Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 19:30 (Kyiv time), 13 May 2015

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements”.  Its monitoring was restricted by third parties and security considerations.* The SMM observed continued fighting around Shyrokyne and Donetsk airport. At a “DPR” heavy weapons holding area the SMM observed that six self-propelled howitzers 122mm (Gvozdika) were missing.

The SMM continued to observe ceasefire violations in the hotspots of Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) and surrounding areas, and in and around Donetsk airport. The SMM observed artillery, including mortars, tanks, heavy-machine gun fire, rifle and anti-aircraft guns, including the use of shrapnel-causing ammunition at the airport. Shyrokyne remained tense with sporadic small-arms and mortar fire heard by the SMM from its position at government-controlled Sopyne (3.5km west of Shyrokyne).

According to the representative of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) observation point at Donetsk railway station (“Donetsk People’s Republic” - “DPR”-controlled, 8km north-west of Donetsk city) intensive fighting had taken place between “DPR” in Spartak (12km north-west of Donetsk) and the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Butivska mine (government-controlled, 14km north-west of Donetsk) on 12 May between 21:00hrs and 23:00hrs. According to the JCCC there was also intensive fighting between Ukrainian Armed Forces in Pisky (15km north-west of Donetsk) and “DPR” in Zhabunki (13km north-west of Donetsk).

In Horlivka (“DPR”-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM observed six craters in six different locations. After performing a crater analysis and observing shrapnel and fuses, the SMM assessed that all six craters were the result of 122mm artillery fire. The SMM assessed that the majority of the shelling originated from a north-westerly direction. According to local residents in Horlivka, the shelling occurred on 12 May between 23:00 and 03:00hrs. 

At the Uspenka (“DPR”-controlled, 72km south-east of Donetsk) international border crossing point the SMM observed approximately 20 civilian vehicles with Ukrainian registration plates, waiting to cross into the Russian Federation. About 15 civilian trucks with Ukrainian registration plates were also lined up. According to passengers and drivers waiting in the queue the waiting time for cars was about 2hrs, whereas trucks had to wait 3 to 4 hours.

While stationary on the M03 road at the Luhansk/Donetsk administrative boundary close to “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (71km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard at 14:30hrs three explosions from incoming shelling. The SMM spoke with three “DPR” armed members who said that live fire exercises are taking place in the area involving 80mm mortars. The SMM could observe the impact site approximately 500 meters south of the M03 road. The SMM has previously observed the use of the area as a “DPR” training site.

From 09:30 to 10:13hrs, at the last government-controlled checkpoint before the partially repaired Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (16km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed a continuous flow of civilians (both women and men of different age) crossing in both directions. According to the “Chernihiv” volunteer battalion checkpoint personnel, every day about 300-400 civilians (both women and men of different age) travel across the bridge of which about 50 are not let through. Only in case of obvious attempts to deceive the checkpoint staff would people be refused to pass. Further, the majority of people were allowed through, showing their Ukrainian internal passports to the checkpoint personnel. The SMM observed damaged houses near the bridge on “LPR”-controlled territory with holes in roofs and windows blown out. The checkpoint personnel said that on 12 May between 21:00 and 02:00hrs armed members of the “Lugansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”) attacked the town of Stanytsia Luhanska and the bridge with wire-guided anti-tank rockets (TUR) and rocket propelled grenades (RPG). According to the interlocutor, exchanges of fire between government forces and “LPR” members had taken place over the last days and several small groups of armed persons tried to access government- controlled territory. Local female residents told the SMM that several houses and the gas pipeline were damaged by the attacks of 12 May.

The SMM re-visited two “DPR” holding areas of heavy weapons. At one of the sites, the SMM was informed by the “DPR” commander that four of the self-propelled howitzers were taken out to a firing range close to the site. He then accompanied the SMM to the firing range where the SMM found four self-propelled howitzers 122mm (Gvozdika) that were the same as the ones previously recorded at the holding area nearby. The howitzers were in firing position pointing south-south-east. The SMM then went to the site where the team found two remaining self-propelled howitzers 122mm (Gvozdika) with removed engines. The engines were stored beside the howitzers.

At the second “DPR” heavy weapons holding area the SMM found only two 100mm anti-tank guns and observed that six self-propelled howitzers 122mm (Gvozdika) were missing. According to the “DPR” members at the site, the howitzers were taken away on the evening of 9 May to an unknown location.

The SMM re-visited one Ukrainian Armed Forces holding area of heavy weapons on 12 May to verify the inventory of 34 Uragan MLRS, BM-27 launchers and BM-27 transporter-loaders confirmed all weapons were in situ in compliance with Minsk withdrawal lines.

Despite claims that heavy weapons have been withdrawn, the SMM Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operated in the area in and around Shyrokyne and further east and observed a number of main battle tanks (MBTs) on both sides of the contact line. In particular, in government-controlled areas of Pionerske, Sopyne and Novolaspa, (13km and 16 east of Mariupol and 90km north-east of Mariupol) it observed 6 MBTs; in “DPR”-controlled areas of Oktyabr (26km east of Mariupol) Michurine (70km north-east of Mariupol) and Sontseve (18km east of Mariupol) the UAV observed 7 MBTs.

In Kharkiv the SMM observed on 12 May a peaceful pro-unity rally held on the 34th birthday of the female Ukrainian pilot Nadia Savchenko (currently in detention in Moscow). Around 50 euro-Maidan activists of mixed gender and age, holding Ukrainian flags and escorted by five policemen, marched from the Liberty Square to the Russian Federation Consulate General . The Russian Federation Consulate was guarded by a cordon of 15 police officers. They called for the “liberation” of Savchenko and other Ukrainians citizen detained in Moscow. After approximately one hour, participants dispersed calmly.

In Odessa city the SMM visited on 13 May the site of an explosion between two railway stations. According to workers at the site, the explosion happened on 12 May at 23:55hrs. According to the railway workers they had fixed the damage and the SMM observed a train passing through the site at 10:30hrs. A representative of the Odessa regional transport police confirmed to the SMM the date and time of the explosion. According to him, the preliminary investigations revealed that a non-fragmentation explosive device with the equivalent of approximately 2.5 kg of Trinitrotoluene (TNT) was placed on the tracks near the railway bridge. The blast had resulted in the destruction of 500 metres of metal rail and a damaged sleeper. No casualties were reported. The incident has been classified as “sabotage” according to paragraph 113 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code. In addition, a representative of the Odessa regional police confirmed to the SMM that on 12 May at 14:25hrs at Solontsevatyi lane in Odessa, a handmade explosive device was discovered by gas company workers. The explosive material was in a plastic bottle with wires connected to a clockwork mechanism. An explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) unit of the Odessa regional police deactivated the device and sent it to a forensic laboratory for examination. The police assessed its action as ’Prevention of terrorist attack’.

In Kyiv the SMM attended a press conference which was held by the Parliamentary Commission on Human Rights and various civil society organizations, on the evacuation and public safety of state institutions in the area of Mariupol not controlled by the government. The institutions addressed by the speakers range from orphanages and hospitals to nursing homes and prisons. According to the speakers, in “DPR”/”LPR”-controlled areas there are 77 such institutions which accommodate approximately 60,000 persons. The speakers estimated that up to 35,000 persons should be urgently evacuated from areas not controlled by the Government east of Mariupol. In one of the hospitals in Mariupol there are approximately 100 bedridden patients. In case of emergency, measures in Mariupol need to be prepared for a possible evacuation of approximately 1086 persons, of whom 56 are orphans.

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

* 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.

- On 12 May, at a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint in government-controlled Makarove (19km north-east of Luhansk) the trunks of the SMM vehicles were inspected by the checkpoint personnel. The SMM was let through after five minutes.

- While returning to government-controlled Sievierodonetsk (74km north-west of Luhansk) a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint guard was inspecting the OSCE red books of SMM members on patrol. The SMM was let through after eight minutes.

For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.