Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 27 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 the parties and security considerations*. The SMM observed damage caused by shelling and conducted crater analyses in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In Donetsk there was a significant increase in ceasefire violations compared to the previous day[1].

The overall security situation at and around “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled Donetsk airport (9km north-west of Donetsk) remained tense. From its position at the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) observation post at the “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled central railway station (8km north-west of Donetsk city centre), the SMM observed an increase in ceasefire violations compared to the previous day. Between 08:25 and 18:30hrs, the SMM recorded a total of 162 explosions caused by incoming anti-aircraft fire, 82mm and 120mm mortar shelling and other unidentified explosions at locations between 1.5 and 8km ranging from the north-north-west to the west of the SMM's position. The SMM also heard exchanges of small-arms fire, including machine-gun fire and automatic grenade launcher fire, between locations at 3 to 5km north-north-east and west-south-west of its position. The SMM also observed five Ural and Kamaz military type trucks driving in the direction of Donetsk airport. Two were carrying “DPR” members and one was carrying logs.

While in government-controlled Kominternove (23km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard an explosion at approx. 500m north-east of its position. At another location close by the SMM heard another six explosions occurring in the same area.

In government-controlled Chermalyk (31km north-east of Mariupol) the SMM followed up on JCCC reports of shelling. At a farm compound, located about 300m north of Chermalyk, the SMM saw 10-11 craters that it assessed were less than 12 hours old and resulted from 120mm mortar shells coming from an east-north-easterly direction.

In government-controlled Sopyne (16km east of Mariupol) various local residents said that the latest incoming shelling hit a currently unused children’s summer camp in the village. The SMM saw fresh craters near the camp, which it had not seen during its last visit two days earlier. The interlocutors added that Ukrainian Armed Forces were present in the camp, but had left it after the shelling.

In “DPR”-controlled Makiivka (12km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM observed the arrival of a convoy of 67 transport trucks labelled with “humanitarian aid from the Russian Federation”. The SMM also visited the Makiivka humanitarian aid depot where the head of the committee on provision of humanitarian aid and director of the warehouses approached the SMM and invited the monitors to visit the facility. The SMM observed more than 20 trucks marked with “Russian Federation humanitarian aid” and displaying Russian Federation number plates. The SMM saw members of Russian Federation “ministry of emergencies” wearing МЧС ("Ministry of Emergency Situations") emblems on uniforms. The interlocutor said that convoys from the Russian Federation arrive three to four times a month. He also said that medical supplies still remained the biggest need.

In government-controlled Slovyansk (95km north of Donetsk) the SMM met with the acting head of the Department of Education of Donetsk region who informed the SMM that most schools are ready to start on 1 September, except some located in hot spots along the contact line, most particularly schools located in Dzerzhynsk, Avdiivka and Marinka. She added that 85 school buildings were hit by shelling since summer 2014. Fifty five have been fully restored, while 25 remain damaged and five are totally destroyed.

The overall situation in Luhansk was relatively calm.

At an "LPR" checkpoint two kilometres south-east of government-controlled Shchastia (20km north-west of Luhansk) "LPR" members told the SMM that the checkpoint had been shelled at 22:00hrs on 26 August. The SMM analysed five craters and assessed them as consistent with 120mm mortar fire from a north-north-easterly direction.

The SMM monitored repair works to electricity pylons at an "LPR" checkpoint near "LPR"-controlled Vesela Hora (16km north of Luhansk). Luhansk Electricity repair workers told the SMM that the pylons supplied electricity to the general population in "LPR"-controlled Alchevsk (40km south-east of Luhansk) and for coal mines in Alchevsk.

In “LPR”-controlled Yuzhno Lomuvatka (60km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM talked with an employee of the local “administration” (female aged 35) who said that the 2500 inhabitants of the village faced problems with water supply, as their primary source was located in government-controlled areas, and the current water pressure was insufficient to reach the town. Therefore, she said two times a week the town supplied itself with water by trucks from the “LPR”-controlled village of Chervonyi Prapor (57km west-south-west of Luhansk).

In “LPR”-controlled Lomuvatka (56km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM met the local school director and her assistant (females aged 55), who said that the school received school supplies and canned and dried food from the Russian Federation. The interlocutor said that the school will open on 1 September but due to the conflict many families with children have left the area. There are 15 children left and the school now only offers grades 1-4; the older children go to school in Yuzhno Lomuvatka.

The SMM went to the border north and east of “LPR”-controlled Severniy (55km south-east of Luhansk) to follow-up on reports of possible pontoon ferries across Siversky Donets river which marks the border between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. The SMM checked all access to the river along the border all the way to the contact line and no improved access routes, pontoon, ferries, bridges or works were observed.

The SMM revisited two “DPR” heavy weapons holding areas whose locations corresponded with the Minsk withdrawal lines, but was denied access at one area. The "DPR" guards said they had not been authorized by their commander to allow the SMM access. Therefore the SMM was able to conclude that all previously recorded weapons were present at only one of the areas.

The SMM also revisited two Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapons holding areas whose locations corresponded with the Minsk withdrawal lines but, again, was able to conclude that all previously recorded weapons were present at only one of the areas. At the second area, the SMM observed that one of three previously observed self-propelled anti-aircraft systems (9K35 Strela-10) was missing.

The SMM observed the presence of heavy weapons in areas which are in violation of respective withdrawal lines. In a “DPR”-controlled area, the SMM observed a main battle tank (MBT, T-72). In an “LPR”-controlled area, the SMM observed two stationary main battle tanks (T-72) with gun turrets with barrels pointed towards a government-controlled area. In government-controlled areas, the SMM also observed a tank (T64) stationary at a checkpoint and a 122mm self-propelled howitzer 2S1 "Gvozdika" on a heavy duty trailer travelling through government-controlled areas. In “DPR”-controlled areas UAVs observed five MBTs in Bezimenne (30km east of Mariupol), two MBTs in Michurine (57km north-east of Mariupol), three heavy artillery pieces in Oktiabr (29km north-east of Mariupol), one MBT south of Sontseve (58km north-east of Mariupol), five MBTs west of Starolaspa (60km north-east of Mariupol), five 122mm self-propelled howitzers 2S1 “Gvozdika” with lots of ammunition south-west of Rozdolne (64km north-east of Mariupol) and seven MBTs, more than twenty APCs and other military equipment south of Komsomolske (75km north-east of Mariupol). On 26 August in government-controlled Pionerske (13km east of Mariupol) one short-range anti-aircraft missile system (type not identified) was spotted. On 27 August, in government-controlled Hranitne (45km north-east of Mariupol) one MBT was observed.

Between the two government-controlled villages of Nyzhnoteple (25km north of Luhansk) and Plotyna (28km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw a total of six aircraft, flying north and south at a high altitude but due to the altitude and distance the SMM could not determine their precise position. In the vicinity of "LPR"-controlled Velykyi Sukhodil (43km south-east of Luhansk) and Davydo-Mykilske (38km east of Luhansk), the SMM also observed up to six aircraft. The aircrafts observed were outside of “LPR” controlled territory and outside the state borders of Ukraine.

The SMM met the head of the Mykolaiv (60km north-west of Kherson) city branch of the Opposition Bloc (former head of regional council/Party of Regions) who confirmed media reports that he had received a total of seven summonses to appear for questioning by the police in relation to a case involving the picketing of the Mykolaiv Opposition Bloc headquarters at the beginning of June.

In Khodoriv (60km south-east of Lviv) the SMM met the deputy head of the local administration who said that 38 citizens had been drafted to the Ukrainian Armed Forces since the beginning of the anti-terrorism operation (ATO), but the number that had joined volunteer battalions was unknown. Five soldiers had returned and two had been injured. During the sixth wave of mobilization, 120 draft letters were sent but only five draftees responded to the call.

In Kyiv, the SMM attended the first session of the disciplinary section of the High Council of Justice that was reviewing the findings of the interim special commission for vetting of 19 Judges charged with misconduct for allegedly prosecuting and unlawfully placing in custody activists participating in the Maidan demonstrations and persecuting Automaidan activists. In all 19 cases, the disciplinary section supported the findings of the commission.

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

*Restrictions of the mission’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate:

The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by the parties and security considerations, including mine threats, 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. Members of the “LPR” continue to prevent the SMM from monitoring most areas close to the border with the Russian Federation.

Denied access:

• At an “LPR” checkpoint in Slovianoserbsk (28km north- west of Luhansk) the commander did not allow the SMM to proceed further due to the security level following alleged shelling at ”LPR”-controlled Pryshyb (33km north-west of Luhansk) during the night of 26 August and the morning of 27 August.
• A “DPR” member denied the SMM access to a “DPR” heavy weapons holding site.   
• At an “LPR” checkpoint 2km south-east of government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk), an armed “LPR” member refused the SMM permission to accompany repair workers to inspect pylons in the vicinity of Shchastia.

Delayed access:

• At “DPR”-controlled checkpoint 20 (6.5km south-south-west of Donetsk city), a “DPR” member told the SMM that they had no permission to pass the checkpoint. After 21 minutes, the SMM was allowed to proceed. 

Impediments:

• On 26 August the SMM UAV was jammed while flying over “DPR”-controlled areas north-east of Mariupol.

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