SMM hub damaged due to shelling, two vehicles set on fire in Mariupol

“On the morning of 6 March, at around 11:30, the Mission received reports that the premises of the SMM Mariupol Hub were damaged due to shelling. According to initial reports from SMM national mission members, the building has been damaged, SMM communication equipment has been destroyed, and two SMM vehicles were set on fire,” reads the OSCE SMM daily report 53/2022 issued on March 6, 2022.

As noted, all sides were notified about the coordinates of the SMM premises in Mariupol to ensure they were protected before the beginning of hostilities.

The report also says that the evacuation of the Kherson Monitoring Team to the Russian Federation was completed on the evening of 6 March.

In addition, the relocation of national mission members formerly stationed in

Kramatorsk and Sievierodonetsk continued. The relocation of national mission members formerly stationed in Kyiv also began.

Due to an escalation of ongoing kinetic activity, and the absence of an agreement on a humanitarian corridor, the relocation of national mission members formerly stationed in Mariupol could not be initiated for the second time. Relocation

of these mission members is planned once the security situation allows for it, the SMM informs.

The Chief Monitor and senior management remain in Ukraine, but are planning to leave the SMM area of operation now that all other international mission members have left.

On February 24, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops are shelling and destroying key infrastructure, conducting massive shelling of Ukrainian towns and villages using artillery, multiple rocket launcher systems, and ballistic missiles.

Martial law was imposed in Ukraine and general mobilization was announced.

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