Significant movements of military hardware have been observed in areas of the Donetsk region which are controlled by the Ukrainian government, the Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said in its daily report valid on Sept. 8, which was published on Sept. 9.
“At government-controlled Konstantynopol [57km west of Donetsk] the SMM observed one tank [T-64] moving westwards. Near government-controlled Iskra [90km west of Donetsk] the SMM observed eight fuel trucks moving eastwards followed by an armoured military truck with 12 military personnel and five IFVs [four BMP-1s and one BMP-2] on flat-beds heading west. While in government-controlled Havrylivka [95km west of Donetsk] the SMM observed one infantry fighting vehicle [IFV, BMP-1] with an antitank guided missile [FAGOT] mounted, travelling west. Between government-controlled Havrylivka [95km west of Donetsk] and Donetsk, the SMM observed two empty flat-beds heading east. In government-controlled Bohatyr [64km west of Donetsk] the SMM observed one BMP-1 and one BMP-2 on flat-beds heading west,” the statement reads.
“In [Luhansk People’s Repulblic] ‘LPR’-controlled Chornukhyne [65km south-west of Luhansk] the SMM observed four anti-tank guns [100mm, MT-12 ‘Rapira’], attached to their towing trucks and five ‘Ural’ trucks on the roadside,” the SMM said.
The OSCE said these movements were observed “in areas that are in violation of respective withdrawal lines.”
On Tuesday SMM monitors observed 231 explosions in the Donetsk region and 16 in the Luhansk region. In particular, 125 explosions were observed in Donetsk, including 110 near the ruined Donetsk airport. In the Luhansk region, the situation remained quiet; monitors observed a total of 16 explosions in Schastia and there was artillery fire from the southwest of the city.
Under the Minsk memorandum, weapons with a caliber of over 100mm should be withdrawn at least 15km from the dividing line on both sides (with a few exceptions) to create a buffer zone at least 30km wide. The list of exceptions included 120mm mortar launchers, which were to be withdrawn eight kilometers from the dividing line.
