Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 19:30 (Kyiv time), 3 August 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 parties and security considerations*. In Spartak, the SMM facilitated a local ceasefire for repair works to the water pipeline. In Kharkiv, armed individuals attacked a building associated with the Opposition Bloc.

The situation at and around Donetsk airport was relatively calm. Between 12:10 and 14:58hrs, 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 three explosions, two airbursts, and multiple single shots of mostly outgoing small-arms and heavy machine-gun fire 0.5-4km north, north-east, west, and north-west of its position.[1]

In Spartak (“DPR”-controlled, 10km north of Donetsk), the SMM facilitated a local ceasefire for repair works on the water pipeline where the employees of the Voda Donbassa company assessed the damages. Also, the SMM further engaged in facilitating a local ceasefire for repair works on the water pipeline between government-controlled Maiorsk (45km north of Donetsk) and “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) (see SMM Daily Report 11 July 2015). At 11:30hrs and at 13:45hrs, at a “DPR” checkpoint near Horlivka, the SMM heard three outgoing shellings 200m from their position and at 13:45hrs it heard four explosions. At this point the chief engineer said it was too late to commence repair works.

At the JCCC observation point in Avdiivka (government-controlled, 15km north of Donetsk), the SMM observed 21 impacts of 82mm mortar rounds in the area of the remains of the new terminal of Donetsk airport.

In Marinka (government-controlled, 23km west of Donetsk), the SMM visited an area which had been reportedly shelled on the night between 1 and 2 August. It observed a number of impacts on the roofs of several houses. The SMM could not perform crater analysis for security reasons.

In Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol), the SMM continued to facilitate the visit of a demining consultant (see SMM Daily Report 3 August 2015). Whilst there, the SMM heard four bursts of small-arms fire 1km north-east of its location. The SMM did not observe any military or civilian presence inside Shyrokyne.

On 2 August, at Mariupol’s Freedom Square, the SMM monitored a protest against the demilitarization of Shyrokyne, which was attended by some 250 civilians, men and women, and 40 members of the Azov volunteer battalion under the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The demonstrators expressed their concerns that a withdrawal from Shyrokyne would allow “DPR” to capture Mariupol; they had collected some 1,500 signatures for a petition against the withdrawal. Four police officers were present at the event, which ended peacefully.

The SMM visited Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk) to follow up on allegations of shelling (see SMM Daily Report 3 August 2015). The SMM visited nine houses, which had been damaged by shelling allegedly on the night of 1 to 2 August and on 3 August. It observed damages consistent with shelling, including impacts on the roofs and bullet holes in the windows and walls, as well as burnt interiors. Three of the houses were completely destroyed.

The SMM visited Ukrainian Armed Forces positions around Stanytsia Luhanska, where the Ukrainian Armed Forces commander told the SMM that their position had been shelled by 152mm artillery on 2 August between 22:10 and 00:10hrs and two soldiers had been killed. He added that some of the projectiles carried chemical burning substances. On site, the SMM observed 26 craters 270-280cm wide and 30cm deep. The SMM analysed the craters and fragments found inside the craters indicated that the artillery calibre was above 100mm. In addition, the SMM observed four small canister-like objects, partly burned and melted, which appeared to be incendiary elements of artillery shells.

At the bridge in Stanytsia Luhanska, the “Lugansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”) “commander” told the SMM that “LPR” positions had been shelled on the night of 2 August between 22:30 and 23:30hrs. The SMM observed over100 impacts consistent with 82mm mortars, as well as six larger impact craters, which it assessed to be from 122mm artillery fired from the north.

In government-controlled Trokhizbenka (33km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM met with representatives of the village council, who said that the local school and kindergarten, previously occupied by the Aidar volunteer battalion under the Ministry of Defence  and Ukrainian Armed Forces respectively (See SMM Daily Report 24 March 2015), had been vacated.  Renovations are needed, some of which will be undertaken, he added.

The SMM revisited two “DPR” heavy weapons holding areas, the locations of which complied with the respective withdrawal lines. All previously recorded weapons from one site had been relocated to a building that used to serve as a kindergarten 700m away. The “DPR” members stated that the previous facility was being used for harvest storage. At the other site, the SMM saw that one howitzer (2S1-Gvozdika) was missing and it was not allowed to check the serial numbers of the heavy weapons.*

The SMM observed heavy weapons in breach of withdrawal lines. In a “DPR”-controlled area, on the motorway 20km east of Donetsk, the SMM observed one MBT (T-72) and two armoured personnel carriers (APC).

An incident occurred in Kharkiv city at around 12:15hrs when, according to a video footage of the event, some 50 masked and armed men attacked a building associated with the Opposition Bloc and threw stones, bricks and directed small-arms fire at the building and heavily damaged a minibus allegedly belonging to bodyguards of Opposition Bloc politician Mr. Mikhail Dobkin. On site, the SMM observed damages consistent with those seen in the video. Members of the Opposition Bloc told the SMM that this incident was in the context of obstruction to their registration as a political party for the October local elections. A member of parliament told the SMM that between 09:30 and 10:00hrs, several dozens of young men had prevented a delegation of the Opposition Bloc led by Mr. Dobkin to access the regional department of the Ministry of Justice, where party registrations are filed. According to him, the delegation then had attempted to file a registration directly at the regional administration building but no administrative staff was available. Several other activists of the Opposition Bloc confirmed this to the SMM. At the regional department of the Ministry of Justice between 15:10 and 16:15hrs the SMM observed some 150 masked individuals in camouflaged uniforms without insignia, most of whom carried machetes, sticks and bricks. The protestors had blocked the entrance of the building with a car. The protestors departed at 16:00hrs when the building closed for business. Some 100 police officers were present.

In Odessa, the SMM followed up media reports of an explosion which had occurred at the headquarters of the Odessa Self-Defence on 3 August at 03:35hrs. On site, the SMM observed an explosion site 4m inside the compound, as well as light damage to the building entrance gate and shattered windows, including one in a building located 40m from the explosion site. A representative of the regional police told the SMM that the device contained 200 grams of trinitrotoluene (TNT) equivalent and that investigations had been launched on charges of intentional destruction or damage of property (Article 194 of the Criminal Code).

In Odessa, the SMM continued to follow the trial (see SMM Daily Report 30 July 2015) at the Prymorskyi District Court of a man charged with murder in relation to the events of 2 May 2014 in Odessa. The SMM observed 15 pro-Maidan activists inside the courtroom and an additional 40 persons, men and women of different ages, outside the courtroom. The SMM also observed some 15 anti-Maidan activists, mainly elderly women. There were ten police officers present at the event, which ended peacefully.

On 2 August, at Kulykove Pole in Odessa, the SMM monitored the weekly demonstration and monthly commemoration of victims of 2 May 2014 events attended by 150 anti-Maidan activists, mostly women aged 30-70 and some 90 pro-Maidan activists, mostly men of different ages. A physical altercation occurred between the groups at 18:25hrs to which the police responded swiftly with 140 police officers reinforcing the police cordon around anti-Maidan activists. The SMM observed a second incident at 19:00hrs, when pro-Maidan activists attacked a man who was filming the event, to which the police did not intervene. The protest ended without further incidents.

In Kyiv, the SMM observed that the protest camp of the non-governmental organization Financial Maidan was no longer present in front of the building of the National Bank of Ukraine (see SMM Daily Report 28 February 2015). A representative of the organization told the SMM that they would reinstall the demonstration site following the parliament’s summer recess. The camp has been standing since 23 February 2015 and was removed on 1 August.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Dnepropetrovsk, Kherson, Lviv, 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 – and lack of information on the whereabouts – of mines, and 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. Most areas along the Ukraine-Russian Federation international border, particularly those controlled by the “LPR”, have ordinarily been placed off limits to the SMM. 

Denied access:

• At a “DPR” heavy weapons holding area, the SMM was not allowed to check the serial numbers of heavy weapons.

Delay:

• At a “DPR” checkpoint (14km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM was delayed for ten minutes when “DPR” checked the trunk of its vehicles and asked the SMM members whether they had any alcohol claiming that it was not allowed to bring alcohol into the “DPR”-controlled area.
• At a “DPR” checkpoint in Donetsk city, a “DPR” guard who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol expressed criticism about the SMM. He also advised the SMM to be cautious before allowing it to pass after ten minutes. 
• At two Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoints, near Marinka and Kurakhove (government-controlled, 23km and 40km west of Donetsk respectively) the SMM patrol leader was asked about her nationality, but did not delay the SMM. 

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