Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 21 April 2017

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, but fewer explosions in Donetsk region and fewer ceasefire violations in Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM monitored the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access there and elsewhere remained restricted.* It observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The Mission saw damage from shelling and gunfire in Dokuchaievsk and near Katerynivka. The SMM continued to monitor the presence of protestors and tent booths at a blockade site in Bakhmut. The Mission monitored three border areas currently not under government control. The SMM monitored the continuation of protests in front of branches of the Sberbank of Russia in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odessa. The Mission monitored the situation along the administrative boundary line between Kherson and Crimea.

In Donetsk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations,[1] but fewer explosions (about 330), compared with the previous reporting period (about 370 explosions).

On the evening and night of 20 April, while in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city centre, the SMM heard nine undetermined explosions 8-12km north-north-west.

On the night of 20-21 April the SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) recorded one tracer round in flight from north to south followed by a total of: six undetermined explosions; 65 projectiles in flight (eight east to west, 39 south-east to north-west, one south-west to north-east, eight west to east, and nine north-west to south-east), and 63 tracer rounds in flight (seven east to west, 44 south-east to north-west, and 12 north-west to south-east), all 3-6km east-south-east. On the morning of 21 April, the camera recorded two explosions assessed as impacts 4-7km east-south-east. On 21 April, positioned in Avdiivka, the SMM heard 197 undetermined explosions, mostly 4-6km south-south-west.

On the night of 20-21 April the SMM camera at the “DPR”-controlled Oktiabr mine (9km north-west of Donetsk city centre) recorded 18 tracer rounds in flight from west to east followed by a total of: ten undetermined explosions; two airbursts; 79 projectiles in flight (two north-east to south-west, one east to west, 21 south-east to north-west, 13 west to east, and 42 north-west to south-east); 89 tracer rounds in flight (seven north-east to south-west, ten east to west, 40 south-east to north-west, one west to east, and 31 north-west to south-east); and five illumination flares in flight from north-east to south-west, all 8-10km north-east.

On 21 April, positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard two undetermined explosions and shots and bursts of small-arms fire at locations ranging from 2 to 7km west-south-west.

On the evening and night of 20 April, while in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 82 undetermined explosions and over 160 bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire at distances ranging 3km to 6km south-east and 20 undetermined explosions 8-10km south-west. On 21 April, the SMM heard 59 shots of small-arms fire and 29 heavy-machine-gun shots mostly at locations ranging from 2km to 5km south-west, south-south-west and south.

On the night of 20-21April, the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded one rocket-assisted projectile in flight from west to east followed by a total of: five rocket-assisted projectiles in flight from east to west; two undetermined explosions and 133 tracer rounds (69 in flight from west to east and 64 east to west) at an unknown distances north, north-north-east and north-east.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including 22 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (620 explosions).

Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Bile (22km west of Luhansk) the SMM heard 16 undetermined explosions 2km south-east, assessed as live-fire exercise outside the security zone. Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Uspenka (23km south-west of Luhansk) the SMM heard one explosion assessed as outgoing 152mm artillery round and as live-fire exercise outside the security zone. Positioned in government-controlled Novozvanivka (70km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 53 shots of 30mm infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-2) cannon fire. While in Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, “LPR”-controlled, 50km west of Luhansk) in the late afternoon the SMM heard three undetermined explosions at least 10km west.

The SMM saw damage caused by shelling and gunfire on both sides of the contact line. In “DPR”-controlled Dokuchaievsk (30km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM saw damage to two properties. At 96 Lenina Street, the SMM saw a round hole in a south-west-facing window on the ground floor of a market building. The hole was covered with tape and the Mission saw no damage inside the building. The SMM assessed that the hole had been caused by a direct-fire weapon projectile fired from a westerly or south-westerly direction. Two employees at the market told the SMM that the damage had occurred at about 16:00 on 20 April. At 100 Lenina Street, the SMM saw damage to a south-west-facing window on a third floor apartment in a five-storey block of flats. On the wall around the window and windowsill there was visible minor damage. Part of the widow frame and a windowpane layer from the outside were covered with soot. There was no damage inside the room (kitchen). The SMM assessed that the damage had been caused by a heavy machine-gun or similar round from a direct-fire weapon fired from a westerly or south-westerly direction. The owner of the flat (an elderly woman) told the SMM that the damage had occurred at about 16:20 on 20 April, when she had been in the corridor. No injuries were reported at both properties.

About 1.5km west of government-controlled Katerynivka (64km west of Luhansk) the SMM saw a crater (assessed to be a few days old) in the grass about 8-10m south of the road. The SMM assessed that the impact had been caused by an 82mm mortar round. For security reasons, the SMM could not approach the impact site, which was 175m north from the nearest civilian houses.

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 2016. The SMM’s access remained restricted but the Mission was able to partially monitor them.*

Positioned inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the SMM heard one undetermined explosion more than 10km south-west and one undetermined explosion more than 10km west, both assessed as outside the disengagement area.

Positioned 1.7km east-north-east of government-controlled Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk), at the north-western edge of the Petrivske disengagement area, the SMM heard two explosions assessed as outgoing rounds and four explosions assessed as impacts of rounds of unknown weapons systems 2-3km east-north-east and small-arms fire at unknown distance east. The SMM could not assess whether the impacts occurred 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.

In violation of the respective withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas the SMM saw eight multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) near Verkhnobohdanivka  (54km north of Luhansk).

In non-government-controlled areas, the SMM saw one tank (T-64) with a front-mounted mine sweeper near “DPR”-controlled Nikishyne (60km north-east of Donetsk) and continued to observe seven MLRS (BM-21), seven self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm), ten towed howitzers (five D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm; and five 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm), and seven tanks (T-72) at an aerodrome in the south-eastern outskirts of Luhansk city. (See SMM Spot Report 5 April 2017.)

The SMM observed weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage does not comply with the criteria set in the 16 October 2015 notification. In government-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the Mission saw 14 self-propelled howitzers (2S1) and 11 mortars (M120-15, 120mm). The SMM noted as missing 22 self-propelled howitzers (2S1), four of which for the first time and 13 120mm mortars (six 2B11 Sani and seven M120-15).

The SMM revisited a Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent storage site and noted that ten tanks (T-64) were still missing.

The SMM revisited an “LPR” heavy weapons permanent storage site and noted that eight tanks were missing for the first time (one T-64 and seven T-72).

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles[2] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, the SMM saw one stationary armoured personnel carrier (APC) (BRDM-2) near Orikhove (57km north-west of Luhansk), one stationary IFV (BMP), one light armoured vehicle Kraz Cougar mounted with a heavy machine-gun in Zolote, outside the disengagement area and one in the town, one APC (BTR-4) stationary near Makarove (19km north-east of Luhansk), two stationary IFVs (BMP-2) in the backyard of a former kindergarten in Zolote-3, one stationary IFV (BMP-1) in a field on the north side of the road near Kriakivka (38km north-west of Luhansk) and one stationary APC (MTLB), on the southern edge of Stare (formerly Chervonyi Prapor, 58km west of Luhansk).

On 20 April, an SMM mid-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted two IFVs (BMP-variant) and an ACV (type undetermined) near Katerynivka and an IFV (BMP-variant) near Popasna (69km west of Luhansk).

In non-government-controlled areas, the SMM observed: 17 APCs (ten MTLB and seven BTR-80) and seven IFVs (BMP-2), all stationary at the aerodrome in the south-eastern outskirts of Luhansk city. At the junction 1km south of the aerodrome, the SMM saw a convoy of 13 covered military-type trucks and four small trucks (bus-like, with windows) heading west in the direction of Luhansk city. All trucks were full of armed men and the convoy was escorted by an ambulance in the rear.

The SMM noted the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). On the northern edge of Nikishyne the SMM saw two trucks marked with demining team signs and one tank (T-64) with a front-mounted mine sweeper (see above weapons in violation of withdrawal lines). The SMM saw areas on both sides of a road had been cordoned off with mine hazard tape. The SMM saw at least six rocket-propelled grenade tailfins inside a metal container adjacent to one of the cordoned off areas. An unarmed “DPR” member of the demining team told the Mission that his team was conducting mine and UXO clearance from the surrounding area in order to make the land usable for agriculture.

On 20 April, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted 30-40 anti-tank mines laid out in two rows about 50m west of Katerynivka.

The SMM monitored three border areas currently not under government control. At the Marynivka border crossing point (78km east of Donetsk), in about 30 minutes, the SMM saw: 37 civilian cars (22 with Ukrainian licence plates, ten with Russian Federation licence plates, two with Ukrainian licence plates with “DPR” stickers, three with “DPR” plates and one with Lithuanian licence plates) in a queue to exit Ukraine. The SMM saw five of the civilian cars in the queue exit Ukraine, and one double-decker civilian bus (with “DPR” plates, marked Moscow-Donetsk) and eight civilian cars (three with Ukrainian licence plates, two with Russian Federation licence plates and three with “DPR” plates) enter Ukraine. At the Uspenka border crossing point (73km south-east of Donetsk), in about 20 minutes, the SMM saw 104 civilian cars (74 with Ukrainian licence plates, 24 with Russian Federation licence plates, one with Georgian and five with “DPR” plates), 43 covered cargo trucks (most with Ukrainian licence plates) and two civilian buses in a queue to exit Ukraine. At the Verkhnoharasymivka pedestrian border crossing point (57km south-east of Luhansk), in over one hour, the SMM saw no pedestrians crossing in either direction.

The SMM continued to monitor the protests at the blockade of roads and railway routes. In government-controlled Bakhmut (formerly Artemivsk, 67km north of Donetsk) the SMM continued to note that all obstacles on the railroad tracks and other items from the activist camp were no longer present (see SMM Daily Report 21 April 2017). In Kamianske (formerly Dniprodzerzhynsk, 32km west of Dnipro) two workers of the Dnipro Steel Factory told the SMM that on the 13 April the management of the factory had announced its closure, until further notice. One of them stated that it was due to financial problems, while the other said it was due to lack of raw material supplied from non-government-controlled areas. They added that the factory had employed about eight to ten thousand people, but only a limited number of them had continued working through April while the rest had been sent on leave until the end of the month.

The SMM monitored the continuation of protests in front of branches of the Sberbank of Russia in Kyiv, Odessa and Kharkiv. (See SMM Daily Report 19 April 2017.) At 46 Volodymyrska Street branch in Kyiv, the SMM saw six protestors (young men and women) as well as the previously observed booth tents with National Corps flags. Four National Guard officers were standing in front of the building. At 26 Yevreyska Street in Odessa, the SMM saw one tent and two men present outside the bank. The SMM noted that both branches were open and serving clients. In front of a Sberbank branch at 1 Donets-Zakharzhevskoho Street in Kharkiv, the SMM saw three men present as well as two police officers.

On 19-20 April, the SMM noted that the overall security situation along the administrative border line between Kherson and Crimea was calm. On 20 April, at a checkpoint about 12km north of the Valok border guards outpost (205km south-east of Kherson), the SMM saw eight people reinforcing the position with sandbags. On 21 April, following the announcement of anti-terrorist drills in the Henichesk district (176km east of Kherson) scheduled to start on the morning of 21 April, the SMM visited the area and noted at least four security officers (two wearing regular police uniforms and two with tactical gear) and two additional vehicles, at each of the entrances to Henichesk. The SMM also noted the presence of two to four security officers outside key governmental and court buildings and a hospital.  

The SMM continued monitoring in Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi.

*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, 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 still could 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 still could 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 not travel westward from “DPR”-controlled Petrivske through the disengagement area due to a lack of security guarantees and the possible presence of mines. The SMM informed the JCCC.

• At an Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint north of the bridge in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk), a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer told the SMM that no de-mining activities had taken place during the previous 24 hours and that the road south of the bridge is still mined. Based on this information, the SMM did not consider it safe to proceed. The SMM informed the JCCC.

• The presence of mine hazard signs on the road prevented the SMM from traveling between Katerynivka and Popasna. Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel present told the SMM that the road was not safe. The SMM informed the JCCC.

• Armed “DPR” members denied the SMM access to the “DPR”-controlled village of of Novolaspa (50km south of Donetsk) saying that the road was mined and that the nearby village of (“DPR”-controlled, 51km south of Donetsk) was under fire. The SMM did not hear any firing going on. The Mission informed the JCCC.

• Armed “DPR” members on two occasions denied the SMM access to “DPR”-controlled Sosnivske (35km north-east of Mariupol), citing ongoing exchange of fire near the village. The Mission informed the JCCC after the first denial, but the JCCC was unable to facilitate access and the armed men again denied the SMM access.

[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] This hardware is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.