Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 2 July 2017

This report is for the media and the general public.

Between the evenings of 30 June and 1 July the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 1 and 2 July the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM followed up on reports of a fatality from Staromykhailivka, a civilian causality from Dokuchaievsk and observed impact sites in Marinka, Sakhanka and Uzhivka. The Mission continued monitoring the three disengagement areas; it recorded a ceasefire violation in Zolote disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including a border area not controlled by the Government in Novoazovsk, as well as in Pokrovske, Oleksandrivka, Staromykhailivka and Kadiivka.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of respective withdrawal lines. The SMM monitored repairs to the power lines in Mykhailivka-Almazna and Vasylivka. Security arrangements were re-established around the SMM’s office in Donetsk city in the morning of 2 July; the Mission had asked the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination to ensure presence at the SMM’s office until further notice. The Mission visited four border areas not under government control in Izvaryne, Marynivka, Uspenka and Voznesenivka.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region between the evenings of 30 June and 1 July, including about 120 explosions, compared with about 200 in the previous reporting period.[1] It recorded more ceasefire violations, though fewer explosions (about 80), between the evenings of 1 and 2 July compared with the previous 24 hours.

On the evening of 30 June, the SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north-west of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, two explosions assessed as impacts and seven tracer rounds in flight from west to east, all 3-5km north-east. The following day, the same camera recorded three explosions assessed as impacts 4-5km east-south-east. On the evening of 1 July, the camera recorded, in sequence, two undetermined explosions, five tracer rounds in flight from south to north, one tracer round from west to east, nine tracer rounds from south to north and five tracer rounds from west to east, all 3-5km at south-easterly directions.

On the evening and night of 30 June-1 July, while in “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 35 undetermined explosions 6-10km north-west and 25 undetermined explosions 10-15km north-west.

On the evening and night of 30 June-1 July, while in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 30 explosions assessed as outgoing rounds of recoilless gun (SPG-9, 73mm) and artillery fire 4-7km south-east, ten explosions assessed as impacts of mortar (82mm) rounds 6km south-east and 30 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 4-5km at south-easterly directions.

On the night of 30 June-1 July, the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded, in sequence, one tracer round in vertical flight, eight tracer rounds from east to west, one tracer round from west to east, two illumination flares from east to west, seven tracer rounds from east to west, one illumination flare from east to west, one tracer round from west to east and one illumination flare from east to west, all at unknown distances north. On the evening and night of 1-2 July, the same camera recorded, in sequence, six tracer rounds in flight from east to west, two tracer rounds from west to east, followed by aggregated totals of 45 tracer rounds (31 from east to west, nine from west to east, one from south-east to north-west and four from north to south), three undetermined explosions, seven rocket-assisted projectiles (two from west to east, three from east to west and two from north-west to south-east), all at unknown distances north.

On 1 July, positioned in Yasynuvata, during four hours the SMM heard 15 undetermined explosions 3-7km at north-westerly directions. The following day, during four hours, the SMM heard ten undetermined explosions 3-5km at directions ranging from south-west to north and 24 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 2-4km south-west.

On the evening of 1 July, while in Donetsk city centre, the SMM heard 34 undetermined explosions (32 6-8km north-west and two 2-4km south-south-west) and 34 shots of small-arms fire 2-4km south-south-west.

On the evening of 1 July, while in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard seven undetermined explosions and about 20 shots of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 5-12km at directions ranging from west to north.

On the evening of 1 July, while in government-controlled Svitlodarsk, the SMM heard 20 undetermined explosions, seven explosions assessed as impacts of mortar (82mm) rounds and about 90 shots and bursts of heavy-machine-gun, anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) and automatic-grenade-launcher (AGS) fire, all 3-7km south.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations between the evenings of 30 June and 1 July, including no explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 300 explosions). Between the evenings of 1 and 2 July, it recorded more ceasefire violations, including 20 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours.

On 1 July, positioned in “LPR”-controlled Kalynove-Borshchuvate (61km west of Luhansk), in about 20 minutes the SMM heard 11 shots of small-arms fire 1-2km north-west.

On 2 July positioned in Luhansk city centre, in about half an hour the SMM heard three undetermined explosions 5-10km north-west and three undetermined explosions 10-13km north.

The SMM followed up on reports of a civilian casualty and a fatality. On 29 June the SMM spoke to a Russian Federation officer of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) who alleged that on 28 June, a 57-year-old man had been killed in “DPR”-controlled Staromykhailivka (15km west of Donetsk) on Dniprovska Street near houses number 20 and 22, at around 16:00. On 29 June at the morgue in Kalinina hospital in Donetsk city staff told the SMM that the body had been taken to the morgue on 28 June at around 16:00 and that the coroner was conducting a post-mortem examination of the body. The SMM was shown the body of a deceased man in his late fifties, along with fragments of shrapnel which the coroner said had been extracted from the body.

On 1 July, the SMM spoke with a 32-year-old man by telephone, who said that on 30 June in “DPR”-controlled Dokuchaievsk (30km south-west of Donetsk) he had sustained an injury to his left arm. He said he had been outside a house on Melnykova Street 15 when he had heard explosions near the neighbouring houses and in the street, and that he had called an ambulance after his left arm had become numb and was bleeding. He reported that his arm had been bandaged by ambulance staff. The SMM was unable to visit the casualty or the impact site due to security restrictions, but contacted the ambulance service in Dokuchaievsk, who confirmed that on 30 June they had received a phone call at 21:07 from a man injured on Melnykova Street 15 and subsequently treated a shrapnel wound to his left elbow.

The SMM observed damage to civilian properties in residential areas caused by shelling. On 1 July, following up on separate reports of shelling in government-controlled Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk) from the Ukrainian representative to the JCCC, the local police and a woman in the market place in Marinka, the SMM visited fresh impact sites accompanied by a Ukrainian officer of the JCCC.

At Karla Marksa Street 39, the SMM observed broken windows, shrapnel marks on the exterior wall of the house and a collapsed part of the roof all on the north-eastern side of a house, assessed as impacts of rounds from unknown weapons fired from a north-easterly direction. A 48-year-old woman told the SMM that shelling had taken place on the evening of 30 June.

At Karla Marksa Street 37, the SMM saw damage to the window panes, window frames and the roof of a house on the north-eastern side of the house. The SMM assessed that the damage was caused by a 120mm mortar or artillery round fired from a north-easterly direction. A woman in her eighties told the SMM that she had heard three explosions at around 23:00 on 30 June.

At Artema Street 17, the SMM observed a fresh crater in a hard gravel surface in the north-eastern yard of a house with shrapnel damage visible on both sides of the crater, assessed as caused by an impact of a round from an unknown weapon fired from a north-easterly direction.

On 2 July, in “DPR”-controlled Sakhanka (24km north-east of Mariupol) at Lenina Street 1, the SMM observed a fresh crater in a paved surface between the asphalt road and the property's front-garden fence. The SMM observed shrapnel spray on the fence and on the south-facing wall of the house. The windows in the south-facing wall were broken and the roof above this wall was damaged. The SMM assessed that the impact was caused by a mortar (82mm) round fired from a south-westerly direction.

On 2 July, in “DPR”-controlled Uzhivka (formerly Leninske, 24km north-east of Mariupol), 170m north-west of the village centre, the SMM observed a fresh shallow crater on an asphalt road. A tree north of the crater was heavily scarred on its southern side with branches of about 10cm diameter and larger broken off. The SMM assessed that the impact was caused by a 122mm artillery shell fired from a westerly direction.

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 night of 29 June, the SMM camera in government-controlled Zolote recorded one projectile in flight from north-east to south-west 1.4km south-east, assessed as inside the disengagement area.

On 1 and 2 July, while in the disengagement areas near Zolote and Stanytsia Luhanska the SMM observed a calm situation.

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 respective withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas, on 2 July the SMM saw one surface-to-air missile system (9K33 Osa, 210mm) 3.1km east-north-east of Novokalynove (29km north-west of Donetsk) travelling north. In Nyzhnie (56km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM observed one tank (T-64) travelling north-east and four tanks (T-64) travelling south-east from the area of Toshkivka (60km north-west of Luhansk).

The SMM observed weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage does not comply with the criteria set out in the 16 October 2015 notification. In government-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines the SMM observed 12 mortars (six 2B11 Sani, 120mm and six M-120-15 Molot, 120mm). The following weapons were missing: 14 mortars (eight 2B11 and six M-120-15) and six towed howitzers (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm).

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles, an anti-aircraft cannon[2] and fresh tracks assessed as those of tanks in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, on 30 June the SMM saw one stationary infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1) in Pylypchatyne (74km north-west of Donetsk).

In non-government-controlled areas, on 2 July the Mission saw 14 armoured personnel carriers (APC) (MT-LB) and three IFVs (BMP-variant) all stationary in a military-type compound in Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, 50km west of Luhansk)*, an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) mounted on an APC (MT-LB) in the south-western edge of Molodizhne (63km north-west of Luhansk) travelling west, and two APCs (MT-LB) 2.5km north of Kapitanove (49km north-west of Luhansk) travelling south. The SMM saw fresh tracks assessed as those of a possible tank (T-64) on the road north of Vuhlehirsk (49km north-east of Donetsk) and fresh tracks assessed as those of a tank chassis (T-64) on road M-04 near Savelivka (52km north-east of Donetsk). On 1 July the Mission saw three sets of fresh tracks of IFVs (BMP variant) in Debaltseve and, on 2 July, it saw fresh tracks of two IFVs (BMP-1) on Ordzhonikidze Street, tracks of three IFVs (BMP-1) and one APC (MT-LB) between a dirt road and a junction on Polova Street and multiple overlapping fresh tracks of APCs (MT-LB) and IFVs (BMP-1) at a junction turning in the direction of Novohryhorivka (61km north-east of Donetsk).

In government-controlled areas, on 1 July the SMM saw two fuel trucks, six military-type trucks, four of which were carrying military personnel and one military ambulance 2.7km south of Muratove (51km north-west of Luhansk) travelling south-west. On 2 July in Nyzhnie (see above), the SMM saw two IFVs (BMP-2) travelling south-east from the area of Toshkivka and fresh tracks from five or six tanks (T-64) in the same direction. The SMM spoke separately to a woman in her sixties, a group of ten people (five women and five men aged between 40 and 60-years-old) and a group of three men (aged between 50 and 70-years-old), who all confirmed that they had seen tanks moving south-east.

On 2 July, in the western outskirts of “DPR”-controlled Horlivka, the SMM saw a convoy consisting of 16 military-type trucks, one of which was with a mounted anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23-2), travelling south-west.

The SMM followed up on reports of the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO). On 2 July in “DPR”-controlled Stepanivka (76km east of Donetsk), a woman in her seventies told the SMM that there was a remnant of war nearby which she said had been there for about a year. The SMM saw parts of a 30mm cannon round at the base of a telegraph pole on Saur-Mohylianska Street. The SMM informed the JCCC.

The SMM facilitated and monitored repair works to essential infrastructure co-ordinated by the JCCC. On 1 July at 09:30 the SMM co-ordinated patrols in government-controlled Novoselivka Druha (23km north of Donetsk), Avdiivka and Yasynuvata in order to facilitate repairs to a power line in “DPR”-controlled Vasylivka (20km north-east of Donetsk). At about 11:30, the SMM heard an explosion 3-4km north of Yasynuvata (see above) and relocated to “DPR”-controlled Betmanove (formerly Krasnyi Partyzan, 23km north of Donetsk). The repair works finished for the day at around 15:00.

On 1 July the SMM observed a five-person demining team and three teams of workers carrying out ongoing repairs to the high voltage Mykhailivka-Almazna power line near Kalynove-Borshchuvate. While monitoring the works, the SMM heard small-arms fire (see above).

The SMM continued to monitor the situation of civilians travelling across the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. On 1 July at the government checkpoint north of the bridge, the SMM saw about 20 people queuing to enter government-controlled areas and ten people queuing in the opposite direction. At about 10:00 near the checkpoint, the SMM saw a man in his seventies lying on a stretcher, accompanied by his son and two emergency services personnel who informed the SMM that they could not carry the stretcher any closer to the “LPR” checkpoint south of the bridge. The SMM helped to carry the man to the broken part of bridge and asked ambulance staff at the “LPR” checkpoint to arrange for further assistance. The SMM heard an armed “LPR” member request the ambulance staff to assist and they proceeded to carry the man to the checkpoint to receive medical assistance. The SMM was told by the man’s son that he had collapsed due to the heat (which the SMM assessed to be 33 degrees centigrade).

The SMM visited four border areas not under government control in Izvaryne (52km south-east of Luhansk), Marynivka (78km east of Donetsk), Uspenka (73km south-east from Donetsk) and Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, 65km south-east of Luhansk). On 1 July, the SMM attempted to visit the border area in Novoazovsk (102km south-east of Donetsk); however, it was denied access.*

On 1 July at the border crossing point in Izvaryne, in about one hour the SMM observed 38 civilian vehicles (32 with Ukrainian and six with Russian Federation licence plates), five passenger buses (all with Ukrainian licence plates marked “Luhansk-Kiev”, “Kirovsk-Moscow”, “Pervomaisk-Moscow”, “Stakhanov-Kharkiv” and one unknown sign) and three covered cargo trucks (with Ukrainian licence plates) in a queue to exit Ukraine. The SMM also saw two passenger buses (with Ukrainian licence plates marked “Moscow-Krasnyi Luch” and “Moscow-Luhansk”) and two covered cargo trucks (with Russian Federation licence plates) entering Ukraine. The SMM saw 57 pedestrians exit Ukraine and 21 enter.

On 2 July at the Marynivka border crossing point, in about half an hour, the SMM observed three civilian trucks (with “DPR” plates) and 55 civilian cars (25 with Ukrainian and 20 with Russian Federation licence plates, and ten with “DPR” plates) in a queue to exit Ukraine.

While at the Uspenka border crossing point, in about ten minutes, the SMM saw 21 civilian trucks (18 with Ukrainian licence plates and three with “DPR” plates), 32 civilian cars (20 with Ukrainian and six with Russian licence plates, and six with “DPR” plates) exiting Ukraine and three civilian cars (one with Russian Federation and one with Polish licence plates, and one with “DPR” plates) and one passenger bus (with Russian Federation licence plates) entering Ukraine.

At the border crossing point in Voznesenivka in about one hour, the SMM observed 29 civilian cars (eight with Russian Federation and 21 with Ukrainian licence plates) queuing to exit Ukraine. The SMM also saw 31 civilian cars (ten with Russian Federation and 21 with Ukrainian licence plates), three covered cargo trucks with Ukrainian licence plates and 13 pedestrians exiting Ukraine and seven civilian cars (three with Ukrainian and four with Russian Federation licence plates), one minivan and two motorcycles (all with Ukrainian licence plates) and nine pedestrians entering Ukraine.

The JCCC re-established security arrangements at the Mission’s office building in Donetsk city in the morning of 2 July; the Mission had asked the JCCC to ensure presence at the SMM’s office until further notice. (See SMM Daily Report 1 July 2017).

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 1 July at a checkpoint on E-58 road near Novoazovsk, an armed “DPR” member prevented the SMM from proceeding east towards the border with the Russian Federation or south towards Novoazovsk citing orders from his supervisor. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 1 July, an unarmed security guard denied the SMM access to visit an agricultural compound in Pokrovske to follow up on allegations of tanks (T-64) inside the compound.
• On 2 July at a roadblock in the southern edge of “DPR”-controlled Oleksandrivka (20km south-west of Donetsk) an armed “DPR” member told the SMM that the road had been permanently blocked and gave directions to reach road H-15. The SMM took the alternative route.
• On 2 July six armed “DPR” members denied the SMM access to Staromykhailivka. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 2 July an armed “LPR” member denied the SMM access to a military-type compound in Kadiivka. The SMM informed the JCCC.

Related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

• On 1 and 2 July 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 1 and 2 July 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.
• On 1 and 2 July 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.
• On 1 and 2 July 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.

[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.