Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 19:30 (Kyiv time), 17 May 2015

The SMM continued to observe ceasefire violations in and around Donetsk airport, albeit of reduced intensity.[1] Throughout the SMM’s presence at two observation points near the village of Shyrokyne the situation was relatively calm. The SMM heard on 15 May three explosions whereas no ceasefire violations were registered on 16 and 17 May. However, the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) in Donetsk reported instances of mortar shelling in Hranitne (government-controlled, 57km south of Donetsk) and Chermalyk (government-controlled, 72km south of Donetsk). The senior representatives of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Russian Federation Armed Forces at the JCCC in Donetsk jointly reported 27 ceasefire violations in and around Donetsk airport and 25 violations in and around the area of Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) involving mortar, tank and small arms and light weapons (SALW) fire for the period between 00:00 and 12:00hrs on 16 May.

While on route south of Olenivka (“DPR”-controlled, 21km south-west of Donetsk) the SMM observed that the defensive positions in the areas around both “DPR” and government-controlled checkpoints were reinforced, and signs warning of mine danger were posted along the side of the road near the checkpoints, on both the “DPR” and Ukrainian Armed Forces side.

On 16 May the Ukrainian Armed Forces at a checkpoint prior to the government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (16km south-east of Luhansk) informed the SMM about incoming artillery and sniper fire from “Lugansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”)-controlled territory the same day. The SMM observed damage consistent with artillery shelling to the roof and walls of a house next to the checkpoint. Two mortars (probably 60mm) that allegedly struck the concrete wall of the house next to the checkpoint were also presented to the SMM. 

On 17 May the SMM went to Stanytsia Luhanska after being informed of possible fighting in the area around 10:30hrs. The SMM spoke to two uniformed and masked “LPR” members at an “LPR” observation point, who stated that they sustained shelling on the night of 16 May, from 04:00 to 05:00hrs. The interlocutors further stated that on 17 May from 09:00 to 10:00hrs, they sustained fire from a machine gun. According to the interlocutors the small-arms fire originated from the old railway station in government-controlled territory. Six civilian interlocutors, four teenagers and two elderly males, who live in the area of Stanytsia Luhanska informed the SMM that they had heard shooting in the area on 16 May.

The SMM also spoke with the commander of the government-controlled checkpoint at the bridge in Stanytsia Luhanska.  He said that on 16 May between 20:00 and 00:00hrs on 17 May there had been intensive mortar shelling from “LPR”-controlled territory into Stanytsia Luhanska.  According to the interlocutor no injuries had been reported. The SMM observed two houses close to the checkpoint which had been completely destroyed and the statue on the bridge was severely damaged.

On 17 May Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers at a checkpoint in the vicinity of Zolote (government-controlled, 60km north-west of Luhansk) said that on the night of 16 May between 21:00-23:00hrs, there were 20 mortar rounds fired at them from “LPR”-controlled territory, but that they did not sustain any casualties. The SMM observed two craters caused by 80mm mortar shells approximately 50 metres west of the checkpoint. The craters were approximately 80 to 100 centimetres wide and from the signs of the impact the mortar shells came from a southerly direction. The Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel staffing the checkpoint said that on the night of 15 May, between 21:00 and 01:00hrs they also sustained shelling from “LPR”-controlled territory.

The SMM met with the “LPR” “border guard chief of staff” in Luhansk who said that at this stage the “LPR” “border guards” have still not reached full staffing to completely take over control of the border between Ukraine and the Russian Federation from the Cossacks. He said that there were problems finding suitably qualified members. According to the interlocutor border crossing points have all been turned over from Cossack units to the “LPR” “border guards” with the exception of Chervonopartyzansk border crossing point (64km south-east of Luhansk), which is currently under control shared between “LPR” and  Cossacks.

The SMM met with the head of “LPR”-controlled Krasnodon (43km south-east of Luhansk) “border guards” detachment. Regarding SMM’s access to the border zone, the interlocutor stressed that he had received a clear order from his higher command not to permit the access of the SMM without a “letter of access” issued by “LPR” structures, although he suggested that an interim arrangement might be possible.

The SMM revisited six “DPR”-controlled heavy weapon holding areas. At three sites all earlier recorded weapons were in situ. At three sites the SMM found weapons that had been missing on the previous visit and had been said to be taken for the parade of 9 May. The now returned weapons included four multi launch rocket systems (MLRS-BM 21 GRAD), two self-propelled howitzers (2S1 GVOZDIKA) and five artillery pieces (2A65 MSTA-B). All of the above weapons were newly painted and some with orange and black-striped ribbons. At one of the three latter sites, the “DPR” commander in charge informed that one additional artillery piece (2A65 MSTA-B) – previously not recorded by the SMM – was missing. At another site, the SMM noted that, compared to the record of the previous visit, one artillery gun (D-30) was missing. The “DPR” member in charge of the holding area stated that it had been transported to the training area near “DPR”-controlled Torez (60km east of Donetsk) for training purposes. The locations of all visited holding areas comply with respective Minsk withdrawal lines.

The SMM also revisited six government-controlled heavy weapon holding areas. During its visits, the SMM observed that some of the heavy weapons previously recorded and accounted for, were missing, namely seven howitzers (152mm 2A65 “Msta-B”) at one site and three MLRSs (122mm “GRAD”). At the other five sites all earlier recorded weapons were in situ The locations of all sites comply with the respective Minsk withdrawal lines.

Despite claims that withdrawal of heavy weapons was completed, the SMM, as well as the SMM Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), observed the weapons movements/presence on both sides of the line of contact in the areas that are in violation of the Minsk withdrawal lines.

The SMM observed six main battle tanks (MBT) T-72 in different “DPR”-controlled locations in and around Donetsk city. The SMM saw also one stationary BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) with an anti-tank gun (120 mm).

The SMM UAV observed on 16 May in “DPR”-controlled areas east of Mariupol two MBTs (unknown type) and three self-propelled howitzers (122mm 2S1 Gvozdika). On the same day the UAV observed three military boats (unknown type) in a “DPR”-controlled area. On 17 May the UAV observed north-east of Mariupol in government-controlled areas one MBT (unknown type) and ten self-propelled howitzers (122mm 2S1 Gvozdika). Also on 17 May the UAV observed north-east of Mariupol in “DPR”-controlled areas seven MBTs (unknown type) and one anti-tank gun (100mm Rapira). In addition, the UAV observed three burning houses in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) the same day.

On 17 May the SMM monitored in Lviv a public prayer at the Hill of Glory memorial site by representatives of the Crimean Tatar community. Seven men and one woman gathered in remembrance of Abdul Teifuk, a Red Army Major and Hero of the Soviet Union fallen in 1945 in Germany, and buried in Lviv. There were no police present.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Kharkiv, Dnepropetrovsk, Odessa, Kherson, Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk 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 cease-fire does not hold everywhere.

• The SMM was stopped by an armed “DPR” member at a checkpoint on Stratonavtiv street (9km north-west of Donetsk city). The person was acting aggressively and ordered the SMM monitors to exit the vehicle. The SMM vehicle’s trunk was searched and after approximately five minutes the SMM was allowed to proceed further.

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