Mine event in Ukraine on Tue 18th July 2017

The SMM facilitated and monitored clearance of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO), co-ordinated by the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), of the M03 road between Svitlodarsk and Debaltseve. (See SMM Daily Report 18 July 2017 - http://www.osce.org/special-monitoring-mission-to-ukraine/330981). Demining teams of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and Ministry of Emergency Situations, as well as a DPR demining team, worked to clear the section of road between the forward positions of the Armed Forces and armed formations, while SMM patrols monitored from a safe distance. Two rounds of anti-tank gun (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) and nine anti-tank mines (TM-62) were cleared. Afterward, the Mission was able to travel the road from Svitlodarsk to Debaltseve for the first time since early 2015. The SMM observed Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers placing anti-tank mines back into position on the road south-east of Svitlodarsk.