Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 11 August 2015

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by the parties and security considerations*. The SMM observed an increase in ceasefire violations at and around Donetsk airport and in the general area of Starohnativka. In the Luhansk region, the SMM observed sporadic ceasefire violations and conducted crater analysis in several locations. The SMM facilitated ceasefires, which enabled the continuation of water pipeline repairs in the Donetsk region, and the works were successfully completed in one area.

The number of ceasefire violations observed at and around “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled Donetsk airport (9km north-west of Donetsk) increased in comparison with the previous day. Between 08:00 and 13:00hrs, the SMM, from its position at the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) observation point at “DPR”-controlled Donetsk railway station (8km north-west of Donetsk city centre), heard a total of 46 explosions and 13 rounds of automatic grenade launcher (AGL), as well as multiple bursts of small arms and heavy-machine gun (HMG) fire, at distances ranging between 3 and 15km to the south, south-west, west, north, and north-east of its position[1].

The SMM followed up on information about shelling around the government-controlled area of Starohnativka (51km south of Donetsk). The SMM was not able to reach this area due to security reasons but monitored the situation in nearby locations. In a “DPR”-controlled area approximately 10km south-west of Starobesheve (“DPR”-controlled, 32km south-east of Donetsk), at 12:00hrs, the SMM saw a convoy of five self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) accompanied by a covered military-type truck moving south-west towards the line of contact. While following the convoy, the SMM observed two armed men approaching from the south at a distance of approximately 200m and heard multiple bursts of small arms forcing the SMM to withdraw. A representative of the city hospital in Starobesheve, confirmed that two civilian casualties were admitted to the hospital. In government-controlled Mykolaivka (39km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM spoke separately to two men, who informed that they heard sounds of shelling occurring around midnight, until 10:00hrs on 11 August. The Ukrainian Armed Forces commander in Mykolaivka subsequently corroborated the information, adding that self-propelled and rocket artillery calibre 122mm (BM-21 Grad type) had impacted around the government-controlled areas of Starohnativka, Novohnativka (41km south-west of Donetsk) and Bohdanivka (42km south of Donetsk).

The SMM observed eight fresh craters in a residential area of Telmanove (“DPR”-controlled,  67km south-east of Donetsk) and assessed that all of them were caused by a multiple launched rocket system (MLRS) calibre 122mm (BM-21 Grad type) fired from a westerly direction. In the village, the SMM saw the funeral procession for a 62-year old woman from Telmanove, who was hit by shrapnel during shelling on 10 August.

Repairs to water pipelines in the Donetsk region were resumed after two days interruption in locations between “DPR”-controlled Spartak (9km north-west of Donetsk city centre) and government-controlled Avdiivka (14km north of Donetsk), and between government-controlled Maiorsk (45km north-east of Donetsk) and “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) (see SMM Daily Report, 10 August). In both areas, the SMM facilitated a local ceasefire to enable repairs to be carried out by Voda Donbassa workers. Despite continuous SALW and HMG fire observed by the SMM, all works in “DPR”-controlled Spartak were successfully completed with water running again. In “DPR”-controlled Horlivka the workers finished their activities for the day at 16:15hrs. The head of Voda Donbassa office in Horlivka stated that he would organise two additional teams of workers (raising the number of workers to 40) in order to finish all repairs in the coming days.

In Mariupol, the SMM facilitated dialogue between Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Shyrokyne and representatives of the Mariupol local administration including the State Emergency Services of Ukraine, a representative of the local civil military co-operation office, the police and others. Fifty participants discussed within working groups issues of security as well as administrative, legal and social challenges faced by the displaced population of Shyrokyne.  

At the northern entrance of government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk), at 12:45hrs, the SMM saw dark smoke plume south of its position. Later while in town, the SMM spoke with a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer who said that the smoke was coming from south of the bridge that had been shelled at 12:10hrs by a 82mm mortar.

In the vicinity of “Lugansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”)-controlled Krasnyi Liman (45km north-west of Luhansk), at 12:25hrs, the SMM heard one grenade launcher detonation that impacted approximately 60m north of its position.

In “LPR”-controlled Dovhe (23km north-west of Luhansk) the SMM followed up on information received from the “head” of the local administration about shelling that had occurred at 07:30hrs on 10 August. The SMM observed an impact near civilian areas, caused by two anti-tank rounds fired from approximately 1.5km north of the impact. The SMM observed that three walls of one building were penetrated and shell fragments remained on the ground.

The SMM followed up on information received from Ukrainian Armed Forces representatives to the JCCC that Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoints located in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-west of Luhansk) had been shelled between 22:35 and 01:30hrs on 10 August. The SMM saw around 35 fresh craters in the vicinity of the Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint before the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. The SMM assessed that the craters were caused by 120mm mortars originating from the south. The SMM also analysed four other impacts that were caused by 82mm mortars in the vicinity of the other checkpoint located in the town. Another impact was observed in a garden close to a civilian residence caused by a self-propelled gun (SPG9).

The SMM visited for the first time two “LPR” heavy weapons holding areas and revisited one “LPR” and one Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapons holding areas, whose locations comply with the respective withdrawal lines. At one Ukrainian Armed Forces site, the SMM observed that the same number and type of weapons previously recorded were in situ.  At one “ LPR” site visited by the SMM for the first time, the SMM found only food and uniforms. At another “LPR” site visited for the first time, the SMM observed eight empty military trucks and one MTLB armoured personnel carrier. At another “LPR” location, the SMM observed that all previously recorded weapons were in situ. The SMM was escorted by one “LPR” military police vehicle with two “LPR” members during its visits to all three sites*.

The SMM observed the following weapons’ movements/presence in areas that are in violation of respective withdrawal lines. In a government-controlled area, the SMM observed a small convoy of three towed 122mm howitzers (D-30).

At a press conference on the mobilization process in Kherson, attended by the SMM, the municipal and regional military enlistment officials informed that the sixth wave of mobilization only reached 32 per cent of 1,843 draftees planned. The officials also said that four cases of mobilization evasion had been filed in court the previous week.

In front of the Hilton Hotel in Kyiv city centre, the SMM monitored a public gathering of approximately 50 demonstrators, mainly middle-aged men, who complained that their salaries had not been paid by hotel management. Nine police officers and five hotel security staff were present. The demonstration ended peacefully.

The SMM monitored a peaceful demonstration in front of the state railway administration in Lviv. Approximately 70 persons, mainly middle-aged women, protested against alleged attempts of the state railway company to deprive them of their land close to the railway tracks. The event was covered by a number of journalists and overseen by 11 police officers, and ended peacefully.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Odessa, 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 the 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 been placed off limits to the SMM.

Delayed access:

At a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint in government-controlled Smolianynove (60km north-west of Luhansk), the checkpoint personnel inspected the trunk of the SMM’s vehicle.

Denied access:

At a checkpoint about 5km west of “LPR”-controlled Donetskyi (49km north-west of Luhansk) the SMM was not allowed to proceed further by an “LPR” member who cited security reasons in the area due to anti-tank mines placed on the road.

Conditional access:

The SMM was escorted by one “LPR” “military police” vehicle with two “LPR” members during its visit to three “LPR” heavy weapons holding areas.

[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.