1. Security deterioration was a dominating trend in Donbas in the end of August. There were dozens of shellings of the Ukrainian positions and civilian objects daily. On August 30, despite ceasefire, 14 attacks took place in the Donetsk sector.

 2.    Over the week, over 55 violations of the Minsk agreements on withdrawal of heavy weapons were recorded.

More than 72 tanks and 6 mortars were detected in the 15-kilometer “security zone”, more than 71 gun and self-propelled artillery systems – in the 25-kilometer zone, more than 40 Grad multiple rocket launcher systems (MRLS) – in the 35-kilometer zone.

 3.    The Russian hybrid forces increased not only number and intensity of attacks using heavy weapons prohibited by the Minsk agreements, but also carry out systematic tests of new models of sophisticated weapons and military equipment in Donbas.

 4.  Russian Fedration continues to supply  weapons and troops to Donbas.

Over the last week, 8 tanks, 9 armored combat vehicles, one 122-mm MLRS BM-21 Grad, one train with ammunition and four self-propelled artillery systems were delivered from Russia.

Over 1.2 thousand tons of ammunition, 660 tons of logistical equipment, as well as 2.5 thousand tons of fuel and lubricants were delivered to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine from the Russian Federation.

5.         Hostilities continue to damage critical civilian infrastructure. On 27 August 2016 12 thousand people were cut off from electricity and water supply as a result of militants’ attacks in Stanytsia Luhanska.

1. According to the SMM OSCE reports, freedom of movement of SMM monitors continued to be severely restricted during the week.

On 29 August 2016, at a checkpoint on the eastern edge of Yasynuvata, armed militants denied the SMM access to the town, citing security concerns. The SMM informed the JCCC. Two hours and 35 minutes later the SMM was only allowed to enter the town under escort by a militant.

On 28 August, armed militants twice denied the SMM access to Yasynuvata (terrorist-controlled, 17km north-east of Donetsk), in the morning and in the afternoon.

On 28 August, armed militants denied the SMM access to a compound located near Samiilove (terrorist-controlled, 89km south-east of Donetsk).

On 28 August, an armed militants denied the SMM access to areas of terrorist-controlled Kalynove (60km west of Luhansk).

On 27 August, armed militants denied the SMM access to the northern part of Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, terrorist-controlled, 23km north-east of Mariupol).

7.  Over 10 thousand Russian troopers participated in the Russian aggression in Donbas, according to a new report «Russia’s war in Ukraine, the medals and treacherous numbers» by Bellingcat.

Bellingcat identified Russian servicemen who published the images of their awarded medals online. This imagery is valuable because most of the higher Russian medals have a consecutive numbering, explicitly stating the number of medals awarded so far.

https://www.bellingcat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/RussiasWarinUkraine_TheMedals_and_TreacherousNumbers-4.pdf