Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 15 March 2016

The SMM continued to observe ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The SMM monitored border areas not controlled by the Government. It was restricted in its freedom of movement, including at a heavy weapons holding area and at a border crossing point in an area not controlled by the Government. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure. The Mission continued to monitor the situation affecting internally displaced persons. The SMM spoke to organizers of the upcoming Festival of Equality in Lviv.

The SMM observed a slight increase in the number of ceasefire violations on the previous day in Donetsk region[1]. Whilst in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk) between 17:10 and 22:31hrs[2] on 14 March, the SMM heard 115 undetermined explosions and 67 single shots of heavy-machine-gun fire at locations ranging from 2-5km to the north-east, south-south-east and south-west.

From a position at “DPR”-controlled Donetsk central railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk city centre), between 07:55 and 14:30hrs, the SMM heard four undetermined explosions 3-7km north and north-west and one burst of small-arms fire 3-5km north-west of its position.

While in government-controlled Volnovakha (53km south-west of Donetsk), between 15:30 and 16:24hrs the SMM heard at least 50 undetermined explosions at an unknown distance east of its location. From an area approximately 15km north-east of Mariupol, the SMM heard 15 undetermined explosions and bursts of small-arms fire at an unknown distance west-north-west of its location between 10:20 and 10:30hrs. While in government-controlled Sartana (14km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard seven undetermined explosions approximately 5km south-east of its position.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded a number of ceasefire violations all of which were assessed as training exercises. Whilst in “LPR”-controlled Zorynsk (54km south-west of Luhansk) the SMM heard 45 undetermined explosions approximately 15km to the east, in an area outside of the security zone. The SMM also observed live-fire training exercises in areas outside the security zone in government-controlled Spivakivka (61km north-west of Luhansk) and Novoaidar (49km north-west of Luhansk).

In relation to the implementation of the Addendum to the Package of measures, the SMM revisited a Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent storage site and observed all weapons (ten T-64 tanks and four 120mm mortars) were missing. Later a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer from the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) told the SMM that the weapons had been moved last week.

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 observed that seven towed howitzers (D-30, 122mm) previously observed there were absent.

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 locations and observed: 12 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM21 Grad, 122mm); 44 anti-tank guns (38 MT-12 Rapira, 100mm and six T-12, 100mm), including two observed for the first time; 14 mortars (ten 2B11, 120mm, and four 2B9 Vasilek, 82mm, two of which were observed for the first time). Nine anti-tank guns were missing, one (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) since 2 March, six (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) since 20 February and two (T-12, 100mm) since 8 February. Thirty-one Addendum-regulated tanks (T-64) were missing from one area, as noted since 1 March.

In “DPR”-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM revisited such locations and observed six self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) and two towed howitzers (D-30, 122mm). A “DPR” member recorded the name of an SMM monitor at one site*.

In violation of respective withdrawal lines, the SMM observed two tactical surface-to-air missile launchers SA-8 (9K33 Osa, 210mm) in the area of government-controlled Raihorodka (34km north-west of Luhansk).

The SMM conducted crater analysis in areas near the contact line. In the industrial zone in Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk), the SMM observed mortar fins (82mm) protruding out of some of the six fresh craters (two to three days old) that were assessed to have been fired from the south-east. Ten Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers were observed in the vicinity. Near the checkpoint in the “DPR”-controlled part of Zaitseve (50km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM observed five small craters, only one of which was suitable for analysis. The analysis indicated that the projectile was fired from the north-west. Remnants from what was assessed to be a 60mm mortar were found in another crater.

The SMM continued to observe the presence of unmarked mines and noted areas that the sides had marked as mined. In areas controlled by the “DPR” the SMM saw, 2km south of “DPR”-controlled Styla (34km south of Donetsk), three unmarked mines attached to trees, approximately 2-2.5m above the ground. At a “DPR” checkpoint in the vicinity of “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM observed two unmarked anti-tank mines to the side of the road. In “DPR”-controlled Petrivske (23km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM observed several mine warning signs on three roads leading to the contact line alongside fresh tracks from armoured vehicles.

The SMM observed the presence of other hardware: at an “LPR”-controlled checkpoint near government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) the SMM saw one armoured personnel carrier (APC) (BMP-1) and two URAL trucks, one with an anti-aircraft twin-barrelled cannon ZU-23 cannon attached; in “LPR”-controlled areas near a different checkpoint close to government-controlled Shchastia moving north-east, the SMM saw a convoy of two APCs (BTR 70) and four military trucks (one GAZ, three URAL); two BTR-70 carrying soldiers near government-controlled Shchastia; one armoured vehicle (MTLB) and two military-type trucks on the move in “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk); two armoured vehicles (MTLB) heading east on the eastern side of “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city; four APCs (BMP) and three armoured vehicles (BTR) in Donetsk city; aerial surveillance imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of three armoured vehicles near government-controlled Avdiivka and one armoured vehicle near government-controlled Krasnohorivka (21km west of Donetsk). 

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure. At the water filtration station near Yasynuvata the SMM, accompanied by the Russian Federation Armed Forces senior representative at the JCCC and a “DPR” member, met with Voda Donbassa workers who asked for the SMM’s assistance as they cannot work 24/7 because of fighting. The SMM confirmed that the water station is still not functioning. Whilst stationary at that location between 10:31-14:07hrs, the SMM heard ten undetermined explosions in areas 300m to 2km north, north-east, south and west.

The SMM monitored border areas not controlled by the Government. At the Uspenka border crossing point (73km south-east of Donetsk) the SMM observed a queue of at least 60 commercial trucks, 96 civilian vehicles and ten minivans (bearing mainly Ukrainian plate numbers) waiting to cross into the Russian Federation The SMM observed two people crossing at the Ulianivske pedestrian border crossing point (62km south-east of Donetsk). At the Dolzhanskyi border crossing point (84km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed a calm situation with four vehicles (two with Ukrainian plates, two with Russian Federation plates) crossing into the Russian Federation and two civilian vehicles (both with Ukrainian plates) crossing into Ukraine.

In “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) the director and deputy director of the paediatric hospital told the SMM separately that they had shortages of medication and equipment. According to the deputy director, the hospital had received supplies from international non-governmental organizations but these had decreased - or ceased - as some of these organizations had not received “accreditation” to work in “DPR”-controlled areas.

Across Ukraine the SMM continued to monitor the situation affecting internally displaced persons (IDPs). The head of the regional social policy department in Mykolaiv (60km north-west of Kherson) said they were trying to establish the actual number of IDPs living in the region by conducting home visits to verify the presence of IDPs so as to prevent those that were considered falsely registered as IDPs from receiving assistance. The interlocutor emphasized the main problem faced by IDPs was a lack of housing, followed by the lack of adequate employment. Representatives of the Lviv Regional Administration told the SMM that IDPs also faced difficulties in getting housing, stating that Anti-Terrorist Operation participants are generally have priority in housing allocated.

The SMM spoke to organizers of the upcoming Festival of Equality in Lviv on 19-20 March. A representative of Insight Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) told the SMM that organizers have invited people with disabilities, national minorities and women. According to her, after receiving threats the owner of the proposed festival venue has refused to host the event unless the event is supported by the mayor. A Svoboda party representative told the SMM that they are not against the festival but said that the event is provocative and would cause incidents.

In Kyiv, the SMM observed a well-organized gathering of around 7,000 mostly elderly persons (80% women) at Maidan Nezalezhnosti and Zhovtnevyi Palace who did not display banners or make statements. The SMM overheard some say they were paid to be there for two hours, while others told the SMM they did not know what the protest was about. In front of the Parliament building the SMM observed a separate group of 500 protesters (mainly middle-aged men) representing farmer’s trade unions holding banners protesting against the possible non-extension of the moratorium on the sale of agricultural land. Two Members of Parliament addressed the farmers’ protest. Approximately 700 law enforcement officers cordoned off the Parliament. Both events passed off peacefully.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Odessa, 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, and consistently demand to review SMM patrol plans.

Denial of access:

• Armed “DPR” members stopped the SMM in Staromykhailivka (16km west of Donetsk) and ordered them to leave the area.
• Armed men denied the SMM access to a military-style compound in “LPR”-controlled Chornukhyne (65km south-west of Luhansk) that was formerly a prison. In response the SMM informed the JCCC but access was not given.
• Armed “LPR” members denied the SMM access to Sokilnyky (38km north-west of Luhansk) as the “commander” said they did not have the appropriate stamp on their patrol plan. The SMM informed the JCCC but access was not given.

Conditional access:

• A “DPR” member escorted the SMM through the village of Petrivske (23km south-west of Donetsk).
• A “DPR” member recorded the name of an SMM monitor at a heavy weapons holding area.

Delay:

• Armed “DPR” members at a checkpoint on the eastern side of Staromykhailivka delayed the SMM entry to the village for 20 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”.

[2] All times in this report are in Eastern European Time.