OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Daily Report 178/2021 issued on 2 August 2021

Summary

• In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 30 July and 1 August, the SMM recorded 66 ceasefire violations, including five explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 408 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 30 July and 1 August, the Mission recorded 39 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 17 ceasefire violations in the region.
• On 31 July, small-arms fire was assessed as directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) during two separate flights near non-government-controlled Lebiazhe, Donetsk region.*
• On 31 July, a member of the armed formations refused the Mission to fly a mini-UAV near Staromykhailivka and threatened to shoot it down if the SMM tried.*
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It recorded ceasefire violations inside the disengagement area near Petrivske.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at three entry-exit checkpoints and the corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The SMM visited two border crossing points outside government control in Donetsk region and monitored areas near the border with the Russian Federation.
• The Mission observed no change in the security situation in east and south-east Kherson region.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint of the armed formations near non-government-controlled Staromykhailivka in Donetsk region. Its UAVs again experienced instances of GPS signal interference.*