Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 4 February 2018

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region between the evenings of 2 and 3 February compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 3 and 4 February compared with the previous 24 hours. Small arms fire was directed towards an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle at a heavy weapons holding area in Donetsk region. The SMM observed damage to civilian properties in Myronivskyi. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including in Mineralne and to a compound in Luhansk city.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Bakhmut. The Mission visited two border areas not under government control. In Lviv, the SMM followed up on reports of a fire at a church and monitored an international border crossing point near Shehyni as well as three gatherings in Kyiv.

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations[1] between the evenings of 2 and 3 February, including, however, fewer explosions (about 340), compared with the previous reporting period (about 1,100 explosions). Between the evenings of 3 and 4 February, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 290 explosions compared with the previous 24 hours.                                 

On the evening and night of 2-3 February, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (15km north of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, two undetermined explosions, two projectiles in flight from east to west, four projectiles from west to east, a projectile from east to west, an illumination flare in vertical flight and a projectile from east to west, all 0.5-1.5km south. On the evening and night of 3-4 February, the camera recorded, in sequence, five undetermined explosions, four projectiles in flight from east to west and two undetermined explosions, followed by totals of 17 undetermined explosions and 36 projectiles (21 from west to east and 15 from east to west), all 0.5-1.5km south.

On the evening and night of 3-4 February, the SMM camera 1km south-west of Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded, in sequence, two projectiles in flight from east to west, five undetermined explosions, nine projectiles from east to west and two projectiles from west to east, followed by totals of four undetermined explosions and 34 projectiles (32 from east to west and two from west to east), all 5-8km north.

During the day on 3 February, positioned on the south-western edge of government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) for over five hours, the SMM heard 20 undetermined explosions, 14 shots of infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-2) cannon (30mm) fire, as well as 24 bursts and shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 2-5km at directions ranging from east-north-east to south-south-east. During the day on 4 February, positioned at the same location for over five hours, the SMM heard about 90 explosions assessed as impacts of automatic-grenade-launcher rounds and four explosions assessed as impacts of artillery rounds, all 3-4km east, as well as an undetermined explosion 2-3km south.

During the day on 3 February, positioned at the railway station in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) for over five hours, the SMM heard about 70 undetermined explosions and almost 600 bursts and shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 1-8km at directions ranging from south-west to north-north-west. On 4 February, positioned at the same location, the SMM heard an explosion assessed as the impact of an artillery (152mm) round, as well as bursts and shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 1-3km south-west. On 4 February, positioned on the north-western edge of Yasynuvata for about two hours, the SMM heard 43 undetermined explosions, 12 explosions assessed as impacts of artillery rounds and shots of small-arms fire, all 1-5km south-west.

During the day on 3 February, while in non-government-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk) for one hour, the SMM heard 36 undetermined explosions 6-8km north. On the evening of 3 February, while at the same location, the SMM heard 16 undetermined explosions 4-7km north-west.

During the day on 3 February, while in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk) in about one hour, the SMM heard about 250 undetermined explosions, about 1,400 bursts of anti-aircraft cannon (ZU-23, 23mm) and heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 2-5km south-east and south-west. On the evening of 3 February, while at the same location, the SMM heard 53 undetermined explosions and about 100 bursts of small-arms fire, all 2-6km south-east. On 4 February, while at the same location, the SMM heard seven explosions (one assessed as the impact of an artillery (122mm) round, two assessed as artillery (152mm) rounds and the remainder undetermined) as well as about 40 bursts of small-arms fire, all 3-5km south-east and south-west.

During the day on 4 February, positioned 1km north of “DPR”-controlled Zaichenko (26km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard eight explosions (as well as their subsequent impacts) assessed as outgoing tank rounds, four undetermined explosions and heavy-machine-gun fire, all 2-3km north-west, as well as six bursts of IFV (BMP-2) cannon fire 3-5km south-west.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations between the evenings of 2 and 3 February, including 12 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (225 explosions). Between the evenings of 3 and 4 February, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including one explosion, compared with the previous 24 hours.

Small arms were fired toward an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). On 3 February, while conducting a mini-UAV flight at a Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapons holding area in Donetsk region, the SMM heard six shots of small-arms fire about 300-500m north-east of its position, assessed as emanating from within the holding area. The SMM assessed the fire as being directed at its UAV, which was landed safely.

The SMM observed damage to civilian properties in a residential area. On 3 February, in government-controlled Myronivskyi (62km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM saw damage to two houses. On the south-east-facing side of 4 Sadova Street and the north-west-facing side of 2 Sadova Street, the SMM saw shrapnel marks on the walls and roofs as well as broken windows and pieces of shrapnel on the ground. The SMM also saw a fresh crater 2-3m south-east of the house at 4 Sadova Street and a fresh crater 2-3m north-west of the house at 2 Sadova Street. The SMM could not assess the type of weapon used or the direction of fire. A 50-60 year old male resident of 4 Sadova Street told the SMM that the damage had occurred while he was at home between 21:00 and 22:00 on 1 February.

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.*

During the day on 3 February, positioned near the government checkpoint inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion 2-3km north and three shots of small-arms fire 1km west (all assessed as outside the disengagement area). On the evening and night of 3-4 February, while on the eastern edge of government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion 3km south-east and four shots of small-arms fire 2-3km south-west (all assessed as outside the disengagement area).

During the day on 3 and 4 February, positioned near the disengagement area in government-controlled Zolote and in government-controlled Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk), west of the Petrivske disengagement area, the SMM observed calm situations.

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Package of Measures and its Addendum as well as the Memorandum.[2]

In violation of withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas, on 3 February, the SMM saw 18 stationary self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) near Bakhmut (formerly Artemivsk, 67km north of Donetsk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in government-controlled areas, on 3 February, the SMM saw a tank (type-undetermined) being transported on a flatbed truck travelling north near Volnovakha (53km south of Donetsk).

In areas outside government control, on 4 February, the SMM saw a stationary tank (T-64) near Markyne (94km south of Donetsk).

The SMM observed weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage did not comply with the criteria set out in the 16 October 2015 notification from the SMM to the signatories of the Package of Measures on effective monitoring and verification of the withdrawal of heavy weapons. In government‑controlled areas, the SMM observed a surface-to-air missile system (9K35 Strela-10) and eight multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) and noted that a surface-to-air missile system (9K35), 15 MLRS (BM-21) and 21 self-propelled howitzers (19 2S1 and two 2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) continued to be absent.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles and anti-aircraft guns[3] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, on 3 February, the SMM saw two IFVs (BMP-2) near a checkpoint on the northern edge of the Zolote disengagement area, an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) mounted on an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (MT-LB) near Novohnativka (40km south of Donetsk), two IFVs (BMP-variant) near Bohdanivka, an APC (BTR-60) near Prokhorivka (53km south of Donetsk) and an APC (BTR-60) near Vynohradne (10km east of Mariupol). On 4 February, the SMM saw an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) mounted on a military-type truck near Zolote and two APCs (BTR-70) on the eastern outskirts of Mariupol.

In areas outside government control, on 4 February, the SMM saw an APC (MT-LB) in Luhansk city.

The SMM visited two border areas not under government control. On 4 February, at a border crossing point near Novoborovytsi (79km south of Luhansk) for about half an hour, the SMM saw two female pedestrians exiting Ukraine and again noted that there was no one present at the facilities formerly occupied by the State Border Guard Service.

At the border crossing point near Novoazovsk (102km south-east of Donetsk) for about half an hour, the SMM saw a car with Russian Federation licence plates and a truck with Ukrainian licence plates exiting Ukraine and seven cars (three with Ukrainian and two with Russian Federation licence plates, and two with “DPR” plates) entering Ukraine.

In Lviv, the SMM followed up on reports of a fire at a church. On 3 February, at the St. Volodymyr Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church at 85 Chervonoi Kalyny Avenue, the SMM saw that the church had been badly burned and that one of its rear windows had been broken. Inside, the SMM saw the burnt remains of wall coverings and objects of worship as well as a badly damaged wooden floor. According to police, the fire began at approximately 02:20 on the night of 2-3 February.

On 3 February, the SMM monitored a group of people at an international border crossing point near Shehyni (76km west of Lviv). The SMM saw about 30 people (mostly men) standing in front of the control barrier about 20m from the border. The group was blocking cars that were entering and exiting Ukraine and, approximately every ten minutes, the SMM saw the group allowing ten cars through. The group told the SMM that the protest was in reaction to a proposed Ukrainian law levying taxes on certain goods brought into Ukraine.

On 3 and 4 February, the SMM monitored gatherings in Kyiv. At 11:00 on 3 February, in front of the chapel “Desiatynnyi Monastyr Rizdva Presviatoi Bohorodytsi” at 2 Volodymyrska Street in Kyiv, the SMM saw 300 men and women aged 40-70, including about 50 priests and nuns, displaying church icons and reciting prayers over a loudspeaker, as well as about 200 police and National Guard officers in riot gear. At 12:00, the SMM saw a further 100 people arrive (men and women, mixed ages) including 20 men aged 16-30 wearing patches identifying the group “Sich” on their sleeves and chanting “out with Moscow priests” in Ukrainian. At 12:30, on the other side of the chapel, the SMM saw about 600 men and women of mixed ages gathered, some of whom were playing rock music over a loudspeaker. The SMM heard a man (in his forties) from the group addressing journalists and saying that they were protesting the recent arrest of two architects who had allegedly attempted to set fire to the same chapel on 25 January (the SMM had visited the chapel on 30 January and observed no damage or sign of arson). At about 16:00, the SMM noted that most people had left the area and saw 50 priests, nuns and elderly women continuing to pray outside the chapel. Throughout the day, the SMM observed minor scuffles between the different groups and heard a few heated exchanges. No further incidents took place while the SMM was present.

On 4 February, on Khreshchatyk Street in Kyiv, the SMM saw about 1,000 people (mostly men, aged 16-20) almost of all of whom were wearing white armbands on their left arm reading “EuroAutoPower”. The SMM also saw some people carrying “EuroAutoPower” flags and banners criticising customs clearance and saw about 700 cars, many of which displayed “EuroAutoPower” flags, parked on Khreshchatyk Street. At one point, the car horns were sounded in unison for ten minutes. A man aged 40-60, who introduced himself as the head of “EuroAutoPower”, told the SMM that the purpose of the protest had been to demand the simplification of customs clearance procedures. No incidents were observed while the SMM was present.

The SMM saw about 7,000 people (mostly men, aged 40-65) march from Shevchenko Park via Volodymyrska Street and Khreshchatyk Street to European Square while displaying anti-corruption banners criticizing the Government. At European Square, speakers addressed the crowd with messages critical of the Government. The gathering ended peacefully. The SMM observed about 2,000 police and National Guard officers present in the area around Khreshchatyk Street during both gatherings on 4 February.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Ivano-Frankivsk, 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, 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 Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance. Nonetheless, the armed formations in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions frequently deny the SMM access to areas adjacent to Ukraine’s border outside control of the Government, citing orders to do so. (See, for example, SMM Daily Report 2 February 2018.) The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April 2017 near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations.

Denial of access:

• On 4 February, at a checkpoint east of “DPR”-controlled Mineralne (10km north-east of Donetsk) an armed person stopped the SMM and, after he spoke to his superior, said that the SMM could not pass. The SMM waited for an hour before leaving the area.
• On 4 February, at a compound in “LPR”-controlled Luhansk city, an “LPR” member told the SMM that it could not enter the compound without permission from his superior.

Related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

• On 3 and 4 February, the SMM was prevented from accessing secondary roads south of the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. An “LPR” member positioned on the southern side of the Zolote disengagement area told the SMM that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed on both occasions.
• On 3 and 4 February, the SMM was prevented from accessing secondary roads in the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC told the SMM by phone that he had no information regarding de-mining in the area during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC on both occasions.
• On 3 and 4 February, the SMM was prevented from accessing parts of the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, with the exception of the main road, due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC told the SMM that he had no information regarding demining activities over the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC on both occasions.[4] 
• On 3 and 4 February, the SMM did not travel across the bridge in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) due to the presence of mines. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC said there were mines on the road south of the bridge. The SMM informed the JCCC on both occasions.5

Conditional access:

• On 3 February, an armed person stopped the SMM on the northern edge of “LPR”-controlled Sentianivka (formerly Frunze, 44km north-west of Luhansk) and said that it could not proceed any further. He added that if the SMM was planning to fly a UAV, it would be shot down. The SMM explained that no UAV flights were planned in the area and, after 18 minutes, was allowed to proceed.

[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. Two SMM cameras continue to be tested until the end of February 2018. On 4 February, between 12:00 and 17:00, the SMM lost connection to all of its cameras. Any ceasefire violations recorded will be reported as soon as the information becomes available.

[2] Addendum: In reference to the SMM Daily Report of 3 February 2018, in violation of withdrawal lines in areas outside government control, aerial imagery revealed the presence of four surface-to-air missile systems (9K35) near Kalmiuske (formerly Komsomolske, 42km south-east of Donetsk) on 1 February.

[3] This hardware is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.

[4] The SMM informed Ukrainian Armed Forces officers of the JCCC. Russian Federation Armed Forces officers of the JCCC have withdrawn from the JCCC as of 18 December 2017.