Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 19:30 (Kyiv time), 23 June 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 situation at and around the Donetsk airport remained tense. The situation remained relatively calm in Mariupol and Shyrokyne. The overall situation in the Luhansk region remained tense.

The situation at and around Donetsk airport remained tense. Between 12:35 and 18:00hrs, at the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) observation point at Donetsk central railway station (“Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled, 8km north-west of Donetsk city centre), the SMM heard, and in some cases saw, 139 explosions consistent with artillery, mortar fire (82mm and 120mm) impacting 2.5-10km to the north, north-east, north-north-east, north-north-west, north-west, south-west and west. Fighting was ongoing throughout the afternoon, despite two attempts by the JCCC to broker a ceasefire between the parties.[1] The situation remained relatively calm in Mariupol and Shyrokyne.

At the JCCC headquarters in Soledar (government-controlled, 75km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM was presented with two logbooks, compiled independently by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Russian Federation Armed Forces representatives at the JCCC. The Ukrainian Armed Forced recorded 107 ceasefire violations, while the Russian Federation logbook contained 119 violations. Both attributed a significantly higher number of ceasefire violations to the “DPR” and the “Lugansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”). The Ukrainian Major-General, Head of the Ukrainian side to the JCCC, highlighted the humanitarian situation in Shyrokyne and Marinka areas, where villages had been without water or electricity for days. Supported by the SMM, the sides began negotiating a ceasefire, necessary for repair works to be carried out by Voda Donbassa.

At Karlivka (government-controlled, 30km west-north-west of Donetsk), the SMM spoke to a farmer who reported unexploded ordnance (UXO) in a nearby field. SMM examined the 120mm mortar round and advised him to contact the Ukrainian Armed Forces for safe disposal. The SMM visited the site of the shelling; farm buildings and surrounding trenches, and observed shell damage to one building, however, was unable to carry out any further examination due to the risk of UXO.

In Sloviansk (government-controlled, 95km north of Donetsk), the SMM visited a coke industry chemicals and machinery plant, which is no longer producing and has laid off 600 of its 700 employees, according to the head of security at the plant.

In the Luhansk region, the overall situation remained tense. The JCCC in Luhansk informed the SMM that after an alleged recent shelling of a water pumping station at the Raivka (“LPR”-controlled, 16km north-west of Luhansk), an area inhabited by around 30,000 people was experiencing water shortage, including Metalist (“LPR”-controlled, 6km north of Luhansk). According to the interlocutor, in the coming days, the water shortage was also expected to affect Luhansk city.

On 23 June, the SMM met the deputy head of the Luhansk regional state administration, presented data to the SMM, indicating that around 20,000 people were left without access to water in government-controlled Popasna, Bobrove, Bobrovske, Toshkivka, Nyzhne, Svitlychne, Novotoshkivske and in LPR-controlled Pervomaisk. Also due to the shelling, electricity cables had been destroyed in government-controlled Trokhizbenka, Kriakivka, Orikhove, Lobachevo, Lopaskine, Gravove, Orikhove, Krymske, Novozvanivka, and Troitske. According to the deputy governor, 5,000 people were therefore left without electricity.

In Kniahynivka (“LPR”-controlled, 58km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM spoke with a group of eight men (30-60 years old), who used to work in the nearby mine, which remains closed due to flooding after fighting has disrupted the electricity supply to water pumps last summer. The interlocutors informed that, given an increase in prices locally, people from the area now go to “DPR”-controlled territory to buy food and non-food items.

In Rovenky (“LPR”-controlled, 55km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM met with the dean (female) of the faculty of the branch campus of Luhansk University, which at present is attended by approximately 380 students (360 female, 20 male), as compared to 450 students prior to the conflict. The interlocutor told the SMM that this year’s graduating students worry about the recognition of their diplomas outside of “LPR”-controlled areas.

The SMM re-visited one Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapons holding area, the location of which was in compliance with the withdrawal lines according to the Minsk Package, and observed that one multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) (Uragan BM-27) was missing. The SMM was told that the system was moved to an unspecified location in western Ukraine, since it was no longer operational. At the same site, the SMM noted a new MLRS Uragan BM-27 and three mobile anti-aircraft batteries, not previously observed. The SMM visited three “DPR”-controlled holding areas, where it observed: weaponry previously recorded were in situ at the first and second sites, while at the third site, SMM was prevented full access by the “DPR” and only allowed to view the weaponry from a distance of about 15 or 20m, which did not allow for the verification of serial numbers.* The location of the sites was in compliance with the withdrawal lines according to the Minsk Package.

Despite claims that the withdrawal of heavy weapons was complete, the SMM observed the following weapons’ movements in areas that are in violation of Minsk withdrawal lines. In “DPR”-controlled areas north-east of Mariupol, the SMM unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) observed 1 main battle tank (MBT), 1 mortar and 3 artillery pieces. In addition, in the area of Komsomolske (43km south-south-east of Donetsk), the UAV observed 7 MBTs and in a quarry nearby 12 APCs being loaded with ammunition, forming a convoy, which proceeded to Vasylivka and further to Michurine (61km south of Donetsk). In the same sector, an additional 9 MBTs and 10 APCs were also seen. Around Ternove (“DPR”-controlled, 54km east of Donetsk centre), the UAV spotted a training area and substantial shelling marks and was able to identify 38 MBTs, 7 towed artillery pieces, 12 military trucks, and 6 APCs. In government-controlled areas north-east of Mariupol the UAV spotted 4 MBTs.

On 22 June, the SMM monitored the crossing points of Kalanchak and Chaplynka (117 and 120km south-east of Kherson) on the administrative boundary line and at both locations observed 3km-long queues of 130-150 cargo trucks, waiting to cross into Crimea. Truck drivers told SMM that it takes two days to reach the customs clearance area. The Ukrainian border guards stated that the long queue is caused by customs checks on the Crimean side. According to the border-guard shift manager at the Kalanchak crossing point, the recently-issued decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine no. 367 is being implemented and several foreigners have already been turned back due to the fact that they did not have special permit, which is required in order to travel into Crimea.

On 23 June, the SMM monitored a peaceful rally of around 100 persons (majority men), including several priests and nuns, who protested in front of the office of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in Lviv, however, did not give statements to the SMM or to the media. By-standers told the SMM that the protesters were members of a religious group Ukrainian Orthodox Greek-Catholic Church, who protested against the alleged arrest of two of their members by the SBU. The SBU did not provide any explanations.

In Kyiv, the SMM observed an appeal hearing at the High Specialized Court of Civil and Criminal Cases against a conscientious objector to mobilization from Dnepropetrovsk. The accused was acquitted at trial. During the trial, defence counsel submitted that the accused had a legitimate right to conscientious objection on the basis of the fundamental right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief. The appellate court denied the prosecution appeal and affirmed the full acquittal of the defendant by the lower court.

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

* Restrictions on SMM monitoring, 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 presence of mines, the lack of information on whereabouts of landmines, as well as damaged infrastructure. The security situation in Donbas is fluid and unpredictable and the ceasefire does not hold everywhere. Self-imposed restrictions on movement into high risk areas have impinged on SMM patrolling activities, particularly in areas not controlled by the government. SMM UAVs cannot operate in the Luhansk region as it is beyond their range.

Delay:

• At a “DPR” heavy weapons holding area the SMM waited for 15 minutes to be granted access, after which it was only allowed to view the weaponry from a distance of about 15 or 20m, and was therefore prevented from checking the serial numbers.

• At a “DPR” heavy weapons holding site, the guards requested that the SMM wait for half an hour for the commander to return. The SMM left the site.

Prevented access:

• On 23 June 2015, the SMM attempted to verify the previously recorded heavy weapons systems at a Ukrainian Armed Forces holding area, however was denied access. The camp commander told the SMM that he had not been authorized to show the military equipment to the SMM and suggested the SMM to obtain permission from the ATO zone headquarters.

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

* Please see the section at the end of this report entitled “Restrictions on SMM access and freedom of movement” for further information.