Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 17 December 2015

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM observed an increase in ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared to previous days*. The SMM encountered restrictions to its freedom of movement, including to a border area not controlled by the Government. The SMM continued to facilitate the enabling of repairs between government and non-government-controlled areas in Donetsk region. In Kyiv the SMM observed a 2,000-participants-strong protest.

The SMM noted an increase in ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared to previous days[1]. From a position at “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled Donetsk railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk city centre), between 8:13 and 14:00hrs[2], the SMM heard bursts of small-arms fire and 157 explosions at locations between 3-10km in areas to the north-west, north and west-south-west including 36 mortar (82mm) explosions in areas ranging from 3-7km north-north-east to the south-west and one mortar (122mm) impact at a location 5-7km north-north-west.

In Luhansk region the SMM heard undetermined mortar explosions near the “Lugansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”)-controlled village of Novooleksandrivka (64km west of Luhansk) and bursts of small-arms and heavy machine-gun fire and mortar shots at the location of the training area near government-controlled Trokhizbenka (33km north-west of Luhansk).

In relation to the implementation of the Addendum to the Package of measures, the SMM revisited Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent weapons storage sites whose locations corresponded with the withdrawal lines. At one site the SMM observed that three previously recorded mortars (2B9, 82mm) were missing. At another, the SMM observed that three artillery guns (D-44, 85mm) and three mortars (82mm) - previously recorded at this site -were missing. The SMM revisited “DPR” permanent storage sites whose locations corresponded with the withdrawal lines and found that all weapons, previously verified as withdrawn to the sites, were present.

In areas beyond the withdrawal lines and outside storage sites, the SMM observed 30 tanks (T64 and T72) stationary in a training area near “LPR”-controlled Kruhlyk (31km south-west of Luhansk).

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of heavy weapons foreseen in the Minsk Package of measures. The SMM is yet to receive the full information requested in the 16 October notification. (See SMM Daily Report 13 December 2015.)

The SMM revisited locations beyond the respective withdrawal lines known to the SMM as heavy weapons holding areas, even though they did not comply with the specific criteria set out in the 16 October notification.

In government-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM revisited six such holding areas and observed: 17 towed anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm); six howitzers (2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm) and 15 multiple launch rocket systems (BM-21 Grad, 122mm). One such area – where the SMM had previously observed 31 tanks (T-64) – was found abandoned for the first time.

The SMM observed two self-propelled howitzers without barrels on stationary trucks near government-controlled Artemivsk (67km north-east of Donetsk), in violation of the respective withdrawal lines.

Beyond withdrawal lines and outside holding areas, the SMM observed a self-propelled howitzer (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) stationary near “LPR”-controlled Uspenka (23km south of Luhansk). A short time later, the SMM observed that the howitzer was no longer at that location.

The SMM observed the presence of other hardware: six infantry fighting vehicles (BMPs) with three anti-aircraft guns (30mm) near government-controlled Novotoshkivske (53km north-west of Luhansk); two BMPs and two anti-aircraft guns (30mm), also near government-controlled Novotoshkivske (53km north-west of Luhansk).

While observing - from a distance - an event marking the rebuilding of a house following shelling in “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (57km north-east of Donetsk), a senior “DPR” member, accompanied by armed men and the media, approached the SMM and asked them what they were doing there. He told the SMM that they were rebuilding Debaltseve and nobody was helping them. He told the SMM that its presence there was “irrational”.

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to the water pipeline between “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) and government-controlled Maiorsk (45km north-east of Donetsk). At the site - a prioritized area where demining work is expected to be conducted - the SMM heard a total of three undetermined explosions (one occurring in a government-controlled area, two in “DPR”-controlled areas). The repair team, and “DPR” members carrying out demining, continued and completed their work as planned for the day.

The SMM observed two convoys of 14 trucks each bearing the inscription “Humanitarian Aid from the Russian Federation” and carrying the insignia of the Russian Federation Ministry of Emergency Situations in Luhansk city. The convoy, accompanied by support vehicles (three cars, one minibus carrying no more than four passengers, one refrigerated truck and two ambulances), was escorted by “LPR” members.

“LPR” members stopped and prevented the SMM from travelling towards the border area near Sverdlovsk (61km south-east of Luhansk)*.

The SMM spoke with civilians living in areas near the contact line. Residents (12 women and men between 20-70 years old) in “LPR”-controlled Novooleksandrivka (65km west of Luhansk) told the SMM they had been without any electricity for 18 months and were also without gas supply as a result of damage caused by shelling. They added that, as they have no coal, they use wood from a nearby forest – believed to be mined - for heating.

The head of the sea port administration in Skadovsk (62km south-east of Kherson) and the head of the commercial seaport told the SMM that for the first time since the events of March 2014 in Crimea, and the interruption of trade with Crimea, a cargo ship had arrived at the port on 9 December bringing produce from Turkey. The interlocutors said they expected more ships to dock at the port in the coming days.

In Kyiv the SMM observed a protest of approximately 2,000 people (mostly men, 30-60 years old) against the proposed adoption of a new tax code by the Parliament. Some protestors, many of whom were farmers, carried banners that claimed the proposed tax code changes would damage the farming sector. Hundreds of police and National Guard officers were present. The protest passed off peacefully.

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

*Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to the 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, damaged infrastructure, and the unpredictability of the situation in Donbas. “LPR” members continue to prevent the SMM from monitoring many areas alongside the border in parts of Luhansk region not controlled by the Government.

Denial of access:

• “LPR” members stopped and prevented the SMM from travelling towards the border area near Sverdlovsk (61km south-east of Luhansk).
• “LPR” members stopped the SMM at a checkpoint in “LPR”-controlled Krasnyi Lyman (30km north-west of Luhansk) and prevented its further travel on the grounds that the road ahead towards the bridge leading to government-controlled Trokhizbenka (33km north-west of Luhansk) was mined. The last time the SMM travelled on this road - in October - the road was not mined.
• Two “LPR” members denied the SMM access to the site of the recently damaged television broadcast tower in “LPR”-controlled Rovenky (55km south of Luhansk).
• Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers prevented the SMM from travelling through a checkpoint near government-controlled Heivka (25km north-west of Luhansk).

[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 to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to the fulfilment of its mandate”.

[2] All times in this report refer to Eastern European time.