A small group of drunken rebel officers in the city of Zolote accidentally discharged a gun in the direction of a patrolling Ukrainian government-force unit. The unit immediately took a defensive position and returned fire. The situation escalated from there, as radio traffic brought the exchange to each side’s attention, fighting broke out, and both rebel forces and the Ukrainian government forces initiated mobilization. In response to the intensifying situation, small skirmishes have also began to break out in the countryside outside the city of Horlivka, although the situation is most  volatile in Zolote. Both sides are currently engaging each other with AK-47s and RPG-22s. This appears to have the potential to be more than purely an isolated skirmish. The situation must be addressed swiftly, otherwise it may explode out of control, leaving the ceasefire in shambles. We have concerns that if left unhandled, skirmishes in the streets of Zolote will destabilize the surrounding area , bringing the larger, nearby city of Popasna at risk of experiencing similar violence.