OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Daily Report 63/2021 issued on 18 March 2021

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the Mission recorded 44 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 30 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded no ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it also recorded no ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission followed up on reports of a man who died due to small-arms fire near government-controlled Bohdanivka, Donetsk region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. An SMM unmanned aerial vehicle spotted a person inside the disengagement area near Zolote.
• The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in a government-controlled area of Donetsk region and in a non-government-controlled area of Luhansk region.
• In the past weeks, the SMM spotted extensions to existing trenches on both sides of the contact line, near and on the territory of the destroyed Donetsk international airport.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable maintenance and operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at three entry-exit checkpoints and two corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.*