The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine has reported it observed children and foreigners during the military-style parades in the occupied cities of Donetsk and Luhansk on May 9.
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"The SMM observed military-style parades in Donetsk and Luhansk cities. In Luhansk, the SMM saw a parade of about 1,000 armed members of the armed formations organized in ten formations and about 140 unarmed children (12-15 year olds) organized in two formations watched by a crowd of about 25,000-30,000 people, which was followed by speeches from senior members of the armed formations. Heavy weapons were on display in the city centre throughout the day (see weapons in violation above)," the OSCE SMM said in an update as of May 9.
"At Teatralnyi Square in the centre of the city, the SMM observed a group of about 20 Spanish-speaking people who were accompanied by people holding a banner identifying them as representatives of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation. The parade concluded with an 'Immortal Regiment March' consisting of people holding pictures of those who had lost their lives in various conflicts, primarily during the Soviet era, including World War II," it said.
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"In Donetsk city, the SMM observed a parade of about 5,000-6,000 armed members of the armed formations organized in about 50 formations (two formations made up of women and the remainder made up of mostly men) and a formation of 70 armed men, which was presented as a formation from South Ossetia. The parade continued with an 'Immortal Regiment March' consisting of people holding pictures of those who had lost their lives in various conflicts, primarily during the Soviet era, including World War II, and speeches from senior members of the armed formations were given. Heavy weapons were on display in the city centre throughout the day (see weapons in violation above). The SMM additionally observed two modified military-type trucks, which senior members of the armed formations claimed were MLRS manufactured in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region," the monitors said.
