Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 11 June 2017
This report is for the media and the general public.
Between the evenings of 9 and 10 June the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions and more than five times the number of explosions in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 10 and 11 June, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM heard shots and bursts close to its unmanned aerial vehicle when it was flying near Mineralne. The SMM confirmed that two civilians from Marinka were injured and one from Petrovskyi district of Donetsk city. The Mission observed multiple impact sites in Oleksandrivka, Petrovskyi district, Vasylivka, Bezimenne and Sakhanka. On 11 June it was hindered from observing an impact site in Petrovskyi district by “DPR” members. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations in Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area and observed an impact site near Pervomaisk. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* In violation of the withdrawal lines, the Mission saw howitzers near Zaichenko. It observed recently excavated trenches near Shchastia. The Mission visited two border areas not under government control.
In Donetsk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations[1] between the evenings of 9 and 10 June, including about 900 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 170 explosions), and fewer between the evenings of 10 and 11 June, including, fewer explosions (about 280), compared with the previous 24 hours.
On the evening and night of 9-10 June the SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, two explosions assessed as impacts, 17 tracer rounds in flight from north-east to south-west, one explosion assessed as impact, six projectiles in flight from north-west to south-east, followed by aggregated totals of five explosions assessed as impacts and 40 projectiles in flight (four from north-east to south-west, nine from east to west, 13 from west to east and 14 from north-west to south-east), all 3-5km east-south-east. On 10 June, while positioned in Avdiivka for about 30 minutes, the SMM heard 11 undetermined explosions 2km east. On the evening of 10 June the camera in Avdiivka recorded, in sequence, three explosions assessed as impacts, 71 undetermined explosions, one projectile in flight from south-east to north-west, six projectiles in flight from north-west to south-east, followed by aggregated totals of seven undetermined explosions, 14 tracer rounds in flight (ten from south-east to north-west and four from north-west to south-east) and one projectile in flight from east-south-east to west-north-west, all 3-7km at south easterly directions. On 11 June, the same camera recorded about 30 undetermined explosions 2-6km east and south-east.
On the evening and night of 9-10 June the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded, in sequence, one undetermined explosion, 40 tracer rounds in flight from east to west, 30 tracer rounds in flight from west to east, followed by aggregated totals of 604 tracer rounds in flight (479 from east to west and 125 from west to east), 28 undetermined explosions, one illumination flare in vertical flight and 34 rocket-assisted projectiles in flight (19 from east to west and 15 from west to east), all at unknown distances north. On the evening and night of 10-11 June the same SMM camera recorded, in sequence, one tracer round in flight from west to east, one undetermined explosion, two tracer rounds in flight from west to east, eight undetermined explosions, one tracer round in flight from east to west, followed by aggregated totals of 45 tracer rounds in flight (43 from west to east and two from east to west), two explosions (one undetermined and one assessed as outgoing) and one rocket-assisted projectile in flight from west to east, all at unknown distances north and north-north-east.
On the evening and night of 9-10 June, while in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 533 undetermined explosions 3-5km south-south-west, five explosions assessed as rounds of infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1) cannon (73mm) and 12 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 2-5km north-west. On the evening of 10 June, the SMM heard 40 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire and about 25 undetermined explosions 5-7km south-west. The following day, in about 30 minutes, the SMM heard five undetermined explosions and five bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 3-5km west.
On the evening and night of 9-10 June, while in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 29 undetermined explosions 10-15km north-east, 29 explosions (ten undetermined, nine assessed as impacts of artillery fire of unknown calibre, eight assessed as outgoing rounds of IFV (BMP-1) cannon and two as outgoing mortar rounds (82mm)), six episodes of uncountable overlapping bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire and about 110 shots and bursts of heavy-machine-gun, anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) and small-arms fire, all 3-5km south-east and east. On the evening of 10 June, the SMM heard 26 explosions (16 undetermined and ten assessed as outgoing rounds of IFV (BMP-1) cannon), about 150 shots an bursts of heavy-machine-gun, IFV (BMP-2) cannon (30mm) and small-arms fire, all 3-5km south and south-east.
On 10 June, positioned near a water pumping station in “DPR”-controlled Vasylivka (20km north of Donetsk) for about three hours, the SMM heard 12 undetermined explosions and seven minutes of uncountable overlapping bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 0.25-3km at directions ranging from south-west to north-east.
On 10 June, positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), in about three hours the SMM heard 21 explosions (18 undetermined, two assessed as outgoing and one assessed as impact), about 60 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire and 19 rockets (ten assessed as outgoing and nine as impacts), all 3-5km at directions ranging from south-west to north-west. The following day, in about four hours the SMM heard 40 explosions (37 undetermined and three assessed as outgoing), and about 30 shots and bursts of small-arms fire, all 1.5-10km at directions ranging from west to north-east.
On 10 June, positioned in “DPR”-controlled Oleksandrivka (20km south-west of Donetsk), in about 20 minutes the SMM heard about 30 undetermined explosions and about 20 shots and bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 1-3km west.
On the night of 10-11 June, while in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city, the SMM heard about 135 undetermined explosions 5-7km north-west. On the evening of 11 June, in about three hours the SMM heard 38 undetermined explosions 10-15km north.
On the night of 10-11 June, positioned 7km north-east of “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard about 40 undetermined explosions, five bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire and four episodes of uncountable overlapping bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 3-5km north-west.
In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations between the evenings of 9 and 10 June, including more explosions (about 45), compared with the previous reporting period (12 explosions). Between the evenings of 10 and 11 June, it recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 180 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours.
On 8 June, the SMM camera in government-controlled Zolote (60km west of Luhansk) recorded aggregated totals of seven shots of small-arms fire 3km north-east, and four shots of heavy-machine-gun fire 1.3km east-south-east, all assessed as outside the disengagement area. On the night of 9-10 June, the same camera recorded eight explosions assessed as artillery or mortar fire (unknown calibre) 3-6km north-east, assessed as outside the disengagement area.
On 10 June, positioned in a government-controlled part of Zolote (60km north-west of Luhansk), in about 15 minutes the SMM heard five undetermined explosions 12-15km west, assessed as outside the disengagement area. On 11 June, in about 15 minutes the SMM heard 16 undetermined explosions and one burst of heavy-machine-gun fire 8-10km east-north-east, assessed as outside the disengagement area.
On 10 June, positioned 3km south-east of government-controlled Kapitanove (49km north-west of Luhansk), in about ten minutes the SMM heard what it assessed as impact of a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) salvo (20 rockets) and 35 explosions assessed as impacts of artillery fire (unknown calibre), all 10-15km south.
On the evening and night of 10-11 June, while in “LPR”-controlled Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, 50km west of Luhansk) the SMM heard about 70 undetermined explosions 3-10km and 70 undetermined explosions 10-20km at directions ranging from west to east.
On 11 June positioned in government-controlled Muratove (51km north-west of Luhansk), in about 15 minutes the SMM heard six explosions assessed as impacts of mortar rounds (82mm) and about 100 bursts of IFV (BMP-2) cannon fire 7-10km south-west.
The SMM heard shots and bursts near its mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). On 11 June, positioned 4km east of “DPR”-controlled Mineralne (10km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM launched a mini-UAV. The SMM had co-ordinated the flight with the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC). At 11:13, while the UAV was flying about 900m north of the SMM’s position, the SMM heard four-five shots of IFV (BMP-2) cannon fire and bursts of anti-aircraft cannon (ZU-23) 1km north of the SMM’s position. The SMM recalled the UAV during which time it heard unaccountable shots and bursts of small-arms fire 300m north of the SMM’s position, assessed as targeting the UAV. The SMM safely landed the UAV at 11:18 and left the area. The Mission informed the JCCC about the incident and requested that it follow up.
The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties. At a hospital in government-controlled Kurakhove (40km west of Donetsk), medical staff told the SMM that a man (53 years old) and a woman (55 years old) had been brought to the hospital on 10 June from government-controlled Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk). The man, who was lying on a hospital bed, told the SMM that he had been inside his home at Zhovtneva Street 171 with his wife (the second casualty) on 9 June when an explosion occurred around midnight and injured them immediately. The man told the SMM that the ambulances had refused to go to the area due to the fighting and that they had been transported to the hospital by Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers. Medical staff told the SMM that the man sustained open fractures to his lower left leg and fragmentation wounds to his right thigh. Medical staff told the SMM that it could not speak with the injured woman as she was in the intensive care department following surgery. They said that they had removed shrapnel pieces and that she had sustained fragmentation wounds to her right hip and thigh and a closed thighbone fracture to her left leg. The local police and a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC separately told the SMM that shelling occurred in Marinka on the night of 9-10 June.
At the Donetsk Trauma Hospital in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city, a man on a hospital bed told the SMM that he had been injured in the Trudivske neighbourhood of Petrovskyi district (15km south-west of Donetsk city centre) on 9 June while walking in Mamina-Sybiriaka Street. He said he had heard three explosions close by after which he was bleeding and in pain. He said that he had had surgery in a hospital in Petrovskyi district before being taken to Donetsk Trauma Hospital. Medical staff told the SMM that the man was 56 years old and had been admitted to the hospital on 10 June. They said he had sustained fragmentation wounds and had undergone two surgeries at the Trauma Hospital.
The SMM observed damage to civilian properties in residential areas and essential infrastructure caused by shelling. On 9 June, accompanied by Russian officers of the JCCC, the SMM observed impact sites in Oleksandrivka. At Lenina Street 56, 58 and 60 the SMM observed recent damage to three properties which all had holes in the west side of their roofs and corresponding holes, assessed to be the exit holes on the east side of their roofs.
At Lenina Street 65 the SMM observed damage to the north-west corner of a brick wall on a property. At Lenina Street 76a the SMM saw a hole in a west-facing window, two holes in the eastern side of the roof and a blown out south-facing wooden gable.
At Lenina Street 89 the SMM saw damage to a window and the surrounding frame and brickwork of a property, and to the north-west corner of the garden’s boundary wall. Inside the property there was minor damage to the furnishings, assessed as shrapnel impacts. At Lenina Street 99, damage to a property consisted of multiple holes in a west-facing window, two holes in the western side of the roof and a large crack in an internal wall. At Lenina Street 101 the SMM saw numerous holes in a south-facing garden fence, and at Lenina Street 92 the SMM observed a hole in the western side of the roof.
The SMM assessed that damage to all above properties were impacts of rounds from unknown weapons fired from a westerly direction. The SMM spoke separately to the residents of each of the properties who stated that the damage had occurred during shelling between 02:30 and 06:00 on 9 June.
On 9 June, accompanied by Russian officers of the JCCC, the SMM observed impact sites in the Trudivske neighbourhood of Petrovskyi district. At Viktora Hiuho Street 20 the SMM observed damage to the chimney of an east-facing single storey dwelling from an unknown weapon fired from a westerly direction. At Viktora Hiuho Street 35, the SMM saw a hole in a door on the northern side of a west facing property and at Viktora Hiuho Street 33 the SMM observed a west-facing property with damage to a window on the southern side of the building and a hole in the northern side of the roof, with a second hole, assessed to be the exit hole, in the southern side of the roof. The SMM was unable to assess the type of weapon or the direction of fire at the second two properties. The SMM spoke separately to residents of each of the above properties who confirmed that shelling occurred.
The SMM followed up on reports of shelling to a water pumping station in “DPR”-controlled Vasylivka (20km north-east of Donetsk) (see SMM Daily Report 10 June 2017). Within the territory of the pumping station, the SMM saw the tail fin of an 82mm mortar round stuck in a tree facing north-north-west, and saw damage to a concrete wall west of the tree and shrapnel impacts on the north-west wall of a nearby garage, which it assessed as probably caused by 7.62mm machine-gun bullets and 82mm mortar rounds but was unable to determine the direction of fire. The SMM observed the tail fin of an 82mm mortar round and one fresh crater on an asphalt road west of the reservoir, opposite the power transformer station. The SMM saw damage to the north-east facing side of the roof and to the south-west wall of the water flow regulation switch room, and saw ten impacts to the west wall of the pumping station building which it assessed as probably caused by an anti-tank gun round (PG9). At the entrance to the pumping station the SMM saw an impact to the south-west wall and damaged bricks; however the SMM was unable to assess the cause of the damage or the direction of fire. On the asphalt road south-west of the entrance of the station the SMM saw a fresh crater in the asphalt and shrapnel spray and assessed the impact as caused by mortar rounds of unknown calibre. A few metres to the west of the road the SMM observed an exploded mortar round and a mortar tail fin.
On 10 June in “DPR”-controlled Bezimenne (30km east of Mariupol), led by Russian officers of the JCCC, the SMM observed a fresh crater 70m west of a JCCC office south of road E-58, assessed as caused by a wire-guided anti-tank missile (type unknown) fired from an undetermined direction.
On 11 June in “DPR”-controlled Sakhanka (24km north-east of Mariupol), at Konstytutsii Street 31 the SMM observed fresh damage from two direct impacts. The western side of the building's roof showed severe damage and in a first floor child’s bedroom the ceiling had collapsed, exposing the wooden roof structure. There were cuts in the floor, assessed as having been caused by a mortar tail fin. The SMM assessed that the damage had been caused by a mortar round (120mm) fired from a south-south-westerly direction. In an adjacent room within the house, the SMM saw rubble and debris beneath a hole in the roof, where an impact to the western side of the house had destroyed roof timbers. The SMM assessed the damage was also caused by a mortar round (unknown calibre), but was unable to determine the direction of fire. A resident of the house (a woman in her forties) told the SMM that the shelling had occurred at 06:00 on 11 June.
At Konstytutsii Street 33, the SMM observed a large hole in the west wall of a garage measuring 2.5m by 1m, shrapnel impacts on the south-western edge of the wall, and a fresh crater in an adjoining garden, about 50m north of the garage. Both impacts were assessed as caused by mortar rounds (120mm) fired from a south-south-westerly direction. A resident of the property and his neighbour (both men in their fifties) told the SMM that the shelling started at 05:45 on 11 June and lasted for 30 minutes.
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 evening and night of 9-10 June the SMM camera in Stanytsia Luhanska recorded, in sequence, one undetermined explosion, two explosions assessed as impacts of automatic-grenade-launcher (AGS) fire 700m south-south-west and one heavy-machine-gun tracer round in flight from south to north 1.1km south, all assessed as inside the disengagement area.
On 9 June, while in a government-controlled part of Zolote, the SMM observed that previously seen barriers which blocked a minor road leading towards the Zolote disengagement area had been removed. The SMM also saw fresh tracks assessed as from a military-type vehicle moving along a minor road in the direction of the disengagement area.
On 10 June while present in government-controlled Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk), west of the Petrivske disengagement area, and on 10 and 11 June while present in the disengagement areas near Zolote and Stanytsia Luhanska the SMM observed a calm situation.
On 11 June, in “LPR”-controlled Pervomaisk (58km west of Luhansk), the SMM observed a fresh crater at the southern outskirts of the Zolote disengagement area on Bakhmutskoho Street, about 300m south-east of the “LPR” checkpoint and 1m south of the asphalt road. The SMM saw a tree with broken branches about 100m south of the crater. The SMM assessed that the crater was caused by a 122mm artillery round fired from a north-north-westerly direction, and that the trajectory lead inside or over the Zolote 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 withdrawal lines in non-government controlled areas, on 11 June the SMM observed two stationary self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) about 3km north-east of Zaichenko (26km north-east of Mariupol).
The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles, their tracks and an anti-aircraft gun[2] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, on 10 June the SMM observed eight military vehicles, including one armoured personnel carrier (APC) (BTR-70), military personnel and an excavator next to five recently excavated sites in Pavlopil (26km north-east of Mariupol). While in Novotroitske (36km south-west of Donetsk) on 11 June the SMM observed fresh tracks of at least ten IFVs (BMP-variant) on road T-0509, for 1.1km on road H-20 and on a minor road east of H-20.
In non-government-controlled areas in the Trudivske neighbourhood of Petrovskyi district, on 9 June the SMM observed fresh tracks from tracked military-type vehicles for about 1km along Viktora Hiuho Street and saw one APC (MT-LB) about 3km north-east of Zaichenko.
The SMM observed the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and mine hazard signs. On 10 June in “DPR”-controlled Yakovlivka (10km north of Donetsk), about 30m south-east of the checkpoint on road H-20, the SMM saw an MLRS rocket (BM-21 Grad) on a closed-off lane.
On 11 June in government-controlled Sopyne (16km east of Mariupol), the SMM observed for the first time, three mine hazard signs in Russian with the logo of an international organization. The signs warned about the presence of sea mines near the coastline and stated that it is forbidden to go in the water.
The SMM observed recently excavated trenches near an “LPR” checkpoint south of government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) on 11 June. The SMM saw an excavator (PZM-2) digging a trench (about 100m in diameter) in a field about 300m north-east of the “LPR” checkpoint, in the direction of “LPR”-controlled Obozne (18km north of Luhansk). The SMM also saw a recently excavated trench on the opposite side of the road.
On 9 and 10 June, the SMM monitored and facilitated repair works co-ordinated by the JCCC to the high voltage Mykhailivka-Almazna power lines between Pervomaisk and “LPR”-controlled Molodizhne (63km north-west of Luhansk). On 10 June, while at the water pumping station in Vasylivka, the SMM also observed the completion of repair work and the successful functioning of the repaired water pumps (see SMM Daily Report 10 June 2017).
The SMM continued to monitor the situation of civilians travelling across the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. On 9 June at the government checkpoint north of the bridge, the SMM saw about 400 people queuing to enter government-controlled areas and about 400 queuing in the opposite direction. Two women (one in her fifties and one in her sixties) separately told the SMM that they had not been permitted to leave government-controlled areas because of “LPR” markings – which the SMM saw - in their Ukrainian passports. Four Ukrainian border guards told the SMM that they had been recently ordered to stop anyone who had “LPR” markings issued in a Ukrainian passport from leaving government-controlled areas.
The SMM visited two border areas not under government control. At the pedestrian border crossing point in Verkhnoharasymivka (57km south-east of Luhansk), in about one hour the SMM observed five people entering Ukraine and 11 people exiting. The SMM also saw 17 civilian cars (six with Russian Federation and 11 with Ukrainian licence plates) in the parking lot.
At the border crossing point in Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, 65km south-east of Luhansk), in about one hour the SMM observed 11 civilian cars (eight with Ukrainian and three with Russian Federation licence plates) and 16 pedestrians (eight men, six women and two children) entering Ukraine and 37 civilian cars (26 with Ukrainian and 11 with Russian Federation licence plates), two passenger buses (one with Russian Federation licence plates marked “Sverdlovsk-Gukovo” and one with Ukrainian licence plates marked “Belgorod”) both with about 25-30 passengers, and 23 pedestrians (12 men, eight women and three children) exiting Ukraine. The SMM also saw 11 civilian cars (six with Ukrainian and two with Russian Federation licence plates, and three with their plates not visible) and two minibuses (the SMM could not see the licence plates) in a queue to exit Ukraine.
The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, 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, 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, including at the disengagement area near Petrivske.
Denial of access:
- On 10 and 11 June the SMM could not proceed further east into the Zolote disengagement area from government-controlled Katerynivka (62km west of Luhansk) due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. The SMM informed the JCCC.
- On 10 and 11 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 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.
- On 10 and 11 June the SMM could not travel across the bridge in Shchastia as Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel said there were mines on the road beyond the bridge. The SMM informed the JCCC.
- On 10 June at a check point on road H-20 on the outskirts of Yakovlivka an armed “DPR” member stopped the SMM from proceeding towards Yasynuvata. The SMM waited 3km south-east of the check point for about two hours before re-approaching, only to be told by the same armed member that the SMM was not permitted to pass due to ongoing shelling and shooting nearby. The SMM could not hear or see any evidence of shelling nearby and informed the JCCC.
- On 11 June, the SMM was stopped at a checkpoint in Trudivske, a neighbourhood in Petrovskyi district of Donetsk city, where five armed “DPR” members said the SMM could not proceed as it needed clearance from their “commander”, who was absent. The SMM informed the JCCC.
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.