Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 9 May 2017

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations. The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. In Donetsk region most ceasefire violations were recorded in areas north-east of Mariupol. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* The Mission saw multiple weapons in Donetsk and Luhansk cities, in violation of withdrawal lines. It monitored three border areas currently not under government control. The SMM followed up on a reported civilian casualty and assessed impact sites and damage to residential areas caused by shelling. Outside the security zone the Mission observed parades marking 9 May that largely passed off peacefully.

The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region including 273 explosions, compared with 270 in the previous reporting period.[1] Almost 170 explosions were recorded in areas north-east of Mariupol.

While in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city on the night of 8-9 May, the SMM heard 11 undetermined explosions 6-8km north-west.

On the night of 8-9 May the SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) recorded an exchange that began with three undetermined explosions and four projectiles fired from south to north followed by two projectiles fired from west to east. The camera also recorded six undetermined explosions; 31 projectiles in flight from south to north, south-west to north-east, west to east, north-west to south-east and north to south, and five tracer rounds in flight from south to north; one airburst and three illumination flares, all 4-6km east-south-east. Over about 12 hours on 9 May the SMM camera recorded three undetermined explosions and one airburst 4-5km east-south-east.

While in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk) on the night of 8-9 May the SMM heard 12 undetermined explosions, and four assessed as outgoing rounds of recoilless gunfire (SPG-9) and bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, 2-8km south, south-east and south-west.

On the night of 8-9 the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) (facing north-north-east) recorded an exchange that began with eight tracer rounds fired from south-west to north-east, followed by one tracer round fired from west to east and 15 tracer rounds fired from south-east to north-west, followed by a total of 628 tracer rounds from south-west to north-east, north-east to south-west, west to east and east to west, and one projectile in flight from south-west to north-east.

Positioned about 1.5km south-west of government-controlled Lebedynske (16km north-east of Mariupol) the SMM heard and saw nine explosions assessed as impacts 2km north-north-west. Positioned 3km north-west of government-controlled Pionerske (14km east of Mariupol) the SMM heard 20 explosions assessed as outgoing rounds, three explosions assessed as impacts and six undetermined explosions, all from unknown weapons and in areas about 3km north. Positioned about 3km north-east of government-controlled Hnutove (20km north-east of Mariupol) the SMM heard 45 undetermined explosions at unknown distances west, north-west, east and south-east. Positioned 1km north-west of government controlled Pyshchevyk (25km north-east of Mariupol) the SMM heard 25 undetermined explosions north-east or east-south-east.

At the “DPR”-controlled checkpoint near Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, 29km north-east of Mariupol) the SMM heard eight explosions assessed as outgoing mortar rounds: four 0.5-1km south and four to the north-east, and eight undetermined explosions. Positioned about 4km west of “DPR”-controlled Bezimenne (30km east of Mariupol) the SMM heard 13 explosions assessed as outgoing rounds north-east and 13 subsequent explosions assessed as impacts, all from unknown weapons and to the north-west. Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Khreschatytske (formerly Krasnoarmiiske, 33km north-east of Mariupol) the SMM heard 19 undetermined explosions: ten to the south followed by nine to the north-west.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations but fewer explosions (40) compared with the previous reporting period (about 120). While in “LPR”-controlled Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, 50km west of Luhansk) on the night of 8-9 May the SMM heard 14 explosions assessed as outgoing rounds and 16 undetermined explosions, all of unknown weapons and 10-12km west. Positioned 3km south-west of government-controlled Novoaidar (49km north-west of Luhansk) the SMM heard about 200 shots of small-arms fire 0.5km to the north (assessed as a live-fire exercise).

The SMM followed up on a report of a civilian casualty. The SMM spoke to a middle-aged woman in a hospital in Holubivka (formerly Kirovsk, 51km west of Luhansk) who said that she had been injured during shelling in “LPR”-controlled Sentianivka (formerly Frunze, 40km north-west of Luhansk), at about 14:00 on 7 May. She said that after hearing shelling, she ran to her mother who was outside. At this point, she said shells exploded and fragmentation debris struck her right hand. The SMM saw bandages on her right arm. According to a doctor she had suffered deep lacerations. The injured woman said that her mother was uninjured and also that she did not know if her home had been damaged.

On 8 May the SMM, following up on information provided by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, assessed impact sites and damage to residential areas caused by shelling. In government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk) on 8 May the SMM observed four impact sites. At 144a Pervomayska Street the SMM observed a fresh hole in the south-facing wall of a garage located about 25m from the house, as well as a fresh crater 2m from a hut, about 150m south of the house. The hut itself had sustained damage to its walls and broken windows. At 239 Hrushevskogo Street the SMM saw a fresh crater in a garden about 12-15m from a house. A 6-7m section of wooden fence nearby had been flattened. The SMM observed a fresh crater in a garden about 20m from 125 Nohtenka Street. Nearby, the SMM saw damage to a tree caused by shrapnel. In all cases the SMM assessed that the impact sites were caused by shells fired from a south-easterly or south-south-easterly direction. The SMM could not assess the type of weapon used. Residents told the SMM that the shelling had happened at around 20:00 on 7 May and that there had been no casualties.

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.*

On the night of 7-8 May the SMM camera in government-controlled Zolote recorded one projectile and 26 undetermined explosions (assessed as caused by either artillery or mortar) 3-8km south-east, all assessed as outside the disengagement area. Positioned in Zolote on 9 May the SMM heard two undetermined explosions 8-10km south and bursts of heavy-machine gun fire 3-5km south-west, all assessed as outside the disengagement area.    

On the night of 8-9 May the SMM camera in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska recorded one explosion assessed as an impact of automatic-grenade-launcher fire (AGS), an airburst (assessed as inside the disengagement area) and two undetermined explosions (one assessed as inside the disengagement area, one outside). Positioned 200m south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge on 9 May the SMM heard 12 shots and two bursts of small-arms fire 500-800m east (assessed as inside the disengagement area).

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, in implementation of the Package of Measures and its Addendum, as well as the Memorandum.

In violation of the respective withdrawal lines in “LPR”-controlled areas the SMM observed one multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm), one self-propelled howitzer (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) and one tank (T-72) at an aerodrome on the south-eastern outskirts of Luhansk city on the morning of 9 May. In Luhansk city the SMM observed: six MLRS (BM-21), six self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika), ten towed howitzers (five D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm and five 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm), six surface-to-air missile systems (9K35 Strela-10) and six tanks (T-72).[2] On the afternoon of 9 May the SMM observed the following at the aerodrome: seven MLRS (BM-21), seven self-propelled howitzers (2S1), ten towed howitzers (five D-30; and five 2A65), seven surface-to-air missile systems (9K35) and seven tanks (T-72).

In violation of the withdrawal lines in “DPR”-controlled areas the SMM observed the following weapons in Donetsk city: four MLRS (one BM-13-16 Katyusha and three BM-21-1), three self-propelled howitzers (2S1), six towed howitzers (three D-30A and three 2A65), four anti-tank guns (three MT-12 Rapira, 100mm and one M-1942, 76mm), three mortars (PM-38, 120mm), seven tanks (one T-34/85, three T-72B, three T-64), three surface-to-air missile systems (one 9A35, two 9A34M3) and three anti-aircraft guns (ZU-23, 23mm).[3] The SMM also observed three self-propelled howitzers (2S1) moving east in “DPR”-controlled Khreshchatytske (formerly Krasnoarmiiske, 86km south of Donetsk).

In violation of the withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas the SMM observed two stationary self-propelled air-defence missile systems (one 9K35 on 8 May, and one loaded 9K35 on 9 May) in Popasna and one surface-to-air missile system (9K33 Osa) stationary in Orlivka (22km north-west of Donetsk).

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles and other anti-aircraft weapons[4] in the security zone. In “LPR”-controlled areas the SMM observed: six infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) (BMP-2), six armoured personnel carriers (APC) (BTR-80), one armoured recovery vehicle (BREM) and two anti-aircraft guns (ZU-23-2) mounted on trucks in Luhansk city centre.[5] In “DPR”-controlled areas the SMM observed three APC (BTR-80) and six IFV (three BMP-1P and three BMP-2) on parade in Donetsk city.

In government-controlled areas the SMM observed an amphibious armoured carrier (MTLB-U) on a flat-bed truck travelling in the direction of the contact line near Popasna.

The SMM visited three border areas currently not under control of the government. At the border crossing point in Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, 65km south-east of Luhansk) the SMM observed, over an hour, the following vehicles exit Ukraine: 26 cars (19 with Ukrainian and seven with Russian licence plates), four trucks with closed trailers (all Ukrainian licence plates), one bus (carrying about 15 passengers), one moped and one bicycle; it also observed 11 pedestrians leave Ukraine (eight women and three men). The following vehicles entered Ukraine: 18 vehicles (11 with Ukrainian, six with Russian and one with Georgian licence plates), one bus (with about 15 passengers on board). During this time seven pedestrians (five men and two women) crossed into Ukraine. At the Ulianivske border crossing point (61km south-east of Donetsk) the SMM observed, over a period of 30 minutes, two pedestrians exit Ukraine. At Uspenka border crossing point (73km south-east from Donetsk) for about 90 minutes, the SMM observed 33 covered cargo trucks and 42 cars queued to leave Ukraine (32 had Ukrainian and 38 had Russian licence plates, and five had “DPR” plates). The SMM saw ten cars and two buses enter Ukraine.

The SMM observed military-style parades in Donetsk and Luhansk cities. In Luhansk the SMM saw about 1,125 armed “LPR” members in 13 formations and 140 unarmed children (12-15 years-old) in two formations watched by a crowd of about 10,000. In Donetsk city the SMM observed 19 formations of “DPR” members (18 made up of men, one made up of women, some of whom were armed) and weapons on parade.

The SMM also observed a number of gatherings marking 9 May across Ukraine. In Kyiv the SMM monitored as up to 5,000 people gathered near the Park of Eternal Glory and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The SMM assessed that around 3,500 law enforcement officers were present during the course of the day. Outside Arsenalna metro station the SMM observed a group of 20 persons, some known to the SMM as Organization of Ukrainian Nationalist (OUN) members and members of the Committee for liberation of political prisoners (mostly men, aged 20-50 years-old) confront people making their way to the march. The SMM saw heated arguments and some brief scuffles. Later, the SMM observed as at least six OUN members threw rotten potatoes, smoke grenades and glass bottles at marchers. A short time later the SMM saw a group of around 15 people, some carrying yellow-and-blue flags and black-and-red flags, confront marchers at the Park of Eternal Glory. The SMM witnessed a young man hitting an elderly marcher. Security officers promptly tackled the young man. Several other verbal confrontations were seen by the SMM.

In Odessa the SMM monitored a “March of the Immortal Regiment” (attended by about 650 persons at its height). Some participants carried pictures of deceased WWII veterans. At the Alley of Glory, thousands of visitors (many more than participated in the march) laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Sailor. Thirty riot police and National Guard personnel were present. The SMM observed as police removed some St. George ribbons and Communist symbols from marchers, which led to minor scuffles. Near the Alley of Glory small groups of pro-Maidan activists shouted at the marchers. The SMM later observed scuffles between activists from pro-Maidan groups (the SMM recognized members of Street Front, Svoboda, and Right Sector) and people attending the march. In all instances observed by the SMM, security forces (40 National Police and 15 National Guards) quickly intervened and deescalated the situation. Also in Odessa the SMM saw flowers being laid at the Wings of Victory monument on April 10^th Square in a ceremony attended by about 500 persons. About 200 police officers and cadets were present.

In Kharkiv the SMM saw around 10,000 people gathered at the Monument of Glory with about 1,000 law enforcement officers present. The SMM observed shouting and scuffles between elderly people laying flowers at the memorial and uniformed individuals who told the SMM that they were ATO veterans. Police intervened and separated the two groups. The SMM also monitored ceremonies in Solonytsivka (23km west of Kharkiv) attended by about 400 people and in Kremenchuk (250km west of Kharkiv, Poltava region), attended by some 2,000 people. About 100 law enforcement officers were present at each ceremony.

The SMM also observed 9 May events in Mykolaiv (attended by 4,000 people), Kherson (attended by 3,000-4,000 people), Chernivtsi (about 500 persons) and in Lviv (about 30 persons). The SMM also monitored gatherings marking “Reconciliation and Commemoration Day” in Lviv and in Chernivtsi. In Lviv the SMM observed about 200 people gather in memory of the victims of the Shtalah-328 concentration camp. In Chernivtsi the SMM observed about 130 persons gathered at the monument of the “Bukovynskyi Kurin”.

The SMM continued monitoring in Ivano-Frankivsk and Dnipro.

*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:

• Armed “LPR” members told the SMM that that they could not guarantee the safety of the Mission on side roads in the Zolote disengagement area (58km west of Luhansk) due to the possible presence of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC.
• A Ukrainian officer of the JCCC told the SMM that no demining activities had taken place during the previous 24 hours in the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area and that, with the exception of the main road, the SMM’s safety could not be guaranteed in the surrounding areas due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC.
• The SMM could not travel across the bridge in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) as Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel said there were mines on the road south of the bridge. The SMM informed the JCCC.