Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 26 April 2016

This report is for media and the general public.

In Donetsk region, the SMM observed a high level of violence, with more than 600 explosions recorded. In particular, the SMM noted a considerable increase of violence in the Yasynuvata area, with some 450 explosions recorded. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded ceasefire violations in the area of Stanytsia Luhanska on the night of 25 April. SMM noted a number of weapons missing from permanent storage sites and holding areas. It observed long queues at checkpoints along the contact line. Its freedom of movement was restricted on two occasions, in areas not controlled by the Government.* The SMM followed up on an explosion at a bank in Odessa.

The SMM continued to observe a high number of ceasefire violations, with more than 600 explosions, in Donetsk region.[1] Whilst at “DPR”-controlled Donetsk central railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk) the SMM heard 126 undetermined explosions, heard and saw four undetermined explosions, and heard 100 bursts and ten single shots of small arms fire 3-10km north-north-east, south, west-south-west, south-west, west and north-west of its position. In Donetsk city centre, in the evening hours of 25 April, the SMM heard seven undetermined explosions 7-10km west-north-west of its position.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard more than 450 undetermined explosions, 100 single shots and several bursts of light-machine-gun and small-arms fire 2-7km west and west-south-west of its position, with 95 of the explosions heard within a period of one hour.

In the evening hours of 25 April, positioned in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 243 explosions assessed as automatic grenade launcher impacts, more than 21 undetermined explosions assessed as recoilless gun (SPG-9, 73mm) fire, rocket propelled grenade launchers (RPG-7) and infantry fighting vehicle (BMP-1) fire, two mortar (82 mm) impacts, and 101 bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small arms fire 2-4km north-east, south-south-east, and south-west of its position.

While stationary in “DPR” controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), in the evening hours of 25 April the SMM heard at least 20 mortar (120mm) impacts south of its position. In the following day, the SMM heard one mortar (120mm) impact and one explosion 6km south-west of its position. Whilst in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard 25 explosions assessed as mortar (120mm and 82mm) rounds, one artillery (122mm) explosion, 28 automatic grenade launcher and heavy machine-gun bursts, as well as bursts of small-arms-fire 1-6km, east, south-east, south-south-east and few bursts of small arms fire south-west and west of its position.

The situation in Luhansk region remained calm during the day with no ceasefire violations recorded by the SMM. However, in the evening hours of 25 April, positioned in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM heard between 21:29 and 22:30 more than 155 mortar explosions (140 outgoing and 15 incoming) at locations 2-4km south-west of its position. The SMM also saw and heard what it assessed as an anti-tank guided missile launched from a north to south direction. Between 22:50 and 02:05, the SMM heard approximately 360 undetermined explosions and continuous bursts of heavy machine-gun and small-arms fire, in the area of the railway bridge, 4km south of its position.

The SMM followed up on allegations of shelling at the “LPR” checkpoint at government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. The SMM saw four fresh impacts on a road south of the checkpoint, which the SMM assessed to have been caused by grenades (30mm) but was not able to determine the direction of fire.

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 observed that five mortars (one 2B9, 82mm, and four 2B11, 120mm) were missing.  

The SMM revisited a permanent storage site in “LPR”-controlled areas whose locations corresponded with the withdrawal lines and observed that all weapons previously verified as withdrawn there were present.

The SMM revisited permanent storage sites in “DPR”-controlled areas whose locations corresponded with the withdrawal lines and observed that eight tanks (four T-64 and four T-72) were missing from one of those sites.

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 saw 12 tanks (T-64) at a training ground in “LPR”-controlled Uspenka (23km south-west of Luhansk) and 30 tanks at a training ground in “LPR”-controlled Kruhlyk (32km 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.

In violation of the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM observed: 11 anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) in “DPR”-controlled Zelene (28km east of Donetsk); seven multiple launch rocket system (MLRS; BM-21 Grad, 122mm), seven self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm), and ten towed howitzers (five 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm, and five D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm) in Luhansk city.

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: 18 towed howitzers (D-20, 152mm); 18 self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm); 30 Addendum-regulated tanks (T-64). It also noted that one of those areas was abandoned and eight tanks (T-72) were again absent.

In “DPR”-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM revisited such a location and observed six MLRS (BM-21 Grad, 122mm).

The SMM observed the presence of armoured combat vehicles and an anti-aircraft weapon in the security zone. The SMM observed two infantry fighting vehicles (BMP-1) and an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) mounted on a military-type truck, stationary near an “LPR” checkpoint across the bridge south of government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk).

The SMM observed demining activities and the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO). The deputy head of the military-civilian administration of government-controlled Popasna district (70km west of Luhansk) told the SMM that, in response to information provided by the SMM on concerns raised by civilians in the area, authorities in Popasna had demined a cemetery for the upcoming Orthodox Easter holidays. At a checkpoint in “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM observed three men in military-type uniform in the field who the SMM assessed were checking for mines. Later in the day, the SMM returned and observed that the area had been marked with red–and-white plastic tape. The SMM observed two pieces of rocket-type UXO in residential areas in Debaltseve.

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure. While monitoring planned gas pipeline repairs in government-controlled Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM patrol in Marinka heard three rounds of sniper fire 1-2km east-south-east of its position. The director of the gas pipeline company, present at the site, cancelled the repair works and the workers left the area after having worked for half an hour.

The SMM continued to monitor long queues at entry-exit checkpoints near the contact line. At a checkpoint near government-controlled Marinka, the SMM observed a line of some 400 civilian vehicles and 200 pedestrians, queuing to travel towards government-controlled areas, while no civilian vehicles were waiting in the opposite direction. At a government-controlled checkpoint in Pyshchevyk (25km north-east of Mariupol) the SMM observed 45 civilian cars waiting in line to travel towards “DPR”-controlled areas and 120 civilian cars waiting to travel in the opposite direction. Civilians waiting to travel towards government-controlled areas informed the SMM that the waiting time was five hours at the “DPR” checkpoint in “DPR”-controlled Oktiabr (29km north-east of Mariupol) and two hours at the government-controlled checkpoint in Pyshchevyk.

The SMM continued to follow up on the shutting down of gas supply in “LPR”-controlled Pervomaisk (57km west of Luhansk) (see Daily Report of 25 April). A “deputy mayor” in “LPR”-controlled Stakhanov (50km west of Luhansk) told the SMM that approximately 20,000 inhabitants were affected by the shutting down of gas supply in Pervomaisk, including in “LPR”-controlled Molodizhne (62km west of Luhansk).

On 25 April the SMM met with the female director of the Russian Language School no. 45 in Lviv, who said that after the start of the conflict there was a discontinuation of study trips for students and professional development training courses for teachers to the Russian Federation, as well as participation of Russian Federation students in the International Pushkin prize in Ukraine. The director said to the SMM that parents were sending their children in other countries for training courses.

Police in Odessa confirmed to the SMM that an explosion at approximately 23:25 on 25 April at the premises of a bank appeared to have been caused by a rocket propelled grenade. Police said they were investigating the case as “unlawful use of weapons, armaments or explosive substances”. At the scene of the incident the SMM observed six broken windows and impact damage at the corner of the building.

In Chernivtsi, the SMM met with a volunteer organization providing logistic support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the east, including food, water and personal protective equipment. A 26 year-old soldier on leave told the SMM that basic needs, including drinking water, and also psychological support were often provided by volunteer organizations.

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

*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: 

• Near “LPR”-controlled Veselohorivka (64km west of Luhansk), the SMM observed an “LPR” forward position and 25 armed “LPR” members near the main road to Veselohorivka. The SMM stopped, but two members told the SMM to leave.

Conditional access:

• At a checkpoint in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata, two “DPR” members stopped and then escorted the SMM to the Yasynuvata railway station.

[1] Please see the annexed table for a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, as well as map of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions marked with locations featured in this report.