OSCE: Azov battallion takes over SMM post, patrols attacked

by Systematic

A member of Special Monitoring Mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) to Ukraine walks along a convoy of Ukrainian armed forces in Blagodatne, eastern Ukraine (Reuters / Gleb Garanich)

[…] On 1 May approximately seven members of the Azov volunteer battalion took over an SMM observation point 4km north-west of Shyrokyne. Despite being informed that the place was regularly used by the SMM and despite subsequent intervention on the part of Ukrainian Armed Forces officers from the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), the members of the battalion refused to vacate the position. […]

Read in full Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30 (Kyiv time), 1 May 2015 at OSCE

Meanwhile, today May 2 OSCE reported:

KYIV, 02 MAY 2015 – The Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, today expressed his deep concern about an increase in incidents over the past 36 hours, involving live fire near and at SMM patrols.

The most serious incident occurred early Saturday afternoon when a patrol in Shyrokyne was hit by small arms fire. There were no injuries.

Also on Saturday in Pisky (near Donetsk airport), four mortar shells landed nearby an SMM patrol while it was approaching an observation point. There was no fighting in the area at the time and the situation was quiet. Less than two hours later, the same patrol, while stationary in Adviivka, came under cross fire including by 152mm artillery that is proscribed under the Minsk agreements. In both cases there were no injuries.

The Chief Monitor also voiced concern over an incident on May 1, when the members of the battalion on the ground interfered with the work of an SMM observation point near Shyrokyne. […]

Read in full CHIEF MONITOR OF OSCE SPECIAL MONITORING MISSION CALLS FOR RESPECT OF MONITORS’ SAFETY AND FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT at OSCE

Related recent news at RT:

Death threats for OSCE inspectors by Ukraine servicemen – Moscow

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