Militants moved into uninhabited houses in the occupied Sakhanka village despite objections

The militants had moved into uninhabited houses in the “DNR”-controlled Sakhanka (near Mariupol), despite objections from neighbours. This is stated in the report of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission.

“The SMM monitored the situation of civilians living near the contact line. Residents in the “DNR”-controlled Sakhanka (24km north-east of Mariupol) told the SMM that some “DNR” members had moved into uninhabited houses in the village, despite objections from neighbours”, - the message says.

Several residents told the SMM that they had seen tanks and heard outgoing fire from the village.

The SMM observed about ten men dressed in military-style clothing, two of whom were armed. As the SMM was in the village, it overheard “DNR” members telling residents not to talk to the SMM.

Armed “DNR” members approached the SMM and asked to see identification and the patrol plan. When the SMM refused, the militants said the SMM would not be allowed to move. After ten minutes, the “DNR” members told the SMM to leave”, - the report says.