Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 18:00 (Kyiv time), 24 March 2015

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. The SMM, based on its monitoring – which was restricted by third parties and by security considerations* – observed that fighting continued north of Donetsk airport and in areas in and around Shyrokyne, east of Mariupol.

From 09:55 to 14:15hrs while stationary (on patrol)* in the vicinity of Donetsk railway station in Kyivskyi district of Donetsk city (“Donetsk People’s Republic”-“DPR”-controlled, 8km north-west of Donetsk city centre), the SMM heard 277 explosions and heavy machine gun fire at 3 to 10km west-north-west of its position and 15 explosions at 3 to 5km north of its position. The SMM could not ascertain the type or calibre of the weapons used or the direction of the fire.

In order to monitor a planned meeting between the Russian Federation Major-General, Representative of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) and the Ukrainian Major-General, Head of the Ukrainian side to the JCCC, the SMM went separately to Shyrokyne (“DPR”-controlled, 20km east of Mariupol, 102km south of Donetsk). At 16.30hrs the SMM observed one small arm’s shot fired closely missing one of the JCCC vehicles. The SMM could not ascertain the direction or origin of the fire. Furthermore, the SMM heard heavy machine gun fire from the vicinity of Shyrokyne. Subsequently the entire convoy did not proceed further to Shyrokyne.

In the area of Shyrokyne at 07:15hrs, the SMM heard and saw two tank shell impacts (125mm) originating from the eastern outskirts of the village and targeting a Ukrainian Armed Forces positions, located 500m from the SMM’s location. These were followed by 18 outgoing mortars shells (82mm) being fired from two Ukrainian Armed Forces positions, one located 400m north-west and the other 400m south-east of the SMM’s position. The SMM could see the equipment and observe the smoke coming out of the barrels. At 10:23hrs, the SMM heard sounds consistent with two incoming tank shells (125mm) in the vicinity of a position of the Ukrainian Armed Forces located 500m east of SMM’s location. The SMM saw the impacts from a distance but could not ascertain the distance or direction from where the shells were fired.

At a position between Sopyne (government-controlled, 15km east of Mariupol, 4km north-west of Shyrokyne) and Lebedynske (government-controlled, 8km east of Mariupol, 7,5km north-west of Shyrokyne) between 12:47 and 14:45hrs the SMM heard small-arms and machine-gun fire in the vicinity of government-controlled Berdianske (18km east of Mariupol, 3km west of Shyrokyne). Between 15:45 and 15:50hrs, the SMM observed three incoming and outgoing 82mm shells most likely originating two kilometres north of SMM’s location and impacting four kilometres east of SMM’s position.

The SMM unarmed/unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) monitored both sides of the contact line east of Mariupol. In “DPR”-controlled Shyrokyne the UAV observed eight main battle tanks (MBT). In Bezimenne (“DPR”-controlled, 18km east of Mariupol) the UAV saw 10 MBTs and in Michurine (“DPR-controlled, 50km north of Shyrokyne) seven MBTs. In government-controlled Starohnativka (48km south of Donetsk) the UAV observed one MBT and one anti-tank gun (100mm). Furthermore, in Sopyne the UAV observed 3 MBTs.

At 11:26hrs three armed members of the “Azov” volunteer battalion  approached the SMM UAV launch site in government-controlled Manhush (107km south-west of Donetsk) and demanded from SMM personnel to show their documents and to open the SMM containers. One member of the “Azov” battalion claimed that weapons and military equipment were in the SMM UAV containers. After a brief visual inspection of the containers, but without entering them, the “Azov” battalion members requested from the UAV team to show their passports. The “Azov” battalion members took pictures of all SMM personnel and their ID cards. The “Azov” battalion members told the SMM they would return to the launch site frequently.

Between 13:00 and 13:30hrs, while in government-controlled Troitske (69km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard seven artillery explosions. The SMM could neither determine the impact site nor the location from where the rounds were fired and the weapon type used.

Between 12:20 and 12:45hrs, in government-controlled Myrna Dolyna (67km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard five distant explosions from a south-easterly direction.  The SMM could neither determine the impact site nor the location from where the rounds have been fired and the weapon type used.

The SMM visited in Stanytsia Luhanska the remains of a bridge (see also SMM Daily Report 20 March) connecting “LPR” and government-controlled territories and observed about 80 people (mainly middle aged females and elderly males) trying to cross it by using a rope. Local people, middle aged females and elderly males, told the SMM that they continue crossing the bridge out of lack of alternative roads towards government-controlled areas where they need to go to collect pensions and buy food.

In Pryshyb village (“LPR”-controlled, 33km north-west of Luhansk) the SMM was told by local residents that since October there was no electricity, gas nor water supply in the village. According to local residents the village did not receive any humanitarian assistance. They also told the SMM about unexploded ordnances (UXO) in a large number of homes and gardens. They do not know whom to contact in order to remove them.

The SMM revisited two Ukrainian Armed Forces holding areas of heavy weapons and observed that the stored heavy weapons were consistent with SMM records. At one site there were three additional self-propelled artillery howitzers (2S1). The SMM added the serial numbers to the records.

Despite claims of progress or completion of withdrawal of heavy weapons, the SMM observed heavy weapons in Luhansk region. In government-controlled Troitske (69km west of Luhansk), the SMM saw two MBTs T-64, and one 152mm howitzer in firing position stationary by the road (5km from the nearest point of the contact line).

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Kharkiv, Dnepropetrovsk, Odessa, Kherson, Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv and Kyiv.

* Restrictions on SMM access and freedom of movement:

The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by third parties and security considerations including the lack of information on whereabouts of landmines.

The security situation in Donbas is fluid and unpredictable and the ceasefire does not hold everywhere. For this reason, the SMM requires security guarantees from “DPR” and “LPR” which are not always provided. Where such guarantees are limited to escorted movements, and escorts are not provided for all planned patrols or are delayed, this also represents a restriction of SMM freedom of movement.

In particular during the reporting period:

• The SMM was held for 20 minutes at a “DPR” checkpoint near Michurine (“DPR”-controlled, 89km south of Donetsk).
• In government-controlled Lisne (97km south-south-west of Donetsk) the SMM was stopped by a Ukrainian Armed Forces mobile patrol. The personnel asked the SMM to show their national passports. After 30 minutes the Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel eventually agreed to check only the ID cards; the SMM was then allowed to proceed. During the conversation, one of the Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel was filming the SMM’s patrol members with his smart phone.
• At a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint in government-controlled Novoaidar (49km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM was repeatedly asked about the nationality of all patrol members. The checkpoint commander said that he would not let the patrol pass until all nationalities had been disclosed. According to him, the checkpoint personnel have specific instructions to gather the nationalities of all OSCE monitors passing through the checkpoint. The SMM members disclosed their nationalities and after 10 minutes continued their patrol.
• At the Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint leading towards the bridge in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk), the SMM was denied entrance and was told that it must contact in advance the brigade commander based in the village to receive permission to pass through, due to security reasons.
• In government-controlled Troitske (69km west of Luhansk), a Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier approached the SMM and instructed the patrol to turn around and wait for further instructions while he was consulting his superior. After 15mins waiting, the same soldier approached the SMM and said to go and not to come back without special permission from the Ministry of Defence. 
• The SMM was stopped at a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint located 3km south of government-controlled Nyzhnie (56km north-west of Luhansk). The soldiers asked the SMM if there were members from the Russian Federation present in the OSCE vehicles and searched the trunk of all vehicles.
• At the entrance of “LPR”- controlled Sokilnyky (38km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM was stopped by several “LPR” members manning the checkpoint and was denied access to the village. After explaining the purpose of the SMM presence, the patrol was escorted by the “LPR” to the village.