Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 11 April 2016

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM recorded a higher number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with each of the previous two days. In Luhansk region a low number of ceasefire violations were recorded. The Mission observed live-fire exercises within the security zone. The SMM noted that weapons were absent from storage sites and holding areas. In Luhansk city the SMM observed a number of weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines. It observed craters and other impacts from shelling. The Mission visited one border crossing point in an area not controlled by the Government. It encountered freedom-of-movement restrictions in non-government-controlled areas.* The SMM observed a number of public gatherings in Odessa and Kyiv.

The SMM observed a higher number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with each of the previous two days.[1] Whilst positioned at Donetsk city centre during the night of 10 April, the SMM heard 14 undetermined explosions 7-10km north-west and north-north-west of its position.  Whilst at the Donetsk central railway station (“DPR”-controlled, 6km north-west of Donetsk city centre), during the day, the SMM registered 181 undetermined explosions, 86 shots of small-arms and five bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, and more than 30 bursts of anti-aircraft-gun fire (23mm)  at locations 3-5km north, east, west-north-west, north-west and north-north-west of its location.

Whilst near “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard one impact and 103 undetermined explosions, 44 shots and 40 bursts of small-arms fire, and five bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire at locations 2-5km east, south-west, west, and north-west of its location. Whilst in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north-west of Donetsk), the SMM heard 18 impacts and three bursts of recoilless gun (SPG-9, 73mm), six impacts and 12 shots of automatic-grenade-launcher rounds (AGS 17, 30mm), six impacts of mortar rounds (two 82 and four 120mm), 28 bursts of heavy-machine-gun and 42 bursts of anti-aircraft-gun fire (ZU-23-2, 23mm), two impacts of artillery rounds (one 122 and one 152mm) and 14 bursts of small-arms fire at locations 2.2-8km north-east, east, south-east, south-south-east, south, and south-south-west of its location.

Positioned in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), during the evening of 10 April, the SMM heard at least 25 bursts of small-arms fire, at least 20 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, more than 70 undetermined mortar explosions and five explosions of 120mm mortar rounds, 15 rounds of automatic-grenade-launcher fire, and five outgoing BMP-1 rounds at locations 3-10km south and south-east of its position. During the same time, the SMM heard at least 20 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire (BMP-2, 30mm) 3-4km south-south-west and 60 undetermined mortar explosions at locations 8-10km north-north-west of its position.

Whilst in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) on the evening of 10 April the SMM heard – in less than 90 minutes – 48 mortar  explosions (82mm), saw and heard more than 135 bursts and airbursts of anti-aircraft-gun fire (ZU-23, 23mm),  heard 24 artillery explosions (16 122 and nine 152mm),  saw and heard six explosions caused by anti-tank missiles and over 100 bursts of machine-gun and small-arms fire at locations 2-3 km south-east as well as 4-13km south-west, west and north-west of its location.

Whilst in government-controlled Mariupol (102km south of Donetsk) during the evening of 10 April, the SMM registered 32 undetermined explosions at an unknown distance to the east of its position. Positioned 2km south-east of government-controlled Zelenyi Hai (46km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM heard 24 single shots in two minutes approximately 1km west of its position. According to the JCCC, there were ongoing live-fire exercises at a Ukrainian Armed Forces training area, within the security zone.

In Luhansk region the SMM registered a low number of ceasefire violations, with several assessed as live-fire training exercises. Whilst in “LPR”-controlled Komisarivka (61km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard four shots of small-arms fire 300m south-east of its position. From positions in “LPR”-controlled areas of Orikhivka and Malomykolaivka (32km south and 36km south-west of Luhansk, respectively), the SMM heard five explosions caused by outgoing artillery rounds 5-6km west and two undetermined explosions 1-2km north-east, respectively, assessed as live-fire training exercises in areas outside the security zone. Whilst in government-controlled Zolote-4, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion and saw smoke rising 500m south-south-west of its position, assessed to be caused by an anti-tank mine.

In relation to the implementation of the Addendum to the Package of measures, the SMM revisited permanent storage sites whose locations corresponded with the withdrawal lines. The SMM found one Ukrainian Armed Forces site abandoned and noted that all 14 mortars (eight 2B9 Vasilek, 82mm and six 2B11 Sani, 120mm) were absent. The SMM visited another Ukrainian Armed Forces site and found 16 tanks (ten T-72, six T-64, 125mm) and six mortars (2B9 Vasilek, 82mm) absent, and observed additional weapons for the first time.

In violation of the respective withdrawal lines the SMM observed seven tanks (T-72) in “LPR”-controlled Luhansk city.

In violation of the respective withdrawal lines the SMM unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) observed ten tanks near government-controlled Pravdivka (36km north-west of Donetsk) on 10 April.

Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside storage sites, the SMM observed: one tank (T-64B, 125mm) at a known training range in “LPR”-controlled Kruhlyk (31km south-west of Luhansk), one tank (T-64 Bulat, 125mm) approximately 10km south of Luhansk being towed on road H-21 towards “LPR”-controlled Uspenka (23km south-west of Luhansk), and ten tanks moving in a convoy within a known training area in the vicinity of “LPR”-controlled Myrne (41km south-west of Luhansk).

Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside storage sites, the SMM UAV also spotted ten tanks near government-controlled Prohres (34km north-west of Donets) and three towed artillery pieces near government-controlled Lozuvatske (36km north-west of Donetsk) on 10 April.

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.

In violation of the respective withdrawal lines the SMM observed the following in “LPR”-controlled Luhansk city: two multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS; BM-21 Grad, 122mm), five towed howitzers (2A65 Msta-B, 152mm) and seven self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm).

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 respective withdrawal lines, the SMM revisited such locations and observed 11 self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) and 12 MLRS (BM-21 Grad, 122mm). The SMM observed that six anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) were missing for the first time, in addition to 23 anti-tank guns (22 pieces of 2A29/MT-12 Rapira, 100mm and one T-12, 100mm) from the same site that have been observed as absent since 11 December 2015.

Beyond the respective withdrawal lines the SMM observed 13 self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) and 16 towed howitzers (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm) in Kruhlyk and three self-propelled howitzers in the vicinity of Uspenka.

The SMM observed the presence of other hardware within the security zone. Aerial surveillance imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence on 10 April of two armoured vehicles near government-controlled Slavne (27km south-east of Donetsk) and two armoured vehicles near “DPR”-controlled Olenivka (23km south-west of Donetsk).

The SMM long-range UAV spotted on 10 April: three armoured personnel carriers (APC) near government-controlled Avdiivka, one APC near government-controlled Novhorodske (35km north-east of Donetsk), one APC near government-control Kamianka (18km north of Donetsk), one APC near government-controlled Verkhnotoretske (23km north of Donetsk),  two APCs near “DPR”-controlled Panteleymonivka (26km north-east of Donetsk),  four APCs near “DPR”-controlled Bila Kamianka (52km south of Donetsk).

The SMM observed some marking of mined areas. In government-controlled part of Zolote, the SMM observed six mine hazard signs for the first time near a footpath in the vicinity of a government-controlled checkpoint. The SMM spoke with two local residents who said that the mine signs were recently placed, but that they did not believe the area was mined and would continue to use the path. In Panteleymonivka, the SMM observed five mine signs for the first time, placed every 100m along the main road in front of a military-type compound.

The SMM observed craters and other impacts caused by shelling. The SMM followed up on reports of recent shelling and found two fresh craters both approximately 80cm in diameter near “DPR”-controlled Zaichenko (26km north-east of Mariupol) in the road next to the village bus stop. The SMM assessed that the craters were caused by 120mm mortars that were fired from a westerly direction. In the same village, the SMM observed ten fresh impacts of small-arms fire on the roof and outside on the sides of the walls of a resident’s home, which the SMM assessed as caused by either 5.56 or 12.7mm small-arms fire. Near government-controlled Vodiane (19km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM observed that a road was made impassable by recent heavy damage caused by an explosion, which Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel said was the result of an 82mm mortar hitting four anti-tank mines that were placed close together.

The SMM observed obstacles for civilian freedom of movement at checkpoints along the contact line. The SMM observed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint at the government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk) bridge remained closed. At the “LPR” checkpoint near the bridge, the SMM spoke with “LPR” members who said that 14 civilians had attempted to cross in the morning, but were turned back at the government-controlled side of the bridge. In Zolote, the SMM spoke with a member of the Ukrainian Armed Forces who said that despite civilians seeking to cross the checkpoint daily, he was not authorized to let them through. The SMM observed as one woman tried to cross the checkpoint, but was not allowed through.

The SMM monitored border areas not controlled by the Government. At the Sievernyi border crossing point (50km south-east of Luhansk) the SMM observed 22 civilian vehicles (19 with Ukrainian licence plates, three with Russian Federation plates) parked on the Ukrainian side of the crossing point. Over twenty minutes, the SMM observed 15 pedestrians crossing into the Russian Federation. Armed “LPR” “border guards” told the SMM that the flow of traffic had increased over the last several days, “…as a result of the closure of the civilian crossing point at the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge”.

The SMM observed a number of public gatherings. On 9 April in Kyiv the SMM observed approximately up to 20 pro-Maidan protestors (mostly men) in front of the Presidential Administration building. The building was cordoned off and 15 police and National Guard officers dressed in partial riot gear stood behind barricades in front of the building, with another 30 police and National Guard officers positioned behind the cordon. Police cars were parked in front of the main entrance and on the access roads leading to the building. The demonstration was peaceful and ended when a representative of the Presidential Administration announced to the protestors that an investigation would be launched into some of their claims including corruption charges related to the regional prosecutor in Odessa, and a that follow-up meeting with their representatives and President Poroshenko would take place within two weeks. In Odessa, the SMM observed an ongoing pro-Maidan demonstration in front of the regional prosecutor’s office from 9-11 April with up to 150 demonstrators demanding the resignation of the regional prosecutor based on allegations of corruption. On 11 April, an activist told the SMM that they would block the entrance to the building on 12 April if the regional prosecutor would not be removed. The SMM observed three police officers on-site and noted a calm situation.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Kherson, 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’s monitoring is restrained by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines and unexploded ordnance, and by restrictions of its freedom of movement and other impediments – which vary from day to day. The SMM's mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations.

Denial of access:

• At a checkpoint near “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk) an armed man prevented the SMM from continuing to Debaltseve and advised the patrol to use a different route. The SMM notified the JCCC, which was unable to facilitate access.
•  At a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) armed men prevented the SMM from proceeding to the town.
• At the aforementioned checkpoint on the eastern edge of  Yasynuvata armed men stopped the SMM and insisted that a “DPR” escort accompany the SMM further on its patrol. The escort did not arrive, and after 25 minutes the SMM left the area. The JCCC was informed.
• In “LPR”-controlled Komisarivka (61km south-west of Luhansk), armed men prevented the SMM from accessing a former prison, which is currently used as a military-type compound. The SMM informed the JCCC.

Conditional access:

• At a “DPR” checkpoint east of Krasnoarmiiske (33km north-east of Mariupol) armed men demanded that the SMM hand over their OSCE identification cards to “register” their names before passing the checkpoint. The SMM refused to hand over their identification cards, but proceeded to show them. After “DPR” members recorded the names and numbers of each identification card, the SMM was allowed to proceed.
• “DPR” armed men stopped the SMM at a checkpoint near Petrovskyi district (20km south-west of Donetsk city) and demanded to see the patrol members’ identification cards. After “DPR” members recorded the names and numbers of each identification card, the SMM was allowed to proceed.

 

[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”.