Spot Report by OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM): Man threatens SMM at camera site at Oktiabr mine

This report is for media and the general public.

At 17:45 on 7 October, an SMM patrol visited the Oktiabr mine (“DPR”-controlled, 8km north-west of Donetsk city centre) to inspect the SMM camera located at the site. While on the first floor of the mineshaft tower where the camera is installed, the SMM heard movement in the upper levels. The SMM identified itself several times in a loud voice in the Russian language. In response, the SMM heard a man curse in Russian from the upper levels of the mineshaft tower. After identifying itself one more time, the SMM heard the sound of a rifle being cocked and the man threatening in Russian: “OSCE get out, or I will shoot!”

The SMM immediately left the mineshaft tower and entered its vehicles. The SMM contacted a “DPR” member in Donetsk to explain the situation and ask for assistance in ensuring its secure access to the camera site, as previously agreed. After waiting for 15 minutes for a response the SMM left the area.