11:53 01.06.2015

OSCE SMM reports disappearance of heavy weapons from DPR/LPR and Ukrainian holding areas

2 min read
OSCE SMM reports disappearance of heavy weapons from DPR/LPR and Ukrainian holding areas

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) in Ukraine has reported SMM observed weapons to be missing at heavy weapons holding areas of Ukrainian army, as well as Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR).

According to SMM report as of 19:30 May 29, 2015 published late on Saturday, seven howitzers and six multiple rocket launchers from the holding sites of the Ukrainian military.

"The SMM visited two LPR heavy weapons holding areas. At one site, the SMM observed that all nine previously recorded MLRS (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) were missing," reads the report.

The SMM observed at DPR's heavy weapons holding areas that six previously recorded self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) were missing and two previously recorded D-30 towed howitzers (122mm) were missing. DPR members nearby told the SMM that the weapons had temporarily been moved to a training area south of Ternove (DPR-controlled, 54km east of Donetsk), which does not comply with the Minsk withdrawal lines.

The SMM was denied entry to another DPR holding area – and the SMM was denied close-up access and was thus unable to record details at another DPR holding area.

The SMM remained unable to travel to Shyrokyne due to security considerations.

Over a seven-hour period from an observation point at the city’s central railway station (8km north-west of Donetsk city centre), the SMM heard a total of 179 explosions on 29 May (compared to 150 on 28 May, 13 on 27 May, and 73 on 26 May and 170 on 25 May).

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