Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 24 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. In both Donetsk and Luhansk regions the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations and explosions compared with the previous reporting period. It followed up on reports of civilian casualties in Avdiivka, Donetsk city and Pikuzy. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* The SMM saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines. It saw military trucks towing a mine layer and transporting anti-tank mines, as well as a demining military vehicle near Sievierodonetsk. It continued to observe unexploded ordnance (UXO) near Stanytsia Luhanska. The SMM observed long queues of civilians travelling across the contact line at Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. The SMM monitored and facilitated repair works to the Mykhailivka-Almazna power line. The Mission visited a border area currently not controlled by the Government, near Voznesenivka. In Kyiv, the SMM monitored a public gathering.

In Donetsk region the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations[1], including about 260 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 500).

On the evening and night of 23-24 May the SMM camera at the “DPR”-controlled Oktiabr mine (9km north-west of Donetsk city centre) recorded, in sequence, 21 projectiles in flight from north to south, one undetermined explosion, 23 projectiles in flight from south to north, 19 projectiles in flight from north to south, followed by aggregate totals of 48 projectiles in flight from south to north, 17 projectiles in flight from north to south, nine projectiles in flight from east to west, 52 projectiles in flight from west to east, one illumination flare in vertical flight and one undetermined explosion, all 4-6km north-north-east.

On the evening and night of 23-24 May, while in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city, the SMM heard eight undetermined explosions 5-7km north-north-west.

On the evening and night of 23-24 May the SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, one airburst, six explosions assessed as impacts, five projectiles in flight from south to north, five projectiles in flight from north to south, ten projectiles in flight from south to north, four projectiles in flight from north to south, eight tracer rounds in flight from south to north, and 11 explosions assessed as impacts, all 3-6km ranging from east to south-east. During the day of 24 May, positioned in Avdiivka for about four hours, the SMM heard seven undetermined explosions 3-5km south-east.

On the evening of 23 May the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded 68 tracer rounds in flight from west to east at unknown distances north-north-east.

On the evening and night of 23-24 May, while in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 11 undetermined explosions, 52 shots and bursts of small-arms fire 1-6km at directions ranging from south to south-west, five undetermined explosions and 25 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 3-7km north-west, and five undetermined explosions 7-10km west.

Positioned 2km south-east of government-controlled Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM heard uncountable, overlapping bursts and shots of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, and five shots of infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-2) cannon (30mm) fire, all 1-2km ranging from east to east-north-east. On the same day, positioned in Marinka, the SMM heard 45 undetermined explosions and uncountable, overlapping bursts and shots of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, all 1-2km east.

Positioned in government-controlled Sopyne (16km east of Mariupol), the SMM heard four undetermined explosions, two bursts (three-five shots each) and three shots of automatic grenade launcher (AGL), 2-5km at directions ranging from east to north-north-east.

Positioned in government-controlled Mariupol (102km south of Donetsk), the SMM heard one undetermined explosion at an unknown distance north-east.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) for about four hours, the SMM heard 21 undetermined explosions and about 60 bursts and shots of small-arms fire 1-5km at directions ranging from west to north-west.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Oleksandrivka (20km south-west of Donetsk) for about one hour, the SMM heard about 60 undetermined explosions and uncountable, overlapping bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 1-3km ranging from south-west to north-west.

Positioned in government-controlled Lebedynske (16km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard four undetermined explosions 2-4km north-north-east.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including three explosions, compared with 50 in the previous reporting period.

On 24 May, while in “LPR”-controlled Kalynove (60km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard three explosions 10km south-west and south-south-west.

The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties. At the Avdiivka Municipal Hospital, the SMM saw a 29-year-old man with bandages around his head and on one finger. He told the SMM that he had been injured on 23 May near his residence at Lermontova Street 45 in Avdiivka after hearing five explosions in the area. The SMM could not visit the site due to security reasons. He added that on the same he had been admitted to the Avdiivka Municipal Hospital.

Following up on a report of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) that a woman had been injured on 20 May following grenade launcher fire at a bus station in “DPR”-controlled Trudovskyi district (19km south-west of Donetsk city centre) (see SMM Daily Report 22 May), the SMM visited Hospital number 14 in Petrovskyi district of Donetsk city. There, the SMM saw a 25-year-old woman (a resident of Shestakova Street 6-8 in Donetsk city) with bandages to her left shoulder and arm. She told the SMM that she had sustained injuries on 20 May at the Trudovskyi bus station. Medical staff told the SMM that they had been treating the woman for shrapnel wounds to her right shoulder and left arm. (See SMM Daily Report 24 May). 

At the same hospital, accompanied by a Russian officer of the JCCC, the SMM saw a 75-year-old woman, a resident of Oleksandrivka (Sokolovska Street 6/45), with bandages on her left shoulder. The woman told the SMM that she had sustained injuries on 24 May after getting off a bus (line number 60B) at a bus station in Trudovskyi district. Medical staff at the hospital told the SMM that they had been treating the woman for multiple shrapnel wounds.

In “DPR”-controlled Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, 23km north-east of Mariupol) four residents told the SMM separately that a twenty-year-old woman (a resident of Peremohy Street 8 in Pikuzy) had sustained light shrapnel injuries in the night of 18-19 May. (See SMM Daily Report 22 May). They added that she had been admitted to the hospital in “DPR”-controlled Novoazovsk (40km east of Mariupol) on 19 May and had been released on the same day after receiving medical treatment.

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.*

While present in the disengagement areas near government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote, the SMM noted a calm situation.

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

In violation of withdrawal lines, in non-government-controlled areas, the SMM saw two self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) 2.5km north-east of Zaichenko (26km north-east of Mariupol) pointed in a south-westerly direction.  

Beyond withdrawal lines, but outside assigned areas, the SMM saw on 23 May in government-controlled areas: one tank (T-64) on a flatbed trailer heading south-west on road 1302 near Bakhmut (67km north of Donetsk); and two tanks (one T-72 recovery tank and one demining tank T-55) near Berestove (90km north of Donetsk).

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles (ACVs)[2], anti-aircraft guns and fresh tracks assessed as those of tanks in the security zone. In government-controlled areas the SMM saw a military truck towing an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) on road H-21 heading north-west and an armoured vehicle Kraz Cougar with a mounted machine-gun near Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) heading north-west on road H-21. An SMM mid-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) revealed on 23 May two IFVs (BMP-2) and one ACV (type unknown) near Stanytsia Luhanska, assessed as outside the disengagement area.

On 23 May in non-government-controlled areas, the SMM saw an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) mounted on a military truck (Ural-type) in the western outskirts of Luhansk city heading east on road M04 and, in the same location on 24 May, five IFVs (BTR-type) heading north; and an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (MT-LB) in Zaichenko (93km south of Donetsk). Aerial imagery revealed on 23 May three ACVs (type unknown) near Sokilnyky (38km north-west of Luhansk).

On 24 May the SMM saw fresh tracks, assessed as those of tanks (T-64) near government-controlled Anadol (65km south of Donetsk) heading towards a westerly direction.

The SMM continued to observe the presence of mines and UXO. On 24 May the SMM observed in government-controlled Sievierodonetsk (74km north-west of Luhansk),three military trucks each towing one trailer mine layer (PMZ-4) with approximately 50 anti-tank mines on the top of each truck, as well as three flatbed trucks, each transporting one demining military vehicle, all heading south-west. In “LPR”-controlled area south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, the SMM continued to observe, the remnants of a 82mm mortar and of a rocket of a multiple launch rocket system (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) on the tarmac road 250m north of the Prince Ihor monument. (See SMM Daily Report 15 May.)

The SMM monitored the situation of civilians travelling across the contact line at Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. On 24 May, positioned at the government checkpoint north of the bridge in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM observed long queues of civilians. At 10:30 the SMM saw about 600 people queuing to exit government-controlled areas and a similar number of people queuing in the opposite direction. Three hours later the SMM saw about 700 people in a queue to exit government-controlled areas and 500 people in a queue to travel towards government-controlled areas. Positioned at the “LPR” checkpoint south of the bridge, at 7:20, the SMM saw about 650 people waiting in a queue to travel towards government-controlled areas, and no queue in the opposite direction. Four hours later the SMM saw about 400 people waiting in a queue to travel towards government-controlled areas, and ten people queuing in the opposite direction. The SMM observed that the hygiene conditions of the sanitary facilities close to the government checkpoint had deteriorated over the past months.

The SMM continued to monitor and facilitate repairs to essential infrastructure, co-ordinated by the JCCC. On 24 May, near “LPR”-controlled Kalynove (60km west of Luhansk), the SMM monitored repair works to the Mykhailivka-Almazna power line which provides electricity to western parts of Luhansk region. A representative of the Luhansk Main Power Transmission Lines informed the SMM that the repairs had been completed on 24 May.

The SMM visited one border area currently not under government control. During about one hour at a border crossing point near Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, 65km southeast of Luhansk), the SMM saw ten civilian vehicles (five with Ukrainian licence plates, four with Russian Federation licence plate and one with Georgian licence plates), one bus (with Ukrainian licence plates, with signs on its windows indicating the line “Sverdlovsk–Gukovo”) with approximately 30 passengers on board and one truck (with covered cargo and Ukrainian licence plates) exiting Ukraine. The SMM saw nine civilian vehicles (three with Ukrainian licence plates, six with Russian Federation licence plates) and one fuel truck (with Russian Federation licence plates) enter Ukraine. 

On 24 May at the border crossing point in Hoptivka (33km north of Kharkiv), the SMM monitored the representatives of the Russian Armed Forces assigned to the JCCC exiting Ukraine without incidents.

The SMM monitored peaceful gatherings in Kyiv. At Hrushevskoho Street, outside the Cabinet of Ministers’ building, the SMM saw about 1,000 people (mostly men between 45 and 70 years old), some of whom were carrying Ukrainian flags and flags of the labour union of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. They were protesting against changes in their pension plans with chants, slogans and banners. Twelve police officers were present. The event ended without incidents.

The SMM continued monitoring in Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kherson, Dnipro, Odessa 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:

• 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 Mission’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.
• An armed “LPR” member told the SMM that he could not guarantee the safety of the Mission in the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO, as no demining activity had taken place. 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 as Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel said no demining had taken place and that the road south of the bridge remained mined. The Mission informed the JCCC.

Conditional:

• In “DPR”-controlled Olenivka (23km south-west of Donetsk), an armed “DPR” member checked the interior of an SMM trailer before allowing the SMM to pass. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• At a checkpoint on highway H-15 near the Kargil plant in “DPR”-controlled Kreminets (16km south-west of Donetsk), an armed “DPR” member told the SMM to wait in a queue of about 50 civilian vehicles and requested to check the interior of an SMM trailer. The SMM was allowed to pass after one hour and after the “DPR” member checked the trailer. The SMM informed the JCCC.

 

[1] Please see the annexed for complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations as well as map of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions marked with locations featured in this report.* Please see the section at the end of this report entitled “Restrictions of SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate”.

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