Daily and spot reports from the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine

The SMM continued to monitor the full range of issues within its mandate, with a particular focus on compliance with the provisions of the memorandum signed on 19 September in Minsk. It also observed rallies in Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Odessa against the Russian Federation’s policy towards Ukraine...

The SMM noted a number of instances of artillery fire in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The SMM on 21 September met the leader of an irregular armed group – a self-styled Cossack commander – in Pervomais’k (70km north-west of Luhansk city). He insisted on being told in advance of any future SMM visit to territory controlled by him, saying the SMM’s security could not be guaranteed otherwise. The “Lugansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”) has previously told the SMM that the “commander” in question is not under the command or control of the “LPR”. (See Daily Report 139/2014)

The SMM observed the situation in Donbas, with a particular focus on implementation of the provisions of the Memorandum signed on 19 September in Minsk. It also continued to monitor the situation of IDPs...

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions focusing on the implementation of the provisions of the Minsk Protocol/Memorandum. In Kyiv, in a large demonstration, protesters threatened the authorities with a “New Maidan” after the Central Election Commission refused to register members of the “Volya” party for the upcoming parliamentary elections...

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions focusing on the implementation of the provisions of the Minsk Protocol/Memorandum, noting, in particular, intense shelling around the airport in Donetsk city...

Two incidents involving explosions occurred in Kharkiv on 25 September; the SMM visited both sites. The first explosion occurred in the Komintern district at 02:30hrs at the office of a lawyer who is also an independent candidate in the legislative elections as well as a pro-unity activist. The police confirmed that the explosion resulted from an RPG...

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, where it observed and received reports of shelling in a number of locations, including Shchastya and Donetsk city. In Kharkiv the SMM observed a pro-Ukrainian unity rally which culminated in the removal of a statue of Lenin from one of the city’s central squares...

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions focusing on the implementation of the provisions of the Minsk Protocol/Memorandum. While the situation remained calm in the Luhansk region, the SMM observed ongoing fighting at Donetsk International airport and heard sporadic shelling in Donetsk northern sectors (Avdiivka). The SMM also heard artillery and mortar fire in the north-eastern sectors of Mariupol (Sartana and Oktaybr). The SMM monitored a simultaneous release of prisoners between the Ukrainian forces and representatives of “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”). In Kharkiv the situation remained calm in the hours which followed the toppling of the local Lenin statue.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions focusing on the implementation of the Minsk Protocol/Memorandum. In the city of Donetsk and surrounding areas, the overall situation was generally tense...

In Donetsk city shelling on a residential area caused civilian casualties near a school.

An ICRC staff member – a Swiss national – was killed in shelling whilst apparently standing outside the front door of the ICRC office in Donetsk city on 2 October...

In the city of Donetsk and its surroundings, the overall security situation is deteriorating. An ICRC staff member was killed as a result of heavy shelling...

In the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, and in particular in the city of Donetsk and its surroundings, the situation remained tense. Displacement continued in the rest of the country.

Focusing on the implementation of the Minsk Protocol and Memorandum, the SMM continued monitoring the situation in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions where shelling continued to take place. The situation in the other regions of Ukraine remained calm.

Focusing on the Minsk Protocol and Memorandum, the SMM continued monitoring the situation in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, still noting that violence is continuing in a number of places.

Focusing on the Minsk Protocol and Memorandum, the SMM continued to monitor the Luhansk and Donetsk regions where the situation remained tense and highly volatile...

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, focusing on the implementation of the provisions of the Minsk Protocol/Memorandum. In Kyiv representatives of the Central Election Commission addressed some of the challenges that IDPs could face during the upcoming elections.

The SMM noted a decrease in violence in a number of areas in Donbas. The lustration issue was debated in Lviv and Odesa...

Focusing on the Minsk Protocol and Memorandum, the SMM continued monitoring the situation in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, still noting that violence is continuing in a number of places.

The SMM observed the situation in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, focusing on the implementation of the Minsk Protocol/Memorandum. The Mission continued to receive reports, and directly observed, shelling occurrences in a number of areas. In Kyiv civil society representatives expressed concern for the fate of those held captive by illegally armed groups in Donbas...

Focusing on the implementation of the Minsk Protocol/Memorandum, the SMM continued monitoring Donetsk and Luhansk areas where sporadic artillery shelling was still reported and observed. The SMM also gathered additional information about the concrete future implementation process in Ukraine of the newly adopted Law on Lustration.

A Ukrainian military checkpoint c. 40 km northwest of Luhansk city is surrounded by irregular armed personnel. There are 12 reported casualties, two of whom are confirmed by the SMM...

A GRAD rocket struck a small village close to Mariupol, causing civilian casualties...

Civilians were killed and injured in an artillery attack on a village north-east of Mariupol. Ukrainian soldiers attempting to relieve a surrounded Ukrainian military checkpoint north-west of Luhansk city were killed and injured when they were ambushed by irregular armed forces.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions focusing on the implementation of the provisions of the Minsk Protocol/Memorandum. The SMM visited a number of border crossing points between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. Rallies and marches were organized in a number of cities throughout the country on 14 October to mark the 72nd anniversary of the creation of the “Ukrainian Insurgent Army” (“UPA”).

The SMM met with Ukrainian and Russian heads of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination in Debaltseve to discuss implementation of the Minsk Memorandum. The situation in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained tense, whereas the western part of the country remained calm...

In addition to its regular monitoring, the SMM continued to monitor the implementation of the provisions of the Minsk Protocol and Memorandum. The situation in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained volatile, whereas other parts of the country remained calm...

The SMM continued to monitor the implementation of the provisions of the Minsk Protocol and Memorandum. In the Donetsk and Luhansk regions the situation remained volatile. In other parts of the country the situation remained calm. In Lviv the SMM observed a political rally organised by “Right Sector”.

The SMM continued to monitor the implementation of the provisions of the Minsk Protocol and Memorandum and within this context the work of the Joint Centre for Co-ordination and Control (JCCC). The Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained tense.

The SMM continued to monitor the implementation of the provisions of the Minsk Protocol and Memorandum. In the Donetsk and Luhansk regions the situation remained volatile. The SMM observed numerous cases of non-compliance with the provisions of the Minsk Memorandum and received reports of many others. In other parts of the country the situation remained calm.