OSCE mission reports continuous worsening of situation in Mariupol

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine has reported the worsening of the situation in Mariupol and the risk of military confrontation in the city.

"The situation in Mariupol and the surrounding area raises concern due to increased military activity, primarily to the east of Mariupol city," the mission said in a report published on the OSCE Web site on September 4.

According to the report, heavy fighting in the area of Shyrokyne (24 kilometers east of Mariupol) and Bezimenne (34 kilometers east of Mariupol) is taking place. Observers also reported shelling in these localities, as well as the destruction of a power plant in Shyrokyne, which left the village without electricity.

"The SMM was informed by local inhabitants that they heard 50-60 explosions and that at 1715 four explosions were heard from the direction of Shyrokyne. In Berdiansk village the SMM was told by local inhabitants that Shyrokyne was shelled and that there had been casualties," reads the report.

"Local residents are nervous and fear that Mariupol may be attacked soon," observers said.

The mission, referring to the Ukrainian authorities, told observers that the situation in Mariupol was worsening by the hour and that there was "a danger that irregular armed groups could move into the city tonight."

According to the report, the mission visited the checkpoint in the eastern part of Mariupol on the E58 road towards Novoazovsk.

"The SMM noticed approximately 16 units of military hardware there (eight trucks and eight armored personnel carriers) leaving the checkpoint and moving in the direction of the city," reads the statement.