Militants deny SMM full access at three checkpoints in Donbas

The OSCE SMM said this in a report issued on January 24, based on information from the monitoring teams received as of 19:30 on January 23, 2020.

“At a checkpoint of the armed formations about 3km north of Petrivske (nongovernment-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), a member of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage south towards the settlement, citing “orders from superiors”, “security reasons” and the “safety of the SMM”. While at the checkpoint, the Mission saw civilian cars crossing in both directions,” reads the report.

At a checkpoint north of Zaichenko (non-government-controlled, 93km south of Donetsk), two armed members of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage towards Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, non-government-controlled, 92km south of  Donetsk) and Sakhanka (non-government-controlled, 97km south of Donetsk), citing “ongoing demining activities”.

At a checkpoint west of Bezimenne (non-government-controlled, 100km south of Donetsk), a member of the armed formations denied the SMM passage, citing “orders from superiors”.

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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