Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 4 June 2017

This report is for the media and the general public.

Between the evenings of 2 and 3 June the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 3 and 4 June the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24-hour period. The Mission followed up on civilian casualties in Kurakhove and Yasynuvata. The SMM observed damage to civilian houses and critical infrastructure. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* An SMM mini unmanned aerial vehicle spotted anti-tank mines near Pervomaisk inside the Zolote disengagement area and signs of additional reinforcement to government positions in the Stanytsia Luhansk disengagement area. It visited three border areas not controlled by the Government. The SMM monitored events in Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk involving religious communities.

In Donetsk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations[1] between the evenings of 2 and 3 June, including about 240 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 90 explosions), and fewer between the evenings of 3 and 4 June, including 144 explosions, compared with the previous 24-hour period.

On the evening and night of 2 and 3 June, the SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, one airburst, 22 undetermined explosions, two tracer rounds in flight from east to west, two undetermined explosions, ten projectiles in flight from south-east to north-west, one undetermined explosion, three illumination flares in flight from south-east to north-west, and six projectiles in flight from south-east to north-west, all 4-6km east-south-east of the camera. During the day on 3 June, the same camera recorded, in sequence, 18 undetermined explosions, one airburst, and nine undetermined explosions, all 3-6km east-south-east and south. On the evening and night of 3 and 4 June, the camera recorded, in sequence, three explosions assessed as impacts, 26 undetermined explosions and two illumination flares in vertical flight, all 4-6km east-south-east.

On the evening and night of 2 and 3 June, the SMM camera at the “DPR”-controlled Oktiabr mine (9km north-west of Donetsk city centre) recorded, in sequence, ten undetermined explosions, four airbursts, two undetermined explosions, one airburst, one projectile in flight from east to west, and two airbursts followed by, in total, two undetermined explosions, one airburst, 138 projectiles and 24 tracer rounds in flight from north-west to south-east, 55 projectiles in flight from south-east to north-west, six projectiles and one illumination flare in flight from north-east to south-west, all 3-10km north-east. On the evening of 3 June, the same camera recorded, in sequence, 18 undetermined explosions, ten airbursts, one undetermined explosion, at least 42 projectiles in flight from west to east, 150 projectiles in flight from east to west, 25 projectiles in vertical flight and three projectiles in flight from west to east, all 3-5km north-east. 

On 3 June, positioned at the “DPR”-controlled Donetsk central railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk city centre), over about 85 minutes, the SMM heard 120 undetermined explosions as well as sporadic heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, 2-3km north, north-north-east, north-west and north-north-west. The following day at the same location, the SMM heard five undetermined explosions and 15 shots of small-arms fire, 1-5km north-east, west and north-west.

On 3 June, positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 12 undetermined explosions as well as heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, 2-8km west and north-north-west. On 4 June, positioned in Yasynuvata, the SMM heard eight undetermined explosions, and heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, including 20 minutes of uncountable, overlapping shots and bursts, all 2-5km west and west-north-west.

On 4 June, positioned in “DPR”-controlled Oleksandrivka (20km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM heard six undetermined explosions 1-4km north and north-west.

On the evening and night of 2 and 3 June, the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded, in sequence, two undetermined explosions, nine tracer rounds in flight from west to east, four rocket-assisted projectiles in flight from west to east, 16 tracer rounds in flight from west to east, two tracer rounds in flight from east to west, one undetermined explosion, one tracer round in flight from east to west, two tracer rounds in flight from west to east, six tracer rounds in flight from east to west, and two tracer rounds in flight from west to east, all at unknown distances from north to north-east.

On the evening and night of 3 and 4 June, the same camera recorded, in total, six undetermined explosions, four explosions assessed as impacts, 215 tracer rounds and ten rocket-assisted projectiles in flight from east to west, 71 tracer rounds and 18 rocket-assisted projectiles in flight from west to east, four tracer rounds in flight from south-east to north-west, one tracer round in flight from south-west to north-east and 17 tracer rounds in vertical flight, all at unknown distances north.

On 3 June, positioned 2km south-east of “DPR”-controlled Sakhanka (24km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard 18 undetermined explosions at unknown distances to the west, north-west and north-north-west, eight bursts of automatic-grenade-launcher and six shots of small-arms fire, 1-2km west. The following day in the same area, the SMM heard two undetermined explosions and six shots of small-arms fire at unknown distances west and west-north-west.

On the evening of 3 June, while in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard ten undetermined explosions, seven outgoing explosions of infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1) cannon (73mm), 28 shots of automatic-grenade-launcher, and heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 3-6km south-west.

On the evening of 3 June, while in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 20 undetermined explosions, two outgoing explosions of IFV (BMP-1) cannon (73mm) fire, and 15 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 3-10km south-east.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations between the evenings of 2 and 3 June, including three explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (no explosions), and more between the evenings of 3 and 4 June, including 27 explosions, compared with the previous 24-hour period.

The SMM continued to follow up on allegations of civilian casualties on both sides of the contact line. On 3 June, following up on allegations of a civilian casualty from a Russian officer of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), the SMM spoke with a 72-year-old woman at Yasynuvata Central Hospital who told the SMM that she had been at home in Yasynuvata on Lisnytstvo Street 1 when she had heard an explosion and had felt pain in her leg. The SMM saw a bandage on her left leg. Medical staff at the hospital told the SMM that the woman had been treated for a laceration on her left leg.

The SMM continued to follow up on allegations of damage to critical infrastructure and civilian properties in residential areas caused by shelling and firing. On 3 June, officers of the JCCC told the SMM that government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) was without water following damages to an electricity supply line for the Donetsk Water Filtration Station as well as to a water pipeline on the outskirts of Donetsk city, both allegedly caused by shelling on 1 June. On 4 June, Ukrainian Armed Forces and Russian Armed Forces officers of the JCCC told the SMM that due to the absence of security guarantees from “DPR”, repair works of the electricity lines to restore the electricity supply at Donetsk Water Filtration Station have not yet begun. On 4 June, In Avdiivka, the SMM observed people queuing at a public water station to collect water into the canisters they were carrying.

On 3 June, in “LPR”-controlled Sentianivka (formerly Frunze, 44km west of Luhansk), the SMM tried to follow up on allegations from Russian officers of the JCCC of damage to a civilian house at Pershoho Travnia Street 115. Due to security restrictions, the SMM could only reach Pershoho Travnia Street 93. In the presence of the Russian officers of the JCCC, the SMM spoke with a 65-year-old man who told the SMM that he was the owner of house no. 115, and that the roof of his house had been damaged on 2 June when a bullet had pierced it. The SMM was unable to observe the house directly.  

On 3 June in “DPR”-controlled Yakovlivka (10km north-east of Donetsk), a café owner told the SMM that there were several craters located about 200m south of his café. The SMM could see one crater at a 20m distance from the cafe but was unable to see the others that he referred to or assess the crater due to security restrictions.

On 4 June in “DPR”-controlled Dokuchaievsk (30km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM saw damage to the south-facing façade and window of a house at Horkoho Street 98/1. Inside the house the SMM saw damage to wardrobe and the wall behind the wardrobe. The SMM assessed that the damage had been caused by a 12.7mm bullet fired from a southerly direction.

At Vatutina Street 15, the SMM saw that part of the glass on two south-facing balcony windows was missing at apartment 31 and 41. The SMM assessed that the damage had been caused by small-arms fire. At apartment 41, a 55-year-old female resident told the SMM that on the morning of 4 June she had seen the damage to the balcony and found shattered glass on the ground.

At Tsentralna Street 87/46, the SMM saw cracked glass on south-facing balcony windows and damage to the balcony door as well as to the light-fixtures inside the apartment. The SMM assessed that the damage had been caused by small-arms fire. The 40-year-old female resident told the SMM that she had not been inside the apartment at the time of the damage but had seen broken glass on the morning of 4 June.

At Svobody Street 7 the SMM saw a window with broken glass. The SMM assessed that the damage had been caused by small-arms fire fired from a southerly direction. The 75-year-old female resident told the SMM that she had heard glass shattering between 19:30-20:00 on 3 June but had not thought it was in her house. She said she had found the broken glass the morning of 4 June.

At Telmana Street 12/1, the SMM saw a broken south-facing window and a 7.62mm bullet lodged between the panes of glass. The SMM noted damage on the façade of the same side of the house as well as the fence. The SMM assessed that the damage had been caused by small-arms fire from a southerly direction. A 40-year-old male resident told the SMM that he had been home at the time when his house had been struck by small-arms fire.

At Komsomolska Street 108/2, the SMM saw a 20cm wide gouge in the south-facing façade of a house and saw a 12.7mm bullet still stuck in the wall. The SMM assessed that the bullet had been fired from a southerly direction. A 30-year-old female neighbour told the SMM that the gunfire had occurred around 19:30 on 3 June.

About 1km north of Dokuchaievsk, the SMM saw a crater about 30cm wide and 21cm deep on the western side of a trench. Water repair workers present told the SMM that they had dug the trench to access a water pipe that had been damaged in an explosion that caused the crater. The SMM could not assess the weapon used but noted that the firing direction was westerly.

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 3 June, positioned in “LPR”-controlled Pervomaisk (58km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard three undetermined explosions 3-8km west, all assessed as outside the Zolote disengagement area. On 4 June, positioned 3km north of Pervomaisk, the SMM heard 18 single shots of heavy-machine-gun fire 5km west-south-west, assessed as outside the disengagement area.

On 3 June, positioned in government-controlled Zolote-4 (60km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard one shot of small-arms fire about 300m north-east, assessed as outside the disengagement area. On 4 June, positioned in Zolote-4, the SMM heard 25 undetermined explosions and seven bursts of small-arms fire, 4-5km south-west, assessed as outside the disengagement area. The SMM also heard two outgoing explosions of 120mm mortar rounds fired from 500-700m west and their subsequent impacts 4-5km south-west. The SMM assessed that although the mortars were fired and rounds impacted in areas outside the disengagement area, the rounds flew through the disengagement area.

On 3 June, the SMM followed up on the presence of anti-tank mines that had been placed near a checkpoint 800m north of Pervomaisk. (See SMM Daily Report 3 June 2017.) The SMM did not see any anti-tank mines and an armed “LPR” member told the SMM that the mines had been removed from the checkpoint. On 4 June, however, an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted six anti-tank mines approximately 10m west of the asphalt road  and six anti-tank mines approximately 10m east of the same asphalt road where the anti-tank mines had been spotted on 1 June.  

On 3 June, the SMM observed a large truck deliver a pile of sand approximately 150m east of the asphalt on Donetska Street in Stanytsia Luhanska, about 30m from recently dug trenches inside the Stanytsia Luhansk disengagement area. (See SMM Daily Report 3 June 2017.)

On 3 June, while present there, the SMM observed a calm situation near the Petrivske disengagement area in government-controlled Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk). A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC told the SMM that no demining had taken place in the disengagement area.

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

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles[2] and a spent ammunition canister in the security zone. On 3 and 4 June, the SMM observed an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (BTR-4) near government-controlled Makarove (19km north-east of Luhansk).

In non-government-controlled areas, the SMM saw an IFV (BMP-2) being towed south by a large military truck in Luhansk city, an APC (BTR) and a Ural truck with four armed men on board driving south-west from Pervomaisk in the direction of Molodizhne (63km north-west of Luhansk). The Mission also saw a spent 23mm cannon round on the ground in the parking area of the railway station in Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk).

The SMM continued to observe the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). On the road from “LPR”-controlled Kruta Hora (16km north-west of Luhansk) to “LPR”-controlled Raivka (16km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM observed for the first time that an unpaved road was blocked by a wooden barrier and an improvised mine hazard sign.

The SMM continued to promote mine action, especially clearance of mines and other explosive devices as foreseen in Point 6 of the Memorandum. Despite the SMM’s request in a letter to the signatories of the Minsk agreements on 5 May to ensure that the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the armed formations in areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions outside government control provide maps of areas suspected or confirmed to be contaminated, no such maps were received by the Mission by 4 June.

The SMM visited three border areas currently not under government control. On 3 June, during about an hour and a half at a pedestrian border crossing point near Verkhnoharasymivka (57km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed 18 people entering Ukraine and 12 people exiting. 

On 4 June, during about 75 minutes at a border crossing point near Izvaryne (52km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed 25 civilian cars (nine with Ukrainian licence plates, two with Russian Federation licence plates, one with “DPR” plates, and 13 with licence plates not observed), one bus with Ukrainian licence plates and three trucks (one covered and with Russian Federation licence plates, two with Ukrainian licence plates and without cargo), and 57 pedestrians queuing to exit Ukraine. During the SMM's stay, 25 cars, one truck, and the bus exited. The Mission also observed five cars with Ukrainian licence plates, one covered truck with Russian Federation licence plates, and 17 pedestrians entering Ukraine.

During 55 minutes at a border crossing point near Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk), the SMM saw 14 civilian cars (ten with Ukrainian licence plates and four with “LPR” plates), a bus, a tanker-cistern vehicle, and a truck with a covered trailer (all Ukrainian licence plates) exiting Ukraine, and 15 civilian cars entering Ukraine (eight with Ukrainian licence plates and seven with “DPR” plates).

On 2-4 June, the SMM monitored events in Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk involving members of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC). On 2 June, the Mission observed about 500 people gathered at Lviv’s Saint George’s Cathedral to mark the death of Archbishop Liubomyr Huzar on 31 May. Ten police and six National Guard officers were present at the event, which took place peacefully. On 3 June, the SMM monitored a liturgy and memorial service for the late archbishop at the same site, attended by over 1,000 people. Outside the cathedral, about 1,000 people watched the service on a large screen. Twelve police and six National Guards officers were present. The Mission monitored the subsequent procession of the archbishop’s coffin from the cathedral to the Carmelite monastery in Lviv, where a memorial service was conducted.

On 4 June, the SMM monitored the march of six UGCC priests and about 25 laypeople (both men and women, mostly elderly) at 12:30 from the centre of Kolomyia (51km south-east of Ivano-Frankivsk) to a small wooden church where about 30 Right Sector members and about 20 “Black 100” members, all wearing T-shirts with organization names and emblems, joined them. Seven police officers accompanied the march, and over 20 more subsequently arrived at the site over the next few hours. The UGCC priests conducted a service outside the church, while a Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) mass took place inside, which was broadcast over a loud speaker in the church courtyard. Afterward, the priests entered the church, with a small group of laypeople, and conducted another service, also broadcast by loud speaker into the courtyard. Members of both communities remained within the church, chanting and praying. Aside from a brief period of shouting outside the church, the SMM did not observe any incidents between the communities. At around 17:00, about 20 Right Sector members attempted to enter the church but were stopped by police, who had lined up in two rows in front of the church. The deputy head of the Kolomyia city police and a UOC representative told the SMM that the church was sealed at 20:00 by police and that members of both church communities as well as Right Sector and “Black 100” had all left the premises.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kharkiv, Kherson, Odessa, Dnipro, 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. 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.

Denial of access:

• On 3 and 4 June, 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.
• On 3 June, positioned in government-controlled Katerynivka (64km west of Luhansk), inside the Zolote disengagement area, the SMM did not consider it safe to proceed as no demining had taken place. The JCCC was informed.
• On 3 and 4 June, armed “LPR” members told the SMM that they could not guarantee the safety of the Mission in the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC.
• On 3 and 4 June, the SMM could not travel across the bridge in 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.
• On 3 June, the SMM could not travel east from government-controlled Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk) in the direction of “DPR”-controlled Petrivske due the lack of security guarantees and the possible presence of mines. The SMM informed the JCCC. 
• On 2 June, while following up on allegations of the presence of heavy weapons in “LPR”-controlled Zymohiria (27km west of Luhansk), the SMM was prevented from entering the premises of Cherkaske mine by the head of security of the mine as well as an armed “LPR” member. The SMM could see six “LPR” members in military-style clothing, at least four of whom were armed, inside and outside buildings on the premises.
• On 3 and 4 June, the SMM observed four concrete barriers blocking road E-58 approximately 1km east of junction leading to “DPR”-controlled Sakhanka (24km north-east of Mariupol) and could not proceed. On 3 June, two armed “DPR” members told the SMM that the barriers had been installed the same morning. The SMM informed the JCCC, which confirmed that the barriers had been installed the same morning.
• On 4 June, at a checkpoint north-west of “DPR”-controlled Sidove (106km south of Donetsk) an armed man who told the SMM that he was a member of the “DPR” “police” did not allow the patrol to continue to either “DPR”-controlled Obryv (104km south of Donetsk) or Kholodne (103km south of Donetsk), citing an order from his “commander”. When the SMM requested to speak to the “commander”, the armed man told the SMM that his order came from Donetsk and that the SMM would need to speak with the “DPR” members there to obtain permission to enter Sidove. The SMM informed the JCCC.

Other impediments:

• On 3 June, at the camera site in government-controlled Shyrokyne 20km east of Mariupol), the SMM noted that the main control unit door of the camera had been opened and the fuel hose had been disconnected from the generators’ diesel tank. The SMM observed that 20 litres of diesel were missing from the tank.

[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.