14:10 24.06.2017

OSCE SMM records small-arms fire, explosions in Zolote close to its patrol

2 min read
OSCE SMM records small-arms fire, explosions in Zolote close to its patrol

A Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) of the OSCE has witnessed explosions and small-arms fire in the vicinity of the town of Zolote, Luhansk region, near the disengagement line.

"On June 23, an SMM patrol comprising two armored vehicles and six members was stationary in a residential area in government-controlled Zolote-4, approximately 300m north of the Zolote disengagement area (60km north-west of Luhansk). All patrol members were outside the vehicles. At 10:38, in less than a minute, the patrol heard high-intensity outgoing small-arms fire (approximately 50 to 100 shots), two explosions assessed as outgoing mortar (82mm) fire, and three outgoing shots of automatic grenade launcher (AGS-type), all approximately 100m south-east," the OSCE SMM said in a report posted on its website.

In a few minutes, the SMM heard three to four bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, followed by uncountable small-arms shots 150-200m south-east. "At least one shot, assessed as fired from south-east, made a distinct whistle sound while flying overhead, so low that SMM patrol members bent down.

The SMM patrol members then headed to their vehicles and left the area, driving west towards a government checkpoint 300m north of the Zolote disengagement area. "Along the road, the SMM noted the Ukrainian Armed Forces pointing their weapons south, towards the Zolote disengagement area, and two Ukrainian Armed Forces vehicles (green sport utility vehicles) driving at a high speed east towards Zolote-4," the mission said.

Soon, the SMM patrol reached the top of a hill 1km north of the checkpoint, from where it saw white smoke rising 3km south-east assessed to be inside the Zolote disengagement area.

The patrol returned safely to its base in Severodonetsk. The SMM informed the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) about the incident.

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