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This report is for the media and the general public.
The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Petrivske disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in the disengagement areas and elsewhere, including at a heavy weapons holding area in a non-government-controlled area of Donetsk region.* The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Novoamvrosiivske. The SMM continued to observe long queues at the entry-exit checkpoint near Stanytsia Luhanska. It facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance of essential infrastructure near Zalizne, Berezove, Vesela Hora and Zolote. The Mission visited five border areas outside of government control. In Kyiv, the SMM monitored public gatherings.
In Donetsk region the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations[1], including about 200 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 300 explosions).
On the evening of 6 December, the SMM camera 1km south-west of Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded, in sequence, three projectiles in flight from west to east and eight projectiles from east to west, all 5-8km north.
While in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard an undetermined explosion, five explosions assessed as outgoing rounds of infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1) cannon (73mm), and heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 3-5km south-east.
On the night of 6-7 December, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (15km north of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, two undetermined explosions, five tracer rounds in flight from west to east, 14 tracer rounds from east to west, four projectiles in flight from east to west and eight undetermined explosions, followed by a total of 29 undetermined explosions, 197 projectiles (107 from east to west and 90 from west to east) and nine tracers (six from east to west and three from west to east), all 0.5-1.5km south. During the day on 7 December, the same camera recorded, in sequence, three undetermined explosions, two projectiles from west to east, three undetermined explosions, a projectile from west to east, two undetermined explosions, two projectiles from north to south, an undetermined explosion, a projectile from north-west to south-east and an undetermined explosion, all 0.5-3km south.
During the day on 7 December, positioned at the railway station in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard two undetermined explosions 2-3km north, and 53 undetermined explosions and over 100 bursts and shots of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, all 1-4km at westerly directions. Positioned on the south-western edge of Yasynuvata for about three hours, the SMM heard 62 explosions and about 100 bursts and shots of small-arms fire, all 1-5km at westerly directions.
Positioned on the south-western edge of government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) for about five hours, the SMM heard three undetermined explosions 3-5km east and east-south-east, and three undetermined explosions and about 60 bursts and shots of IFV (BMP-2) cannon (30mm) fire, heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 2-4km south.
Positioned 3km south-east of government-controlled Volnovakha (53km south of Donetsk), the SMM heard about 30 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire and 30 bursts of IFV (BMP-2) cannon or anti-aircraft cannon (ZU-23, 23mm) fire, all at unknown distances east-north-east.
In Luhansk region the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including, however, more explosions (about 120), compared with the previous reporting period (66 explosions).
On the evening of 6 December, while on the northern edge of government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk) the SMM heard at least 100 explosions assessed as outgoing mortar rounds 4-5km south-east.
On the night of 6-7 December, while on the eastern edge of government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska the SMM heard two undetermined explosions and small-arms fire, all 2-3km south-west (assessed as outside the disengagement area).
During the day on 7 December, positioned in “LPR”-controlled Vesela Hora (16km north of Luhansk), the SMM heard 11 undetermined explosions 15km north-north-west.
Positioned 3km south-east of government-controlled Bobrove (56km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard nine undetermined explosions 7km south-west.
The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process and to pursue full access to the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote (60km west of Luhansk) and Petrivske (41km south of Donetsk), as foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016. The SMM’s access remained restricted but the Mission was able to partially monitor them.*
On the evening and night of 5-6 December, the SMM camera in “DPR”-controlled Petrivske recorded ten undetermined explosions, 83 tracer rounds in flight (82 from west to east and one from north to south) and heavy-machine-gun fire, all at unknown distances at directions ranging from south-south-east to south-west (unable to determine whether inside or outside the disengagement area).
On 7 December, positioned near all three disengagement areas, the SMM observed calm situations.
The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, in implementation of the Package of Measures and its Addendum, as well as the Memorandum.