Daily and spot reports from the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Petrivske disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including at a heavy weapons holding area outside of government control.* The SMM saw weapons in violations of the withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The Mission again facilitated and monitored repairs to a fibre optic cable near Shchastia; as a result, mobile telecommunications services were restored in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region. The SMM visited a border area outside of government control. In Dnipro, it followed up on reports of damage to the office building of a political party.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. It followed up on reports of the deaths of two persons in Donetsk city. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it saw an armoured personnel carrier near the Petrivske disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere.* The Mission again facilitated and monitored repairs to a fibre optic cable near Shchastia. In Khartsyzk, it continued to monitor the situation of internally displaced persons. The SMM followed up on reports of flooding in Chihari due to a leaking water pipeline. The Mission visited two border areas not under government control. It monitored the administrative boundary line between Kherson region and Crimea and noted a calm situation.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including at a checkpoint near Staromykhailivka and near Olenivka.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Vodiane and Bohoiavlenka. It facilitated and monitored repairs to a fiber optic cable near Shchastia. The SMM visited a border area not under government control. The Mission monitored public gatherings in Kyiv and Kharkiv.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Petrivske disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including at a checkpoint near Verkhnoshyrokivske.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Svobodne. It followed up on reports of power outages in Betmanove and Slovianoserbsk. The SMM visited two border areas not under government control. The Mission monitored public gatherings in Kyiv.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous 24 hours and one ceasefire violation in Luhansk region. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations inside the Petrivske disengagement area. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including at a checkpoint near Horlivka. The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Ternove. The Mission observed newly extended trenches close to a water pumping station near Vasylivka. The SMM monitored the situation at a school and a kindergarten near Novoluhanske. The Mission visited a border area not under government control...

The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region between the evenings of 12 and 13 January compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region between the evenings of 13 and 14 January compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission saw damage to civilian properties due to shelling and gunfire in Dokuchaievsk and Avdiivka. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded a ceasefire violation inside the Petrivske disengagement area. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including at a non-government-controlled heavy weapons holding area, at two non-government-controlled permanent storage sites and in Staromykhailivka. The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Bakhmut. The Mission visited four border areas not under government control...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period and no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. An SMM unmanned aerial vehicle was targeted by small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire near Pavlopil. The Mission followed up on reports of a civilian casualty in Makiivka, and it observed damage to civilian properties and a hospital due to shelling in Kalynove. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, where it observed calm situations. The Mission’s access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including at a “DPR” heavy weapons holding area and in Izhevka.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Khreshchatytske, Novozarivka and Haiove. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable demining near Popasna and work at the phenol sludge reservoir in Zalizne. The Mission visited a border area not under government control.

The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and observed ceasefire violations near all three areas. The SMM’s access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including at a heavy weapons holding area in a government controlled area and in Siedove near the border with the Russian Federation.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line near Talakivka, Pryvilne, Kachkarske, Novooleksandrivka and Miusynsk. The SMM visited a border area not under government control. In Kyiv, the SMM continued to monitor a gathering in front of the Cabinet of Ministers building. In Chernivtsi region, the Mission monitored a gathering to mark the opening of a new building at a school where the predominant language of instruction is Romanian.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and observed a calm situation in each one. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including at a weapons permanent storage site and in Novolaspa in areas outside government control in Donetsk region.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Roty. The Mission visited four border areas not under government control. In Kyiv city, the SMM monitored gatherings in front of the Council of Ministers building. In Odessa city, the Mission followed up on media reports of stickers placed on the main doors of churches. In Lviv region, it monitored a protest at the international border crossing point near Shehyni...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and a similar number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission observed shrapnel damage to a building in Pikuzy. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and observed infantry fighting vehicles inside the Petrivske disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere.* The Mission observed a weapon in violation of withdrawal lines near Oleksandropillia. An SMM unmanned aerial vehicle spotted fallen power lines and an extended trench in Zaitseve. The Mission visited two border areas not under government control. It monitored the administrative boundary line between Kherson region and Crimea and noted a calm situation...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region between the evenings of 5 and 6 January compared with the previous reporting period and no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. Between the evenings of 6 and 7 January, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both regions compared with the previous 24 hours. In the following 24 hours, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and more in Luhansk region. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and observed a calm situation in each one; its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere.* The SMM noted that a weapons permanent storage site in government-controlled areas had been abandoned. The SMM visited four border areas not under government control. In Kyiv, the SMM followed up on media reports that the building of the Russian Centre for Science and Culture had been marked with red paint...

The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region – including, however, more explosions – compared with the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission observed damage to civilian property due to shelling in Pikuzy. It continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and observed a calm situation in each; its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere. The SMM observed a weapon in violation of withdrawal lines in Oleksandropillia. The Mission followed up on reports of a gas outage in Yasynuvata. It visited five border areas not under government control. The SMM monitored a court hearing in Odessa.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period and no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. The SMM followed up on reports about a man injured by the explosion of a hand grenade in Svatove. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it observed a calm situation in all three areas. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas and elsewhere. The SMM visited a border area not under government control. The Mission monitored the administrative boundary line between Kherson region and Crimea...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. A man, who claimed to be a “DPR” member, intentionally damaged an SMM vehicle in Makiivka. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere. The SMM visited four border areas not under government control...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including near Markyne. The SMM visited a border area not under government control. The Mission monitored a peaceful gathering in Kyiv...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 29 and 30 December compared with the previous 24 hours. Between the evenings of 30 and 31 December, it recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both regions compared with the previous 24 hours. Between the evenings of 31 December and 1 January, it recorded more ceasefire violations in both regions compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission observed damage, including from shelling, to civilian residences in Donetsk city. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded a ceasefire violation in the Petrivske disengagement area. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere. The SMM saw recently laid anti-tank mines in a field near Vesela Hora. It visited three border areas outside government control. The Mission monitored a peaceful gathering in Kyiv.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of a minor injured by an explosion in Honcharivka. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including at a heavy weapons holding area and near Markyne. The SMM saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Oleksandropil. The Mission facilitated and monitored repairs to power lines near Betmanove and was informed that power had been restored to the village; it also facilitated and monitored maintenance works in Zalizne. The SMM visited two border areas outside government control.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska and Petrivske disengagement areas. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere. The Mission facilitated and monitored repairs to a power substation near Dolomitne and noted that, as a result, electricity had been restored to Travneve. The SMM visited three border areas outside government control.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and the same number in Luhansk region (one explosion) compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission monitored, with mirror patrols on both sides of the contact line, and facilitated, on the spot, an exchange of detainees between Ukraine and certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including near Verkhnoshyrokivske and at a heavy weapons holding area in a non-government-controlled area of Donetsk region.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM visited a border area outside of government control.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and a similar number in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle spotted new mines inside and near the Petrivske disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere. The Mission observed weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines near Mariupol. The SMM visited two border areas outside government control. In Dnipro, the SMM followed up on reports of an explosion of an improvised explosive device which injured a woman...

Following the recommitment to cease fire, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and a similar number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region between the evenings of 22 and 23 December compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 23 and 24 December, the SMM recorded a significant decrease in the number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous 24 hours and no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 24 and 25 December compared with the previous 24 hours, but fewer compared with the period between the evenings of 22 and 23 December. The Mission followed up on reports of a civilian injured along the contact line near Berezove and observed damage to residential areas of Pavlopil and Yasynuvata assessed as caused by shelling. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded a ceasefire violation inside the Stanytsia Luhanska area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including at two “DPR” weapons storage sites. The Mission observed weapons in violation near Poltavka. The SMM visited five border areas beyond government control. In Kyiv, the SMM monitored four gatherings in the city centre...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of a civilian casualty in Lysychansk. The SMM observed damage to civilian properties in residential areas of Yasynuvata. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations inside the Petrivske disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in the disengagement areas and elsewhere, including at checkpoints near Verkhnoshyrokivske and Rozdolne.* The Mission saw weapons in violation in Oleksandropil. The SMM observed long queues of civilians at the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of civilian casualties from Yasynuvata. The SMM observed damage to civilian properties in residential areas in Novoluhanske, Dokuchaievsk and Yasynuvata. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near all three. Its access remained restricted in the disengagement areas and elsewhere, including at a checkpoint near Verkhnoshyrokivske and a compound in Luhansk city.* The Mission saw weapons in violation in Sievierodonetsk and near Novotroitske. It observed convoys of trucks marked, “Humanitarian Aid from the Russian Federation”, in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The SMM visited four border areas outside of government control...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties from Novoluhanske and Snizhne. The SMM continued to assess damage to civilian properties in residential areas in Novoluhanske. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near all three and heard an explosion assessed as an outgoing mortar round 250m north of its position near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in the disengagement areas and elsewhere.* The Mission saw a weapon in violation of withdrawal lines near Travneve. It observed military presence and mines in and around Travneve, Dolomitne, Holmivskyi and Novoluhanske. The Mission visited two border areas outside of government control.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM heard explosions less than 600m from its forward patrol base in Popasna; subsequently, SMM staff left the base. The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties from Novoluhanske, Kadiivka and Holmivskyi. The SMM assessed damage to civilian properties in residential areas in Pervomaisk and Kadiivka. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area and near all three. Its access remained restricted in the disengagement areas and elsewhere.* In Donetsk and Kharkiv regions, the SMM followed up on the withdrawal of Russian Federation Armed Forces officers of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC); it monitored their passing through the entry-exit checkpoint near Maiorsk and exiting Ukraine at a border crossing point in Kharkiv region. The SMM visited three border areas outside of government control.

At around 19:15 on 18 December, while at its forward patrol base on the northern edge of government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard five undetermined explosions 500-600m north-east, followed by three explosions assessed as outgoing rounds of undetermined weapons within 1.5km south-west. SMM staff (consisting of five monitoring officers, a paramedic and a language assistant) at the forward patrol base immediately gathered near the base’s basement shelter and remained there the entire evening. At around 19:50, the SMM, via telephone, informed Ukrainian Armed Forces and Russian Federation Armed Forces officers of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) of the shelling; the latter told the Mission to contact the armed formations directly...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and a similar number in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted in the disengagement areas and elsewhere, including near Yurivka and Khoroshe.* The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Bakhmut. In Donetsk region the SMM confirmed that Russian Federation Armed Forces officers of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) had withdrawn from their duties in five JCCC offices. The SMM was positioned on both sides of the Maiorsk entry-exit checkpoint to monitor their crossing of the contact line, but no crossing took place. The SMM observed a calm situation at the protest camp near the Parliament building in Kyiv...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 15 and 16 December compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region between the evenings of 16 and 17 December compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission assessed impact sites near residential areas on the eastern outskirts of Popasna caused by shelling. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near all three. Its access remained restricted in the disengagement areas and elsewhere, including in Trokhizbenka.* The Mission continued to observe long queues at the entry-exit checkpoint near Stanytsia Luhanska. The SMM facilitated and monitored repairs of essential infrastructure near Travneve, Dovhe, and in Raivka. The Mission visited five border areas outside of government control. In Kyiv, it monitored a march and a gathering in the city centre, and the aftermath of reported incidents and clashes between the crowd and police.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission reached Travneve, where it spoke with civilians and saw military presence. It also followed up on reports of civilian casualties in Dokuchaievsk. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded a ceasefire violation in the disengagement area near Petrivske and near the disengagement area near Stanytsia Luhanska. Its access remained restricted in the disengagement areas and elsewhere, including in Uzhivka.* The SMM saw weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines near Shymshynivka and Haiove. The SMM facilitated and monitored repairs of essential infrastructure near Travneve, Vesela Hora and Artema.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission assessed impact sites in residential areas in Dokuchaievsk, Luhanske and Horlivka. In Kalynove-Borshchuvate, the SMM observed damage to a power line caused by shelling. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and recorded ceasefire violations inside the Petrivske disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in the disengagement areas and elsewhere.* The Ukrainian Armed Forces representative to the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) shared with the SMM a letter from the Russian Federation informing Ukraine about the Russian Federation’s intention to withdraw its Armed Forces officers from the JCCC. The SMM saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Oleksandropil. The Mission followed up on the situation of civilians living in Travneve and Hladosove; it heard that electricity was supplied to Travneve and Hladosove and that the regular bus service between Travneve and Novoluhanske had resumed. The SMM facilitated and monitored repairs to a power line in Avdiivka and observed the completion of the repairs. It also facilitated and monitored repairs of essential infrastructure near Zalizne, Artema and Vesela Hora. The SMM visited a border area outside of government control.