Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 9 September 2018

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region between the evenings of 7 and 8 September, compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 8 and 9 September, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and fewer in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM followed up on reports of fresh damage caused by gunfire in a residential area of Maiorsk. The Mission observed that the entry-exit checkpoint near Stanytsia Luhanska re-opened following construction and repair works and civilians have resumed crossing. The SMM saw multiple launch rocket systems in violation of withdrawal lines near Khrustalnyi. It saw, for the first time, a mine and a hand grenade near Verkhnoshyrokivske. The SMM recorded ceasefire violations inside and near the Zolote disengagement area and near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The Mission’s access remained restricted in the disengagement areas as well as near Verkhnoshyrokivske, Yuzhna-Lomuvatka and Khrustalnyi.* The Mission continued to monitor the situation around the Donetsk Filtration Station, which has been non-operational since 6 September due to a power outage. In Lviv, the SMM monitored a public gathering outside the regional court of appeals. The SMM continued to follow up on reports of hazardous air pollution south-east of Kherson that had reportedly originated from a nearby chemical plant.

In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 7 and 8 September, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations,[1] including 57 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 90 explosions). Between the evenings of 8 and 9 September, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 155 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours.

On the evening of 7 September, the SMM camera in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk) recorded two undetermined explosions and about 65 projectiles in flight from south to north, all 3-5km at directions ranging from east-north-east to south-east. On the same evening, while in Svitlodarsk, the SMM heard ten undetermined explosions (five assessed as outgoing rounds and five undetermined) and 125 bursts and shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 2-5km south-east.

On the evening of 8 September, the SMM camera in Svitlodarsk recorded 11 explosions (nine undetermined and two assessed as outgoing rounds), about 110 projectiles in flight (mostly from north to south and from south to north) and an illumination flare in vertical flight, all 1-18km at directions ranging from east-north-east to south-east. While in Svitlodarsk on 8 September, the SMM heard about 150 undetermined explosions and about 835 shots and bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, as well as 50 rounds assessed as from infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-2) cannon (30mm) fire, all 3-6km east-south-east, south-east and south-south-east.    

On the evening and night of 7-8 September, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) (15km north of Donetsk) recorded an undetermined explosion and about 75 projectiles in flight from north-west to south-east, all 1.5-4km south-south-west.

On the evening and night of 7-8 September, the SMM camera 1km south-west of Pyshchevyk (government-controlled, 25km north-east of Mariupol) recorded 18 undetermined explosions, about 220 projectiles in flight (mostly from north to south and south to north) and seven muzzle flashes, all 1-5km in directions ranging from north-east to south-east.

In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 7 and 8 September, the SMM recorded more ceasefire, including 27 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (two explosions). Between the evenings of 8 and 9 September, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including three explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours.

During the day on 8 September, positioned on the north-eastern edge of Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk) for about 40 minutes, the SMM heard 26 undetermined explosions 5-7km east-south-east.

The SMM followed up on reports of fresh damage caused by gunfire in a residential area of Maiorsk (government-controlled, 45km north-east of Donetsk). On 7 September, at 15 Maiorska Street, the SMM observed a fresh hole in the south-facing wall and a broken south-facing window on the third floor of a five-storey building, assessed by the SMM as caused by an undetermined weapon fired from a south-easterly direction. A male resident (60-70 years old) showed the SMM a 12.7mm bullet that he claimed had caused the above-mentioned damage to the window. Three other residents of the building told the SMM that they had heard gunfire on the evening of 6 September.   

The SMM continued to monitor and to pursue full access to the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) and Petrivske[2]  (non-government-controlled, 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.*

In the early morning of 9 September, while on the eastern edge of Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion 4-6km west-south-west, assessed as outside the disengagement area.

During the day on 8 September, positioned on the southern edge of the Zolote disengagement area for about 20 minutes, the SMM heard 20 shots of small-arms fire 1-1.5km north and north-north-west, assessed as inside the disengagement area.

On the same day, the SMM observed a fire inside the Zolote disengagement area, about 50m inside the southern edge and about 1.4km west of the eastern edge of the disengagement area, 20-30m north-west of the checkpoint of the armed formations. The SMM saw two fire trucks and five members of the armed formations extinguishing the fire.  

During the day on 9 September, positioned in Zolote 4 (government-controlled, 59km north-west of Luhansk) about 800m north of the Zolote disengagement area, the SMM heard nine bursts of small-arms fire 1-2km east-south-east , assessed as outside the disengagement area.

Positioned near the Petrivske disengagement area and in the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area on 8 September, the SMM observed a calm situation. Positioned near the Petrivske disengagement area on 9 September, the SMM observed a calm situation.

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

In violation of the withdrawal lines in a non-government controlled area, on 8 September, the SMM saw eight multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) at a compound near Khrustalnyi (formerly Krasnyi Luch, 56km south-west of Luhansk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in government-controlled areas, on 8 September, the SMM saw eight MLRS (BM-21) in a military compound near Peredove (68km south-west of Donetsk) and eight self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) and a surface-to-air missile system (9K35, Strela-10) at a military compound near Kalynove (formerly Kalinine, 65km south-west 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. Beyond the respective withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas in Donetsk region, the SMM saw 12 MLRS (BM-21), nine towed mortars (2B9 Vasilek, 82mm), six self-propelled howitzers (2S1), four anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm), three anti-tank guided missile systems (9P149, Shturm-S, 130mm) and a surface-to-air missile system (9K35), and noted that 23 MLRS (BM-21), four anti-tank guns (MT-12), two surface-to-air missile systems (9K35) and a self-propelled howitzer (2S1) continued to be missing.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles[3] and a helicopter in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, on 7 September, the SMM saw an IFV (BMP-variant) 1.5km west of Pylypchatyne (76km north-east of Donetsk). On 9 September, the SMM saw a military helicopter (MI-8) flying south-west to north-east near Viktorivka (74km west of Luhansk) and an IFV (BMP-2) being towed by an armoured recovery vehicle (BTS-3) in Novoselivka (37km north-east of Mariupol).

In non-government-controlled areas, on 7 September, the SMM saw an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (MT-LB) at a checkpoint of the armed formations near Staromykhailivka (15km west of Donetsk). On 9 September, the SMM saw six APCs (BTR-variants) moving west on Illicha Avenue in Donetsk city centre.

The SMM again saw demining activity. On 8 and 9 September, in a field about 1.5km south-east of Lomakyne (government-controlled, 15km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM saw people who were wearing clothing bearing the logo of an international demining organization carrying out demining activities.

The SMM continued to observe mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). On 9 September, the SMM saw for the first time a partially buried mine (type undetermined) 2-3m south of a road and a nearby hand grenade (F-1 variant) with the pin still attached about 0.5m south of the road, about 2km west of Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, non-government-controlled, 29km north-east of Mariupol) (not seen on 8 September 2018).

The SMM observed that the entry-exit checkpoint near Stanytsia Luhanska re-opened on 8 September following construction and repair works from 2-7 September (see SMM Daily Report 8 September 2018). On the morning of 8 September, in the area around the Ukrainian Armed Forces entry-exit checkpoint, the SMM saw continued construction works and repairs to shelters, offices and the road, as well as up to 1,000 people queuing to cross towards non-government-controlled areas. The same morning, at the checkpoint of the armed formations south of the bridge, the SMM observed about 300 people return from the closed entry-exit checkpoint. At 11:50, the SMM observed that the entry-exit checkpoint was opened and crossing had resumed. Later in the day, a Ukrainian Border Guard Service member present told the SMM that on 8 September 2,287 people had entered government-controlled areas through the checkpoint and 2,306 people had exited.

The SMM visited three border areas not under government control. On 7 September, while at a border crossing point near Marynivka (78km east of Donetsk) for about 30 minutes, the SMM saw nine cars (four with Russian Federation licence plates and five with “DPR” plates), one motorcycle with “DPR” plates and one pedestrian exiting Ukraine, as well as four cars (three with Russian Federation licence plates and one with “DPR” plates) entering Ukraine.

On 9 September, while at a border crossing point near Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk) for about an hour and ten minutes, the SMM saw 32 cars (12 with Ukrainian, eight with Russian Federation, one with Belarusian and one with Georgian licence plates and ten with “DPR” plates), 32 covered trucks (24 with Ukrainian and two with Russian Federation licence plates and six with “DPR” plates) and two buses with “DPR” plates queuing to exit Ukraine. During the same time, the SMM saw seven cars (one with Ukrainian licence plates and six with “DPR” plates) entering Ukraine.

On the same day, at a border crossing point near Ulianivske (61km south-east of Donetsk) for about 20 minutes, the SMM saw three pedestrians entering Ukraine and seven parked cars (two with Ukrainian and one with Russian Federation licence plates and four with “DPR” plates).

On 8 and 9 September, the SMM continued to monitor the security situation around the DFS. The SMM saw no repair works around the site and no workers traveling to or leaving the DFS. A representative of Voda Donbassa told the SMM that a power outage at the station since 6 September have left the station without electricity and thus non-operational, adding that no workers had been present at the DFS on 8 and 9 September. Four residents (at three locations) in Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) separately told the SMM that their water supply has been interrupted since 6 September.

The SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair and maintenance works to water infrastructure in Stanytsia Luhanska on 8 September.

In Lviv, the SMM monitored a public gathering related to an incident between citizens and police in the city on 31 August. On 6 September, the SMM saw about 50 people (mostly men, 15-30 years old), including some wearing C14 t-shirts, in front of the Lviv regional court of appeals at 7 Soborna Square. The SMM noted that 45 police officers, including 30 dressed in riot gear, were also present. Early in the morning, some participants threw several smoke grenades towards the building. Shortly after, some participants entered the building to attend a planned public hearing on the 31 August case related to an incident between citizens and police. The SMM observed that the remainder of the event stayed calm. 

The SMM continued to follow up on reports of hazardous chemical air pollution in the area of Pershokostiantynivka (93km south-east of Kherson) and Preobrazhenka (90km south-east of Kherson) that had reportedly originated from a nearby chemical plant. The SMM visited the Chonhar crossing point on 9 September and observed heavy traffic with long processing times. On the same day the SMM visited areas about 25km from the Kalanchak and Chaplynka crossing points, and noted a calm situation. On 7 September, a representative of the Border Guard Service told the SMM that the crossing points at Kalanchak and Chaplynka were closed, except for emergencies. The same day, a representative of the Regional State Emergency Service in Kherson told the SMM that workers and machines had been sent from Kherson to Kalanchak and Chaplynka districts to wash off the dust brought by rains from the chemical plant’s acid ponds. The SMM will continue to monitor the situation.

The SMM continued monitoring in Odessa, 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 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 (for example, see SMM Daily Report 31 August 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 three occasions (two on 8 September and one on 9 September) at a checkpoint of the armed formations west of Verkhnoshyrokivske, members of the armed formations denied the SMM passage. While present at the checkpoint, the SMM observed civilian vehicles passing through in both directions.
• A member of the armed formations on 8 September denied the SMM passage through a checkpoint in Yuzhna-Lomuvatka (non-government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk).
• Armed formations’ members denied the SMM access on 8 September to three compounds near Khrustalnyi, citing hazardous works they said were ongoing at the sites that might pose a risk to SMM staff safety.

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

• On 8 and 9 September, 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 by telephone that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC on both occasions.[4]
• On 8 and 9 September, 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 telephone that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC on both occasions.5
• On 8 and 9 September, the SMM was prevented from accessing secondary roads south of the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A member of the armed formations 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.

[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. The SMM cameras in Kriakivka and on the northern edge of Popasna were not operational during the reporting period.

[2] Due to the presence of mines, including those on a road between Bohdanivka and Petrivske, the SMM’s access   to its camera in Petrivske remains limited; thus, the review of the camera footage may take place days later.

[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.