Daily and spot reports from the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by third parties and security considerations.* Fighting intensified around Donetsk airport and Shyrokyne. The SMM observed military movements on both sides of the contact line.

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. The SMM, based on its monitoring – which was restricted by third parties and by security considerations* – observed ongoing fighting in and around Donetsk airport, with fewer incidents involving the use of heavy weapons than in previous days. After days of calm, fighting took place in and around Shyrokyne, forcing the SMM to temporarily withdraw. The SMM observed military movements on both sides of the contact line. The SMM re-visited heavy weapons holding areas.

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. The SMM, based on its monitoring – which was restricted by third parties and by security considerations (cf. below) – observed on-going fighting in and around Donetsk airport, albeit at a lower intensity compared to previous days. The situation, however, remained relatively calm in the Luhansk region and in the rest of the Donetsk region, notably around Shyrokyne, where for the first time the SMM maintained an overnight static presence...

On 17 April, at 18:30hrs, an SMM team, composed of eight staff from the Head Office and the Mariupol Hub and led by the SMM Deputy Chief Monitor, replaced the SMM team that was in the village since 06:40hrs the same day. The SMM located a suitable site to monitor the ceasefire as foreseen in the Minsk package. The SMM parked its two armoured vehicles close to a shelter which the team could use if needed. The SMM marked its location with large OSCE flags which could be illuminated in case of emergency. Throughout the night the OSCE SMM Unmanned/Unarmed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) hovered over Shyrokyne and environs, updating the SMM team in real-time about the situation in the area...

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. The SMM, based on its monitoring – which was restricted by third parties and by security considerations – observed ongoing intensive fighting in and around Donetsk airport. The situation, however, remained relatively calm around Shyrokyne, and mostly calm in the rest of the Donetsk region and the Luhansk region...

Following the escalation of violence in Shyrokyne (22km east of Mariupol) over the Orthodox Easter weekend, SMM Deputy Chief Monitor Alexander Hug and his team travelled to Mariupol on 13 April to spearhead efforts for a localised ceasefire. Since 13 April the SMM has visited Shyrokyne on a daily basis, engaging the two sides in a dialogue aiming at the cessation of hostilities. The SMM directly negotiated with the actors on the ground in an effort to gain unrestricted access to the village. Consequently, the SMM conducted a humanitarian assessment of the location, which included personal interaction with over 35 of the civilians left in the conflict-torn village.

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by third parties and by security considerations*. Fighting continued unabated in the area of Donetsk airport; the SMM observed many ceasefire violations mainly around Avdiivka, Pisky, Spartak and Zhabunki. For the second consecutive day, fighting subsided in the Shyrokyne area but the humanitarian situation continues to be dire. The SMM monitored heavy weapons holding areas belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and observed that not all heavy weapons previously recorded remain in situ...

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. The SMM, based on its monitoring – which was restricted by third parties and by security considerations* – observed ongoing intensive fighting in and around Donetsk airport with a considerable number of ceasefire violations, particularly around Avdiivka. The situation, however, remained relatively calm around Shyrokyne for the second consecutive day, and mostly calm in the rest of the Donetsk region and the Luhansk region...

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements”. The SMM, based on its monitoring – which was restricted by third parties and by security considerations* – observed a massive increase in the number of ceasefire violations, especially around Donetsk airport and Shyrokyne. Fighting continued in other areas but sporadically.

At 9.35hrs on 12 April, upon arrival at Donetsk railway station (“Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled, 8km north-west of Donetsk city centre), the SMM witnessed heavy fighting between “DPR” and the Ukrainian Armed Forces in areas near the city visible from its position.