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

This report is for media and the general public

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared to the previous day. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations compared to the previous day. The SMM followed up on allegations of shelling in an area near the contact line. It observed weapons in the security zone, and noted that weapons were absent from storage sites. The Mission monitored two border areas not controlled by the Government. The SMM monitored a peaceful protest in Odessa.

The SMM observed fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared to the previous day.[1] On the night of 14 April, positioned in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard seven undetermined explosions, 13 automatic-grenade launcher and 16 mortar fire explosions, 15 mortar round impacts, 18 rounds from an infantry fighting vehicle (BMP-1, 73mm) and saw tracer fire and heard bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all at locations 3-9km south-east, south-west and west-south-west.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) on the night of 14 April, the SMM heard 26 explosions (assessed as 82, 120mm mortar and 122mm howitzer) approximately 10km north, saw and heard at least seven BMP-1 and tank fire explosions 3.5-8km south-west, and heard anti-aircraft fire (ZU-23, 23mm) assessed as directed at an unidentified drone 5-6km south-east. The SMM observed that the drone was flying with lights on and travelled east to west and back to the west.

On the evening of 14 April, the Mission monitors heard 24 undetermined explosions, two impacts (of mortar and artillery) and one outgoing mortar 5-10km north-east and north-west of its position in Donetsk city.

Whilst in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard 91 undetermined explosions, 22 mortar fire explosions (13 assessed as 120mm, nine assessed as 82mm), three artillery fire explosions (122mm), observed four artillery airbursts, 12 explosions from infantry fighting vehicle (BMP-2) fire, bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, nine automatic grenade launcher rounds, 16 bursts of recoilless gun-fire (SPG-9, 73mm) all 2.5-4km east or east-south-east of its position.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) the Mission heard 88 undetermined explosions, six bursts of a 30mm cannon or automatic grenade launcher, 15 rounds of automatic grenade launcher and hundreds of bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire 2-4km south-west, west and north-west.

On highway E50, west of “DPR”-controlled Kashtanove (14km north of Donetsk) – located between Avdiivka and Yasynuvata – the SMM was forced to stop for 45 minutes due to an intense exchange of fire, involving multiple explosions (incoming automatic grenade launcher fire and 82mm calibre mortar rounds) and bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, both incoming and outgoing within 3km of its position.* At the nearby water filtration station workers showed the SMM three craters they said were caused by impacts nearly two weeks ago. The monitors assessed they were caused by 82mm mortar, fired from an undetermined direction. The SMM observed that the station continues to be operational 24 hours a day despite intense exchanges of fire.  

From a position at the “DPR”-controlled Donetsk central railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk city centre), the SMM heard 16 undetermined explosions 3-5km north-east and 8-10km north-west and saw one impact 3km north-west of its position.

Whilst north-east of government-controlled Hnutove (20km north-east of Mariupol) the SMM heard seven undetermined explosions at an unknown distance south-east of its position.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations compared to the previous day. Positioned in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk) on the evening of 15 April the SMM heard more than 100 explosions (assessed as an intense exchange of mortar fire) and multiple bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 3-5km south of the SMM’s position. On the night of 14 April, from the same location, the SMM heard - over three distinct 45 minute periods - a total of 22 undetermined explosions (assessed as mortar fire) interspersed with multiple bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 3-5km south in what the SMM assessed was the area of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge.

The SMM followed up on allegations of shelling in an area near the contact line. In Kalynove (58km west of Luhansk) an “LPR” member told the SMM that four “LPR” members had been killed instantly and several had been injured when their truck was hit by two anti-tank guided missiles on the evening of 14 April. At the site the SMM saw body parts, remnants of a destroyed truck and scorch marks in a field. Whilst at the site the SMM heard two impacts approximately 500m west of its position and left the area.

In relation to the implementation of the Addendum to the Package of Measures, the SMM revisited Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent storage sites whose locations corresponded with the withdrawal lines and found one mortar (2BM37, 82mm) and one tank (T-64) absent. The SMM observed also additional weapons, not part of the inventory.

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

Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside storage sites, the SMM observed three tanks (T-64) and one mortar (2B9M Vasilek, 82mm) near a training area in government-controlled Dmytrivka (42km north 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.

In violation of the respective withdrawal lines the SMM saw seven multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS; seven BM-21 Grad, 122mm) and seven self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm), ten towed howitzers (five 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm, and five D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm) in Luhansk city. In government-controlled areas the SMM observed one air defence missile system (9K33 Osa, 210mm) being transported on a truck near government-controlled Sievierodonetsk (75km north-west of Luhansk) moving east.

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 six anti-tank guns (2A29/MT-12 Rapira, 100mm). One area was abandoned, with eight tanks (T-72) absent.

The SMM observed the presence of armoured combat vehicles and anti-aircraft weapons in the security zone: an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) mounted on a Ural flatbed truck near “DPR”-controlled Komsomolske (43km south-east of Donetsk); four armoured tracked vehicles (MT-LB) amongst trees to the west of Komsomolske; two armoured combat vehicles (BTR-80): one near Donetsk central railway station and one near “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata; two armoured personnel carriers (APC; BTR-70) at a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk); two (APC; BTR-70) near government-controlled Voitove (34km north of Luhansk).

A representative of the Ukrainian Border Guard Service in government-controlled Starobilsk (84km north-west of Luhansk) told the SMM there had been a 40 per cent increase in the number of people crossing the Ukraine-Russian Federation border at government-controlled Milove (108km north-east of Luhansk) since the closure of the crossing point at the bridge in Stanytsia Luhanska. The SMM observed that the bridge remained closed and that the “LPR”-controlled part of it was blocked with barbed wire.

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure. The SMM maintained a presence on both sides of the contact line – in “LPR”-controlled Krasnyi Lyman (30km north-west of Luhansk) and in government-controlled Trokhizbenka (33km north-west of Luhansk) – allowing workers to repair water pipes. The work had been ongoing since March and, according to the workers, was completed successfully.

The SMM monitored two border areas not controlled by the Government. At the border crossing point near Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk), the SMM observed 64 civilian vehicles (one with Lithuanian, five with Russian Federation, and 58 with Ukrainian licence plates) and 60 cargo trucks (one with Russian Federation, three with Belarusian, and 56 with Ukrainian licence plates) queuing to enter the Russian Federation. Two male travellers – who said they were going to buy food and resell it in “DPR”-controlled areas – told the SMM that they had been in line for over seven hours and expected to wait four more hours before crossing into the Russian Federation. Several pedestrians who had crossed the border from the Russian Federation said it had taken them 20 minutes to cross. The SMM – in a half-hour period – observed that five trucks, six private cars (all with Ukrainian licence plates) crossed into Ukraine and that seven cars crossed in the opposite direction. At the Ulianivske pedestrian border crossing point (60km south-east of Donetsk) the SMM saw three pedestrians cross on foot while one entered Ukraine in a 40-minute period. They told the SMM that had been visiting family or shopping in the Russian Federation.

In “LPR”-controlled Uralo Kavkaz (45km south-east of Luhansk), four men (between 30 and 65 years old) told the SMM that coal mines are no longer profitable as they could not access their former market in government-controlled areas. According to the men, 20,000 miners had worked in local coal mines before the conflict, which no longer operated. Consequently, unemployment was high in the area, they said.

On 14 and 15 April, the SMM monitored the 15th and 16th days of consecutive peaceful protest against the appointment of the new regional prosecutor in Odessa. On both days the SMM observed a total of 12 protestors (the same people, between 20 and 60 years old, mostly men) in front of the building of the regional prosecutor’s office. On the evening of 15 April the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine announced that the regional prosecutor had been dismissed as according to them he was ineligible for public service under the law of lustration.

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

*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:

• The SMM was forced to stop for 45 minutes on highway E50, west of Kashtanove due to ongoing intense shelling in the vicinity.
• An armed man in “DPR”-controlled Styla (34km south of Donetsk) warned the SMM to leave the area as, according to him, a sniper could target the SMM as a “provocation”. The SMM left the area.
• The SMM, following up on the alleged presence of weapons in the security zone, was denied access by Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers to a military compound near government-controlled Bohdanivka (61km north-east of Mariupol). The SMM informed the JCCC.

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