Militants continue to deny OSCE Mission full access in Donbas – report

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine reported on denial of the SMM access in Donbas in some areas outside control of the Government, according to a daily report published by the OSCE SMM on November 18.

¨On 16 and 17 November, at a checkpoint north of Zaichenko (non-government controlled, 93km south of Donetsk), armed members of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage south towards Sakhanka (non-government-controlled, 97km south of Donetsk) and west towards Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, non-government controlled, 92km south of Donetsk), citing ‘dangerous conditions and ongoing demining operation,” reads the report.

Also, at a checkpoint north of Novoazovsk (non-government-controlled, 102km south of Donetsk), armed members of the armed formations, denied the SMM passage on November 16 and 17, citing “ongoing drill.”

“On 17 November, at a checkpoint north-west of Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk), two armed members of the armed formations allowed the SMM to pass only after checking the trunk of its vehicles,” reads the report.