Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 20 March 2017

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous 24 hours, mostly concentrated in areas to the east and north-east of Mariupol and including the use of multiple-launch rocket systems, and a similar number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region compared to the previous 24 hours. It observed damage from shelling to a house in Luhanske and corroborated reports of civilian casualties in Lozove and Avdiivka. The Mission monitored disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access there and elsewhere remained restricted.* SMM cameras recorded ceasefire violations inside the Stanytsia Luhanska area. The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in government controlled areas, as well as weapons missing from permanent storage sites in areas not under government control. It again noted long queues of civilians at three entry-exit checkpoints. The SMM continued to monitor the blockade of railway routes crossing the contact line. The Mission continued monitoring protests outside banks in Kyiv and Dnipro.

In Donetsk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations [1] compared with the previous 24 hours (about 200 explosions), including about 1,550 explosions, of which it assessed 500 as outgoing rounds and 500 as subsequent impacts. Over 90 per cent of explosions were recorded during daylight hours in areas east and north-east of Mariupol.

Positioned 2km south-east of government-controlled Lebedynske (16km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard, between 09:50 and 14:15, about 1,000 explosions, beginning  with uncountable overlapping explosions assessed as outgoing rounds from unknown weapons systems at undetermined distances north, and uncountable overlapping explosions  assessed as subsequent impacts at undetermined distances north-east, two outgoing multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS) salvos at undetermined distances north, and two series of explosions assessed as subsequent impacts at undetermined distances north-north-east. Thereafter the SMM heard and saw 60 explosions assessed as the impacts of MLRS rockets at undetermined distances north-north-east; 120 explosions assessed as outgoing artillery rounds at undetermined distances north-north-west and their impacts at undetermined distances north and north-east; 40 explosions assessed as outgoing artillery rounds at undetermined distances east and subsequent impacts at undetermined distances north-north-west; 83 explosions assessed as outgoing mortar rounds at undetermined distances north-east and subsequent impacts at undetermined distances north; 40 explosions assessed as outgoing mortar rounds at undetermined distances north and subsequent impacts at undetermined distances north-east.

Positioned 3km north of government-controlled Hnutove (20km north-east of Mariupol) for about two hours around noon, the SMM heard and saw 70 explosions assessed as outgoing 122mm artillery rounds, 2.5km west-north-west, and heard subsequent impacts at undetermined distances south-east. (See also section on weapons in violation of withdrawal lines.). The Mission also heard and saw 15 explosions assessed as outgoing MLRS fire at undetermined distances north-east, and heard 15 subsequent impacts at undetermined distances south-east. The SMM heard 40 explosions assessed as outgoing MLRS fire at undetermined distances east-north-east and subsequent impacts south-south-east.

Positioned 1km north of government-controlled Pyshchevyk (25km north-east of Mariupol) for about four hours, the SMM heard: 30 explosions assessed as outgoing MLRS rounds at undetermined distances east; 11 explosions assessed as outgoing rounds of unknown weapon systems and 85 undetermined explosions, all 3-5km south east and south-west; 27 undetermined explosions at unknown distances south-east.

Positioned in government-controlled Novotroitske (36km south-west of Donetsk), the Mission heard 15 undetermined explosions 1-4km north-north-east. Positioned in government-controlled Novohnativka (40km south of Donetsk) the SMM heard 20 undetermined explosions assessed as caused by MLRS fire, as well as 50 undetermined explosions, all at undetermined distances south-east. Positioned in government-controlled Bohdanivka (41km south of Donetsk), the Mission heard 54 undetermined explosions at unknown distances south.

On the evening of 19 March the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded a total of 34 undetermined explosions, eight tracer rounds in flight (in sequence, six from east to west, one from west to east and one from south-west to north-east), and six rocket-assisted projectiles in flight (in sequence, three from west to east and three from east to west), all at undetermined distances north. On the evening of 20 March, the same camera recorded seven explosions assessed as the impacts of artillery rounds 6-9km north.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations, but fewer explosions (3), compared to the previous 24 hours (12). While in “LPR”-controlled Kalynove (60km west of Luhansk), the Mission heard three undetermined explosions 2-4km south-west. Positioned near government-controlled Shchastia (20km N of Luhansk), the SMM heard 10 bursts and 15 shots of heavy-machine-gun fire 2-3km south.

The SMM observed damage from shelling and corroborated reports of two civilian casualties. At the hospital in Avdiivka medical staff told the SMM that on 19 March they had treated an elderly woman from Avdiivka for shrapnel injuries to her left shoulder and right hand, sustained while she was at her house on 139 Kolosava street. Medical staff said the woman had been discharged the same day. The local police in Avdiivka confirmed this information.

At the Kalinina Hospital in Donetsk city, an elderly woman told the SMM she had been injured by small-arms fire on 18 March while outside her house at 77 Ushakova Street in “DPR”-controlled Lozove (13km west of Donetsk). Medical personnel told the SMM that a bullet had been extracted from her back during surgery. The victim showed the SMM a 5.45mm calibre bullet.

In “DPR”-controlled Luhanske (15km south-west of Donetsk) the SMM saw a fresh crater in a field next to a military compound and near a checkpoint, 300m away from the nearest houses. Residents said the shelling had occurred on 18 March.

In “DPR”-controlled Syhnalne (23km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM observed seven fresh craters in an open field 850m from the nearest houses. The Mission assessed the craters as having been caused by 120mm mortar rounds. A  female resident told the SMM that the shelling had occurred on 18 March.

On 18 March, an SMM mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted a hole on the western edge of the roof of a warehouse building on street Partzizdu of “DPR”-controlled Petrovskyi district (15km south-west of Donetsk), which the Mission assessed as having been caused by an 82mm mortar round.

The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process and to pursue full access to the disengagement areas of Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk), Zolote (60km west of Luhansk) and Petrivske (41km south of Donetsk), as foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September. The SMM’s access remained restricted but the Mission was able to partially monitor them.*

On the evening of 18 March the SMM camera in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska recorded, in sequence, two projectiles in flight from south-south-east to north-north-west 1km south of the camera’s location, one anti-tank guided missile in flight from south to north 0.4km south-west, as well as three undetermined explosions 1-2km south and south-south-east, all assessed as inside the disengagement area.

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, in implementation of the Package of Measures, its Addendum, and the Memorandum. [2]

In violation of the respective withdrawal lines the SMM saw three towed howitzers (D-30, 122mm) in an open field on the north-eastern edge of Hnutove, firing in a south-easterly direction.

The Mission revisited “DPR” permanent storage sites, whose location corresponded with the withdrawal lines and found one site abandoned for the first time. The SMM noted 19 tanks (nine T-64 and ten T-72) missing, five (three T-64 and two T-72) for the first time. “DPR” members denied the SMM access to two other sites* leaving 34 weapons (25 tanks and nine mortars) unaccounted for.

No side reported any response to previous SMM reports of weapons observed in violation of withdrawal lines or missing from storage sites. Nor did the JCCC report any contribution to the ceasefire in this regard.

The SMM also observed armoured combat vehicles (ACVs) and an anti-aircraft gun in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, the SMM saw six armoured personnel carriers (APCs; BTR-4) in Avdiivka, one APC (BTR-3) on a flat-bed trailer in Nyzhnoteple (26km north of Luhansk), one APC (BTR-3) on a flat-bed trailer in Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk), one APC (MT-LB) on a flat-bed truck 4.5km north-east of Raihorodka (34km north-west of Luhansk), one infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1), two APCs (MTLB), and an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23-2, 23mm) on a truck in Peredilske (24km north-west of Luhansk). SMM mini and mid-range UAVs spotted one APC (BTR) and three IFVs (two BMP-2 and one BMP-type unknown) near Avdiivka on 17 March; five IFVs (BMP-type) in Zalizne (formerly Artemove, 39km north of Donetsk) on 18 March; one IFV (BMP-type) and two APCs (BTR-80) in Novhorodske (35km north of Donetsk) on 18 March.

In “LPR”-controlled Kalynove (60km west of Luhansk), the SMM saw one APC (MT-LB) travelling north.

The SMM again observed the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO). As previously noted, the Mission observed an apparently abandoned fragmentation round (OG-7V, 40mm) on the road between a “DPR”-controlled checkpoint in Olenivka (23km south-west of Donetsk) and a government-controlled one in Berezove (31km south-west of Donetsk).

Near “LPR”-controlled Oleksandrivsk (10km west of Luhansk), the SMM saw for the first time used containers of rocket-propelled incendiary grenades (RPO-Rys, 93mm), in a field assessed as a training area.

Near “Novooleksandrivka (65km west of Luhansk), the SMM observed for the first time, embedded in the ground in a field 2-5m north of a road, two fresh UXOs assessed as recoilless gun rounds fired from a south-easterly direction. The SMM also observed a tailfin of an 82mm mortar round about 100m further down on the road.

The SMM continued to note long queues of civilians at entry-exit checkpoints. On the morning of 20 March, at an “LPR” checkpoint south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, the SMM saw about 2,300 people queuing to walk towards government-controlled areas. At around the same time, at a “DPR” checkpoint near Olenivka, the SMM saw around 440 civilian cars in a queue to cross into government-controlled areas and 40 civilian vehicles in a queue to travel in the opposite direction. At a “DPR” checkpoint north of Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM saw 250 civilian vehicles, 30 buses and 500 pedestrians waiting to cross to government-controlled areas.

The SMM monitored one border area currently outside government control. In an hour, on 20 March, at a border crossing point near Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, 65km south-east of Luhansk) the SMM saw 22 vehicles (11 with Russian Federation licence plates and 11 with Ukrainian ones), one bus with Russian Federation plates, four trucks with covered trailers (three with Ukrainian licence plates and one with “LPR” plates), exit Ukraine, as well as 19 vehicles (nine with Ukrainian and nine with Russian Federation licence plates, and one vehicle with “LPR” plates) enter Ukraine.

The SMM continued to monitor the blockade of railway routes across the contact line. In government-controlled Hirske (63km west of Luhansk) and in government-controlled Bakhmut (formerly Artemivsk, 67km north of Donetsk), the SMM noticed no changes and a calm situation.

The SMM continued to monitor protests outside branches of a bank in Dnipro and Kyiv. (See SMM Daily Report 18 March 2017). In Dnipro on 20 March the SMM saw half a dozen protestors (all young men), as well as two temporary shelters with National Corps insignianear the bank premises and no police presence. In Kyiv, outside a branch of the same bank, the SMM observed, on both 19 and 20 March, up to thirty activists (young women and men), sitting on bean bags and standing in front of the bank. The SMM noted a calm situation and no law enforcement officers present.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Lviv, Chernivtsi and Kyiv.

*Restrictions of SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines, unexploded ordnance (UXO), and other impediments – which vary from day to day. The SMM’s mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations. They have also agreed that the JCCC should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance.

Denial of access:

• At the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, a Ukrainian officer of the JCCC told the SMM that its safety could still not be guaranteed in the areas surrounding the main road due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• At an “LPR” checkpoint on the edge of the Zolote disengagement area, armed men told the SMM that its safety could still not be guaranteed in the fields and side roads due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• The SMM could still not travel south of the bridge in government-controlled Shchastia as Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel said there were mines on the road south of the bridge. The SMM informed the JCCC both times.
• Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel again stopped the SMM on the road between government-controlled Katerynivka (64km west of Luhansk) and Popasna (69km west of Luhansk), and told the Mission that the road was mined and it could not proceed without authorization from senior Ukrainian Armed Forces officers. The Mission again informed the JCCC.
• A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC told the SMM that the Ukrainian Armed Forces did not control the road from Bohdanivka to Viktorivka (42km south-west of Donetsk) and thus could not ensure security for the SMM to travel, adding that anti-tank mines were still present on the road to Petrivske via Viktorivka. The SMM informed JCCC headquarters.
• An armed “DPR” member denied the SMM access to a permanent weapons storage site. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• No “DPR” members were present and the gate was closed at a permanent storage site. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• Armed individuals denied the SMM access to a compound in “LPR”-controlled Khrustalnyi (formerly Krasnyi Luch, 55km south-west of Luhansk), and said that the SMM was not permitted within 100m. The SMM informed the JCCC.   

[1] Please see the annexed table for complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations as well as map of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions marked with locations featured in this report. 

[2] Despite the joint statement of 1 February by the Trilateral Contact Group and the consent reached on 15 February, the sides have not yet provided the baseline information requested by the SMM related to weapons to be withdrawn and locations of units and formations.