Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 22 January 2016

This report is for media and the general public

The SMM observed a number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, mainly at and around Donetsk airport and in Marinka. In Luhansk region, the Mission observed ceasefire violations including the use of Addendum-regulated weapons and heavy weapons during live-fire exercises on both sides of the contact line. “DPR” and “LPR” members restricted the SMM’s freedom of movement.* The SMM could reach certain non-government-controlled border areas in Luhansk region for the first time.

The SMM observed the security situation in Donbas. While in “DPR”-controlled Kyivksyi district of Donetsk city, around the remains of Donetsk airport (12km north-west of Donetsk), the SMM heard three undetermined explosions (two of them were assessed to have been caused by artillery) and multiple shots and bursts of small-arms fire at locations 1-9km north-north-west and north-west of its positions.[1] Two residents (a man and a woman, middle-aged) separately told the SMM that they heard the sound of small-arms fire coming from the airport on a daily basis.

In government-controlled Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM heard multiple shots and bursts of small-arms 2km north-east of its position. While in “DPR”-controlled Petrovskyi district of Donetsk city (20km south-west of Donetsk city centre), on the opposite side of Marinka across the contact line, the SMM heard two undetermined explosions 1-4km south and south-west of its position.

From the evening of 21 January to the early morning of 22 January, in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard several bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire at locations 7km south and south-west of its position.

In Luhansk region, the SMM observed ceasefire violations related to live-fire exercises on both sides of the contact line. Near government-controlled Trokhizbenka (33km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM saw continuous shooting of automatic rifles and heard ten outgoing rounds of 120mm mortar – weapons that are restricted in such close proximity to the contact line. On a training ground in “LPR”-controlled Uspenka (23km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM observed several self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) firing at targets.

In Zolote and government-controlled Katerynivka (62km west of Luhansk), several interlocutors including Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel, employees of the Karbonit water supply facility and residents told the SMM that they had heard small-arms or/and grenade launchers fire the previous night in the area.

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside storage sites the SMM observed the following Addendum-regulated weapons: 37 tanks (T-64, T-72) in a training area in “LPR”-controlled Myrne (41km south-west of Luhansk), and seven tanks (T-64, T-72) in a training area in “LPR” Shymshynivka (27km south-west of Luhansk).

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of heavy weapons foreseen in the Minsk Package of Measures. The SMM has yet to receive the full information requested in the 16 October 2015 notification.

The SMM revisited an “LPR” heavy weapons permanent storage site and noted that all weapons previously verified as withdrawn there were present.

The SMM revisited locations known to the SMM as heavy weapons holding areas, even though they do not comply with the specific criteria set out for permanent storage sites in the 16 October 2015 notification.

In government-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM revisited such holding areas and observed: 63 self-propelled howitzers (28 2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm and 35 2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm), 16 anti-tank guns (12 T-12, 100mm and four MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) and 24 multiple launch rocket systems (BM21 Grad, 122mm), six surface-to-air missile systems (9K35 Strela-10, 120mm), ten Addendum-regulated mortars (2B11, 120mm) and three Addendum-regulated anti-tank guns (M-44, 85mm). The SMM also noted that ten Addendum-regulated mortars (2B11 120mm) –  which the SMM had observed on 6 January – were missing from one area (see SMM Daily Report 7 January).

In a “DPR”-controlled area beyond withdrawal lines, the SMM revisited such a holding area and observed that six previously recorded self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) were present.

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside holding areas or storage sites, the SMM observed the following heavy weapons: 14 static self-propelled howitzers (2C1 Gvozdika, 122mm), at a training area in “LPR”-controlled Uspenka (23km south-west of Luhansk).

The SMM monitored the presence of other hardware. It observed three infantry fighting vehicles with mounted 73mm cannons (BMP-1) and a number of “DPR” members in military-style uniform and one military-type truck (Ural) at a firing range in “DPR”- controlled Rozdolne (46km south-east of Donetsk).

For the first time, the SMM visited the following border areas not controlled by the Government in Luhansk region: Vlasivka, Verkhnoharasymivka, Mykyshivka and Korolivka (53, 57, 60 and 61km south-east of Luhansk, respectively). On the way to the area, the SMM noted there was no “LPR” checkpoint between “LPR”-controlled Izvaryne and Krasnodon (54 and 44km south-east of Luhansk, respectively), where the SMM had been repeatedly stopped by armed “LPR” members (see: SMM Daily Report 14 December 2015). Between Verkhnoharasymivka and Vlasivka, the SMM noted a pedestrian border crossing point, which was not staffed by “LPR” members.

The SMM monitored events marking the Day of Unity of Ukraine in several cities. In Kharkiv, some 500 participants (men and women, different age groups) made a “life chain” along the Sumi Street in the city centre, symbolizing the unity of Ukrainians. The SMM observed strong presence of police officers in the city. On Sophia Square in Kyiv, 100 people (men and women, aged 20 to 60) gathered. The SMM did not observe any police presence. In Odessa, the SMM observed a ceremony organized by the city mayor. The SMM noted 60 people (men and women, aged 30-70), some of whom were carrying flags of the Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) Party and the Svoboda Party, and 60 other people (80% women, aged 25-55), at a gathering that was monitored by 12 police officers. All events passed off peacefully.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Kherson, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, 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:

• At a checkpoint between Oktiabr and Kulykove (“DPR”-controlled, 29 and 30km north-east of Mariupol, respectively), armed “DPR” members did not allow the SMM to proceed further to the east, after it had refused to show passports of SMM monitors  and its patrol plan.
• In “LPR”-controlled Pervomaisk (57km west of Luhansk), an armed “LPR” member refused to allow the SMM access to a compound, citing absence of permission from his superiors. The SMM could not follow up on allegations that the compound was storing artillery pieces. 

Conditional access:

• Approximately 1km west of “LPR”-controlled Izvaryne (53km south-east of Luhansk), “LPR” members demanded the SMM to show its patrol plan. After showing it, the SMM was allowed to proceed after 15 minutes.

[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”.