Daily and spot reports from the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine

KYIV, 24 August 2014- The SMM on 23 August (at 17:15hrs) saw a residential area in Donetsk (Kalinski district, around 5km north of the city centre) which was severely damaged by artillery. Residents at the scene told the SMM that the area was shelled at around 16:30hrs.

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 observed few ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, and none in Luhansk.

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

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 an increase in the number of ceasefire violations compared to previous days in Donetsk region, and one ceasefire violation in Luhansk region...

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 ceasefire violations, almost exclusively at or around Donetsk airport and none in the Luhansk region...

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 SMM recorded 231 explosions in Donetsk region and 16 explosions in Luhansk region. The SMM observed the movement of military hardware in Donetsk region...

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by security considerations*. The SMM recorded a decrease in ceasefire violation numbers both in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared to the previous day. Considerable movement of military equipment to the west of the contact line was observed by the SMM in Donetsk region...

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 ceasefire violations at or around Donetsk airport and none in the Luhansk region. In Uman, the SMM found a quiet atmosphere following tensions over the removal of a tent built for an annual pilgrimage of Hasidic Jews...

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 44 explosions in Donetsk region and over 38 explosions in Luhansk region. The SMM revised heavy weapons holding areas of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, “DPR”, and “LPR”...