Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 22 June 2017

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM observed a fresh impact site in Zaichenko. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas; it recorded ceasefire violations in Zolote disengagement area. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including in Olenivka.* “DPR” and “LPR” refused to provide the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination with written security guarantees which facilitate the implementation of SMM’s mandate. In violation of the withdrawal lines, an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle spotted a probable self-propelled mortar near Novoselivka. The SMM continued to observe the presence of unexploded ordnance near Nikishyne. Its facilitation and monitoring of repairs to power lines near Zhovte was interrupted by ceasefire violations. The SMM observed long queues of civilians travelling across the contact line at Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. In Kyiv the SMM continued to observe a public gathering.

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations[1], including about 210 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 90 explosions).

On the evening and night of 21-22 June the SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, 11 tracer rounds in flight from north to south, 11 tracer rounds in flight from south to north, followed by aggregated totals of 37 tracer rounds in flight (27 from north to south and ten from south to north), one illumination flare in vertical flight and one undetermined explosion, all 1-4km east-south-east. On 22 June the same camera recorded 18 explosions assessed as impacts (four 3-5km east-south-east and 14 4-6km north-north-east).

On the evening and night of 21-22 June the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded, in sequence, one airburst, 101 tracer rounds in flight from east to west, five tracer rounds in flight from west to east, followed by aggregated totals of 101 tracer rounds in flight (98 from east to west and three from west to east), one undetermined explosion and one rocket-assisted projectile in flight from west to east, all at unknown distances north and north-east.

On the evening of 21 June, while in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard about 40 explosions assessed as outgoing rounds of recoilless gun (SPG-9, 73mm) and artillery fire, 30 undetermined explosions and 15 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 3-5km south-west and three undetermined explosions 3-5km west.

On the evening of 21 June, while in “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 23 undetermined explosions 7-8km south and south-west.

On the evening of 21 June, while in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 19 undetermined explosions 8-10km north-east and 12 undetermined explosions 8-10km south-east.

On 22 June, positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 54 undetermined explosions (18 2-4km west, four 2-6km north-west, 27 1-5km north, four 3-5km north-east and one 3-5km east) and five bursts of small-arms fire 1-4km at north-westerly directions.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including fewer explosions (about 20), compared with the previous reporting period (55 explosions).

Positioned 2km south of “LPR”-controlled Zhovte (17km north-west of Luhansk) the SMM heard two undetermined explosions 4km north-west.

Positioned in a government-controlled part of Zolote (60km west of Luhansk) the SMM heard five bursts of small-arms fire 2km south-east. Positioned in an “LPR”-controlled part Zolote (61km north-west of Luhansk) the SMM heard one burst of heavy-machine-gun fire 1km north.

Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Pervomaisk (58km west of Luhansk) the SMM heard one undetermined explosion 3km west-north-west, two shots of small-arms fire and heard and saw one explosion assessed as impact 3km at south-westerly directions.

The SMM spoke with medical staff of the Hospital no. 1 in “DPR”-controlled Makiivka (12km north-east of Donetsk) regarding concerns about the monitoring of civilian casualties. They said they had received instructions from “DPR” members not to communicate with the international community regarding civilian casualties; no information was given regarding the date of these instructions. The SMM noted its task according to its mandate to establish and report facts in response to specific incidents and reports of incidents.

While the Ukrainian Armed Forces continued to provide the JCCC with written security guarantees which facilitate the implementation of the SMM’s mandate, “DPR” and “LPR” members refused to provide them.

The SMM observed damage near a residential area caused by shelling. On 22 June in “DPR”-controlled Zaichenko (26km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM saw a fresh crater about 70cm in diameter on the asphalt road at the junction between Myru Street and Selivanova Street assessed as caused by a mortar (82mm) round fired from a south-westerly direction. The SMM spoke separately to three men and a woman, as well as a group of four men (aged between 50 and 70 years old) all residents of Zaichenko. They told the SMM that they heard shelling at around 22:00 on 20 June and that five houses had been damaged on Hrynka and Selivanova Streets. No casualties were reported. The SMM was not able to visit the damaged houses due to security restrictions.

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 20-21 June the SMM camera in government-controlled Zolote recorded two projectiles in flight from north-west to south-east 1.7km east-north-east, assessed as inside the disengagement area. The same camera also recorded, in sequence, ten projectiles in flight from north-west to south-east and three undetermined explosions, all 0.5-6km east and east-north-east, all assessed as outside the disengagement area.

The SMM observed a calm situation while present near the disengagement area in Stanytsia Luhanska. The SMM remained unable to access its camera in “DPR”-controlled Petrivske (41km south of Donetsk) due to security considerations.

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

In violation of respective withdrawal lines in non-government controlled areas, an SMM mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted one probable self-propelled mortar (2-S9 Nona, 120mm) under tree-cover near Novoselivka (37km north-east of Donetsk).

On 22 June in government-controlled areas, the SMM observed that five holding areas continued to be abandoned with the following weapons missing: 39 towed howitzers (21 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm and 18 2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm).

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles and anti-aircraft guns[2] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas on 20 June, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-2) in the garden of a house and another IFV (BMP-variant) covered with camouflage near Novoselivka Druha (23km north of Donetsk).

In non-government controlled areas on 20 June, an SMM mini-UAV spotted one IFV (BMP-1) near Slovianoserbsk (28km north-west of Luhansk), three military-type trucks and three armoured personnel carriers (APC) (MTLB) all mounted with probable anti-aircraft guns (ZU-23), one APC (BTR-variant) and a group in military-style clothing close to the vehicles near Novoselivka.

The SMM continued to observe the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO) near “DPR”-controlled Nikishyne (60km north-east of Donetsk). The SMM saw that previously observed tail fins of mortar rounds were still partially buried in the asphalt road, 10-15m north of a “DPR” checkpoint in Nikishyne and looked as though vehicles had been driving over them. The SMM began to take photographs but was approached by a “DPR” member who said that pictures were not allowed.*

The SMM facilitated and monitored repairs to essential infrastructure, co-ordinated by the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC). On 21 June, the SMM monitored repairs to the high voltage power line between Zhovte and “LPR”-controlled Raivka (16km north-west of Luhansk). At around midday, however, the SMM heard ceasefire violations (see above) and informed the workers, who stopped and left the area.  

The SMM also observed repair works in progress at a hospital in government-controlled Krasnohorivka (21km west of Donetsk) which had been shelled at the end of May. (See SMM Daily Reports 29 and 30 May 2017). Medical staff told the SMM that following the shelling, they had been able to relocate patients from the damaged rooms elsewhere in the hospital and continue to treat people. They also said that local emergency services, medical staff from the hospital and volunteers had been assisting with the repairs.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation of civilians travelling across the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. On 22 June at an “LPR” checkpoint south of the bridge, at 07:40 the SMM saw about 350 people queuing to travel toward government-controlled areas and no queues in the opposite direction. On the same day at 10:30 at the government checkpoint north of the bridge, the SMM saw about 1,500 people queuing to enter government-controlled areas and 700 people queuing in the opposite direction. A woman in her sixties told the SMM that she had been waiting to enter government-controlled areas for about four hours.

The SMM continued to observe a protest by supporters of the former Aidar volunteer battalion in Kyiv for the fourth consecutive day. (See SMM Daily Report 20 June 2017.) On Bankova Street the SMM saw a gathering of about 50 people (almost all men, aged between 30 and 50 years old, some of them wearing military-style camouflage fatigues). The SMM observed about 30 National Guard officers, all wearing partial riot gear, and 60 police officers. It also noticed increased security with fences set up and military trucks parked on the above mentioned street. The SMM noted a calm situation during the protest.

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

• 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.
• A Ukrainian officer of the JCCC told the SMM that no demining had taken place over the previous 24 hours in the Zolote disengagement area. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed. The JCCC was informed.
• Armed “LPR” members positioned on the southern side of the Zolote disengagement area (3km north of Pervomaisk) told the SMM that they could not guarantee the safety of the Mission on side roads 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 the road south of the bridge was still mined. The SMM informed the JCCC.

Conditional access:

• At a checkpoint near Olenivka (23km south-west of Donetsk) the SMM was delayed for one hour and seven minutes and a “DPR” member inspected the SMM’s trailer. The SMM informed the JCCC.

Other impediments:

• At a checkpoint near Nikishyne, the SMM was taking pictures of UXO in the road when an armed “DPR”-member told the SMM that they were not allowed to take any photographs. The SMM left the area.

[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.