Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 19:30 (Kyiv time), 24 May 2015

This report is provided 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 significant caution regarding security considerations *. The SMM observed continuing ceasefire violations at and around Donetsk airport and Shyrokyne as well as other locations

The SMM observed continuous ceasefire violations in and around Donetsk airport[1] (“Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled, 12km north-west of Donetsk). On 23 May, while at the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) observation point at the Donetsk central railway station (“DPR”-controlled, 8km north-west of Donetsk city centre), between 17:13 and 18:50hrs, the SMM heard and saw a total of 41 explosions, consistent with incoming and outgoing mortar and artillery fire 3-5km west, north-west, north and north-east of its position, in areas in and around government-controlled Pisky (7km west of Dontsk) and “DPR”-controlled Donetsk airport and Spartak (14km north-west of Donetsk). At 18:50hrs the SMM heard four explosions and subsequently saw flames emanating from the area of the coke-chemical plant in Avdiivka (government-controlled, 13km north-west of Donetsk). According to Ukrainian representatives at the JCCC office in Avdiivka, 45 artillery and mortar rounds had impacted in the area of the factory, causing injuries to one civilian and initiating a fire within the factory as well as creating an ammonium leak.

On 24 May, the situation in and around Donetsk airport deteriorated with more than 200 explosions recorded by the SMM at the same observation point, which were consistent with incoming and outgoing rounds of undetermined heavy weapons 2-8km west, north-west, north and north-east of the SMM position, in and around government-controlled Pisky, Avdiivka, and Opytne and at the “DPR”-controlled Donetsk airport and in Spartak. The SMM observed that the fire at the chemical plant in Avdiivka was still raging.

Following relative calm in and around Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) on 23 May, intensive shelling, including heavy calibre mortar fire, resumed on 24 May. At an observation point west of Shyrokyne, between 11:40 and 12:30hrs the SMM heard over one hundred explosions consistent with incoming and outgoing mortar, anti-aircraft and heavy machine gun fire. At 12:30hrs, the SMM heard more than 10 seconds of small-arms fire originating approximately 500-800m west of its location. During this burst, the SMM heard at least two bullets through the air, from west to east, passing close to the SMM monitors. The SMM immediately left the area.

On 24 May, at the JCCC headquarters in Soledar (government-controlled, 77km north of Donetsk), the SMM observed the presence of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Major-General, the Russian Federation Armed Forces Colonel-General and the permanent representative of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Members of the “Lugansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”) were also present. The SMM was presented with two log files, compiled independently. The Ukrainian Armed Forces reported five soldiers wounded in action. The Russian Federation Armed Forces Colonel-General said to the SMM that, on 23 May, his vehicle had come under AK47 fire. All passengers escaped unharmed but the vehicle suffered considerable damage and was abandoned on site. The Ukrainian Armed Forces Major-General informed the SMM that, following the “DPR” shelling targeting Avdiivka, he had instructed the Ukrainian Armed Forces senior representatives of the JCCC office in Avdiivka to relocate to a location yet to be determined.

On 23 May, the Ukrainian representatives at the JCCC office in Dzerzhynsk (government-controlled, 42km north-north-east of Donetsk) said to the SMM that due to increased tensions, the Security Service of Ukraine had recommended that local schools and kindergartens in the area close temporarily. The SMM contacted the director of school #13 in Artemove (government-controlled, 40km north of Donetsk), the closest to the contact line, who was not aware of any such recommendation.

On 22 May, in Druzkhivka (government-controlled, 70km north of Donetsk), the SMM monitored a demonstration with 60 to 70 people demanding the removal of the statue of Lenin. The SMM saw two Pravyy Sektor (Right Sector) flags, a few flags of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc and two flags of the local non-governmental organization Druzhkivka Civil Society. The police were present at the event, which ended peacefully.  

On 23 May, in Slovyansk (government-controlled, 95km north of Donetsk), the SMM monitored a memorial service dedicated to government soldiers who lost their lives last summer re-taking Slovyansk. Approximately 100 people, mostly military personnel and families of the deceased attended the event.

On 24 May, in Bulavynske (“DPR”-controlled, 48km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM met with a “DPR” 7th brigade’s “demining service” senior officer, who said that his eight demining teams had cleared 4,000 explosive devices in the area to date.

On 22 May, the SMM observed 25 women and 15 men of various ages waiting to cross the Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint at the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (16km north-east of Luhansk) to enter “LPR”-controlled territory. The checkpoint personnel said to the SMM that the bridge was closed by order of the Governor of Luhansk. The SMM later observed that a few individuals, including two infants, were allowed to cross in each direction, due to their health condition according to local inhabitants. On 24 May, the commanding officer at the headquarters of the Ukrainian Armed Forces unit in Stanytsia Luhanska said to the SMM that the bridge had been closed following a shelling from the "LPR" side on 23 May between 19:30 and 21:00hrs. He also said to the SMM that a group of approximately 100 persons had been protesting against the closure of the bridge and added that the bridge might reopen providing no shelling occurred from the “LPR” areas.

The SMM revisited five heavy weapons holding areas of the Ukrainian Armed Forces but found all recorded weapons in situ in only one of the locations. In one holding area, four multiple launch rocket systems were missing. The commander stated that they were on maintenance and used for training. At another site the commander informed the SMM that nine anti-tank guns (MT-12) had been moved to another location. At yet another site, the SMM observed that four anti-tank guns (MT-12) were missing. In another holding area the SMM noted that the self-propelled artillery numbers on two howitzers did not match those previously registered. 

Despite claims that the withdrawal of heavy weapons was complete, the SMM observed the following presence and movements of heavy weapons in areas that are in violation of the Minsk withdrawal lines: one tank (T-64) in government-controlled areas; 10 tanks in “LPR”-controlled areas; and, three howitzers in “DPR”-controlled areas.

The SMM also observed further fortification works and building of defensive positions in several government-controlled and “LPR”-controlled areas.

On 21-22 May, the SMM visited several locations along the administrative boundary line between mainland Ukraine and Crimea, including the checkpoint south of the village of Strelkove on the Arabat Spit (250km south-east of Kherson), the border guard detachment at Cape Kutara (150km south-east of Kherson) and the crossing point at Chaplynka (115km south-east of Kherson). In all locations the boarder guards described the situation as stable without incidents or provocations.

The SMM monitored several events in Lviv commemorating the “Day of Heroes”. On 23 May, approximately two hundred participants of all ages, mostly women, gathered in the city centre, sang the national anthem and formed a human chain symbolizing the strength of civil activism. On 24 May, the Lviv city department of culture organized a flower-laying ceremony at the monument of the chief commander of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), Roman Shukhevych, which was attended by approximately 30 participants. Also on 24 May, approximately 1,000 persons, mostly elderly men, attended a procession in the city centre. The participants included representatives and veterans of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) including members of the OUN volunteer battalion in camouflage uniforms and holding red and black flags, veterans of the UPA, patriotic youth, scout organizations and school students were also present as were several political representatives and nationalist NGOs. The police were present and the events ended peacefully in all cases.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Kharkiv, Dnepropetrovsk, Odessa, 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 ceasefire does not hold everywhere.

• The SMM was stopped at a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint near Volnovakha (government-controlled, 35km south-west of Donetsk) on road H20 and was asked for the nationalities of the patrol members. The SMM refused to disclose this information and was delayed for thirty minutes.

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