Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 28 June 2017

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, however, fewer explosions than in the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region the Mission recorded a significant increase in ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period, mostly east and south-east of Popasna. The Mission continued monitoring the three disengagement areas; it recorded ceasefire violations near Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including again in Novoazovsk.* The SMM assessed an impact site in Sentianivka. It facilitated and monitored repairs to electricity lines and water pipes near Zolote. The SMM visited four border areas not under government control where it continued to see vehicles with “DPR” plates enter or leave Ukraine. The Mission monitored celebrations of Constitutional Day in Dnipro and Kharkiv and a protest in Kyiv.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, however, fewer explosions (about 40), compared with 59 explosions in the previous reporting period.[1]

On the night of 27-28 June the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded, in sequence, two tracer rounds in flight from west to east, one rocket-assisted projectile from south-east to north-west, three tracer rounds from west to east, and five from east to west, followed by aggregated totals of 11 rocket-assisted projectiles in flight (three from west to east, four from east to west, three from south to north and one from south-east to north-west), 104 tracer rounds in flight (87 from east to west, 16 west to east and one south to north), one airburst and one illumination flare, all at undetermined distances north.

While in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk) on the same night, the SMM heard 25 bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire 3-5km south-east.

The SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north-west of Donetsk) recorded two explosions assessed as impacts 3-4km east-south-east, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon of 28 June. On the same day, positioned in Avdiivka for three and a half hours, the SMM heard six undetermined explosions 4-6km north-east.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) for about six hours, the SMM heard 19 undetermined explosions: 18 3-5km north, north-west and west and one at an undetermined distance north-west. Positioned 1km north-east of Yasynuvata, the SMM heard, during one hour, 10-15 undetermined explosions at an undetermined distance north.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded a significant increase in ceasefire violations, including about 170 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (two explosions) as well as with the last few days. Most of the ceasefire violations were recorded overnight from the SMM forward patrol base in government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk).

On the night of 27-28 June, while in Popasna the SMM heard 160 explosions: 80 assessed as impacts of 82mm mortar rounds, 20 assessed as impacts of 120mm mortar rounds and 60 assessed as fire from infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1) cannon (73mm), 30 bursts of anti-aircraft-gun (ZU-23, 23mm) fire, about 210 bursts of fire from IFV (BMP-2) cannon (30mm) and about 1,400 bursts and shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 5-7km east and south-east, as well as about 80 bursts of IFV (BMP-2) cannon fire and about 75 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 4-5km south-east. Most of the ceasefire violations, including all explosions, were heard within three hours on the evening of 27 June.

Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Vesela Hora (17km north of Luhansk) on 28 June the SMM heard six undetermined explosions 15km north-west.

The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process and to pursue full access to the disengagement areas near 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 of 27 June, the SMM camera in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska  recorded, in sequence, one flare 2.3km south-west, five undetermined explosions 4km north-east (all assessed as having occurred outside the disengagement area) and one flare 1.1km south, assessed as inside the disengagement area.

On 27 June, the SMM observed again road barriers about 250m south of the northern edge of on the main road inside the Zolote-Pervomaisk disengagement area, which posed difficulties to driving on the road.

The SMM assessed an impact site in “LPR”-controlled Sentianivka (44km west of Luhansk). The SMM saw a fresh crater 7m south of the closest residential building and 0.3m from a paved road in the centre of the village and assessed it as having been caused by a 122mm artillery round fired from a northerly direction. No casualties were reported.

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

The SMM noted that a weapons storage site beyond the withdrawal lines in areas not controlled by the government, which does not comply with the criteria set out in the 16 October 2015 notification, continued to be abandoned with six self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) missing.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles and tracks of armoured vehicles[2] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas the SMM observed four static IFVs (three BMP-2 and one PRP-4) east of Popasna and an armoured personnel carrier (BTR-70) in Muratove (51km north-west of Luhansk) heading north-east.

In areas not controlled by the government, the SMM observed fresh tracked-vehicle markings, one pair consistent with IFV (type unknown) and another pair consistent with tank (T-72) tracks on a road near the railway station in Yasynuvata.

The SMM facilitated and monitored repairs to essential infrastructure, co-ordinated by the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC). Positioned near the Zolote disengagement area, the SMM observed repairs to high voltage power lines near the “LPR” checkpoint south of the disengagement area. The SMM observed two groups of 13 repair workers at two different locations. In an “LPR”-controlled part of Zolote, the SMM observed five workers from the Luhansk Water Company conduct repairs on a main water pipeline (600mm).

The SMM continued to monitor the situation of civilians at entry-exit checkpoints. At a checkpoint in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM saw 90 vehicles and 80 pedestrians in a queue to travel toward government-controlled areas. Four people in two vehicles at the front of the queue told the SMM that they had been waiting for more than six hours. The SMM noted lack of sufficient basic facilities such as benches, water, clean sanitary facilities or shelters for shade.

The SMM visited four border areas not under government control. During thirty minutes at the border crossing point in Marynivka (78km east of Donetsk) the SMM saw four civilian cars (one with Ukrainian and three with Russian Federation licence plates) enter Ukraine and three cars and four trucks leave Ukraine. The SMM also saw 23 civilian cars (18 with Ukrainian and three with Russian Federation licence plates, and two with “DPR” plates) and 11 trucks with closed cargo areas with Ukrainian licence plates, in a queue to leave Ukraine.

During 30 minutes at the border crossing point in Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk) the SMM saw 16 civilian cars (including three with “DPR” plates), five trucks with closed cargo areas (including one with “DPR” plates) and 15 pedestrians enter Ukraine, while five pedestrians and three cars left Ukraine. The SMM also saw a bus with Ukrainian licence plates, ten civilian cars (including two with “DPR” plates) and 41 trucks with closed cargo areas (including three with “DPR” plates) in a queue to leave Ukraine.

During thirty minutes at the border crossing point near Novoazovsk (40km east of Mariupol) the SMM observed 41 tractor-trailers in a queue to leave Ukraine. A group of four drivers told the SMM that they were transporting wheat and that they had been waiting for four days to cross due to a slow process. During this time the SMM saw ten civilian cars (including five with “DPR” plates) leave Ukraine.

During one hour at the border crossing point in Dovzhanskyi (84km south-east of Luhansk) the SMM saw 13 civilian cars (including one with “LPR” plates), four covered trucks (above 3.5 tons), a closed trailer truck, a bus with 40-50 passengers (all with Ukrainian licence plates) and 13 pedestrians enter Ukraine. The SMM also saw 13 civilian cars (five with Russian Federation, seven with Ukrainian and one with Azerbaijan licence plates), four covered trucks (above 3.5 tons), a closed trailer truck, and two passenger buses with 35-45 passengers each (all with Ukrainian licence plates) and eight pedestrians exit Ukraine.

The SMM monitored celebrations of Constitutional Day in Dnipro and Kharkiv. In Dnipro the SMM observed two separate events, one at the Taras Shevchenko monument in central Dnipro where about 300 participants, including members of Parliament and local authorities, were present. The SMM also saw 20 unarmed police officers. Another event took place in front of the regional state administration building with the participation of about 200 people. Each of the events lasted for about 20 minutes. In Kharkiv the SMM observed an official ceremony where about 1,000 people were present, including representatives of the regional authorities. The SMM saw 50 police officers present.

In Kyiv the SMM monitored a protest of about 100 people (men and women, mainly elderly) marching along Instytutska Street towards Lypska Street. They held several banners and signs and were escorted by two lines of police officers in riot gear. The protesters stopped at a park near Lypska Street where they requested through statements the support of the authorities to help them recover the money that they said they had lost in 2016 due to bankruptcy of a bank. The protest remained peaceful during the SMM’s presence.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk 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, 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; including at the disengagement area near Petrivske.

Denial of access:

• Armed “LPR” members positioned on the southern side of the Zolote disengagement area (3km north of Pervomaisk) told the SMM that 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.
• At a checkpoint on the northern edge of the Zolote disengagement area a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC told the SMM that no de-mining had taken place over the previous 24 hours and that, due to the possible presence of mines and/or UXO, they could not guarantee the SMM’s safety. 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.
• At a checkpoint on E58 road north of “DPR”-controlled Novoazovsk (40km east of Mariupol) armed men denied the SMM access into the town. The SMM informed the JCCC.

Other impediments:

• The SMM was not able to conduct a mid-range unmanned aerial vehicle flight in Popasna due to loss of internet signal upon take-off. The signal could not be regained and the SMM assessed it was due to interference by jamming.

[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.