Spot Report: Explosion and small-arms fire occur close to SMM near Molodizhne and Kruta Hora, respectively

On 28 April an SMM patrol consisting of six members and two armoured vehicles was positioned at an “LPR”-checkpoint approximately 1.5km south-west of “LPR”-controlled Molodizhne (63km north-west of Luhansk) speaking with an armed “LPR” member. At 12:17, the patrol members were proceeding to their vehicles to depart the area when the same “LPR” member began waving his hand at the SMM, indicating that the patrol should depart quickly. At 12:20, from inside their vehicles, the SMM heard an explosion assessed as an airburst about 50-100m north-west. At the same time, the SMM saw a cloud of black smoke rising above the mentioned location; no impact was observed from the distance. The SMM could not assess the cause of the explosion. The SMM immediately left the area and returned safely to its base in “LPR”-controlled Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, 50km west of Luhansk).   

The same day, a separate SMM patrol consisting of five members and two armoured vehicles was positioned at an observation post about 50m west of an “LPR” position located 1km north-west of “LPR”-controlled Kruta Hora (16km north-west of Luhansk). At about 10:35, while all SMM patrol members were outside of their vehicles, the patrol heard a shot of small-arms fire approximately 40-50m south. The SMM could not determine the type of weapon or the direction in which it was fired. The SMM left the area immediately and returned safely to its base in Luhansk city.

In both cases, the SMM notified the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination and requested it to follow up.