Militants deny access to SMM patrols at four checkpoints in Donbas

The OSCE SMM informed this in a report, based on information received as of 19:30, September 18, 2019.

“At a checkpoint in Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), an armed member of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage, citing “ongoing engineering activities,” thereby restricting the SMM’s access to its camera in Petrivske,” the report says.

At a checkpoint west of Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly, Oktiabr, non-government-controlled, 85km south of Donetsk), an armed member of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage, citing “ongoing engineering works in the area”. The SMM saw, however, that civilian vehicles continued to cross the checkpoint.

At a checkpoint in Staromykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 15km west of Donetsk), three members of the armed formations (one visibly armed) denied the SMM passage to the settlement, citing a “special operation” in the area.

At a checkpoint at the eastern entrance to Kozatske (non-government-controlled, 86km south of Donetsk), an armed member of the armed formations denied the SMM passage north-east to Porokhnia (non-government-controlled, 85km south of Donetsk), citing orders from superiors.

In addition, the sides continued to deny the SMM full access to disengagement areas near Zolote and Petrivske, as well as the ability to travel certain roads previously identified as important for effective monitoring by the Mission and for civilians’ movement, through failure to conduct comprehensive clearance of mines and UXO.

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