Militants restrict SMM’s freedom of movement in Donbas – report

The OSCE SMM informed this in a report issued on January 23, based on information from the monitoring teams received as of 19:30 on January 22, 2020.

“At a border crossing point near Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, non-government-controlled, 65km south-east of Luhansk), a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area,” reads the report.

At a checkpoint of the armed formations about 3km north of Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), a member of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage south towards the settlement, citing “orders from - 6 - superiors” and “ongoing special operations”. While at the checkpoint, the Mission saw civilian cars crossing in both directions.

At a checkpoint west of Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, non-government-controlled, 85km south of Donetsk), a member of the armed formations denied the SMM passage, citing “an anti-subversion operation in the area”, thus preventing the Mission from monitoring areas near the border not under government control. While at the checkpoint, the Mission saw civilian cars passing through the checkpoint in both directions.

At a checkpoint 2.5km west of Bezimenne (non-government-controlled, 100km south of Donetsk), an armed member of the armed formations denied the SMM passage westwards.

The sides continued to deny the SMM full access, 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, UXO and other obstacles.

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