Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 18 May 2016

This report is for the general public and the media.

The SMM observed an increased level of violence in Donetsk region and similar levels in Luhansk region compared to the previous day. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and visited border areas not controlled by the Government. It followed up on reports of shelling in Krasnohorivka, and on reports of casualties due to an anti-tank mine explosion near Pavlopil. The SMM also monitored a protest by internally displaced persons in Odessa, and peaceful commemorations of the 1944 deportation of the Crimean Tatars in Kherson region and Kyiv city. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted on two occasions.*

Compared to the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded an increased number of ceasefire violations. [1]

The SMM recorded an increased number of ceasefire violations around Donetsk city and the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata area. During the night/early morning hours of 18 May, the SMM registered 138 undetermined explosions 7-10km north-west of its position in Donetsk city centre. Whilst positioned at the Donetsk central railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk city centre), the SMM heard numerous undetermined explosions and bursts of heavy machine-gun throughout the day, mostly 5-8km north-west, north-north-west, north-north-east and north-east of its position.

In government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), during the evening and night of 17 May, the SMM heard approximately 28 heavy-machine-gun bursts and ten undetermined explosions 5-8km south and south-east of its position.

The recorded violations in the area between government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) and “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) included 15 undetermined explosions within 20 minutes 3-5km west-south-west of the SMM’s position near Yasynuvata in the morning hours of 18 May. During the same period the SMM positioned in Avdiivka heard four impacts of rocket-propelled grenades and recoilless gun (SPG-9) projectiles 2-4km east of its position.

In southern Donetsk region, the SMM heard 96 undetermined explosions 10-15km south-east of its position north of government-controlled Novotroitske (36km south-west of Donetsk) within one hour.

The SMM observed a similarly volatile situation in Luhansk region as on previous days. In the evening/night hours of 17 May, the SMM recorded exchanges of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire and three explosions assessed as caused by 82mm mortar rounds 3-5km south of its location in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk). On 18 May, the SMM heard one explosion assessed as caused by an under-barrel grenade launcher round 400m south-east of its position in the vicinity of the “LPR”- controlled checkpoint at Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. On 18 May within ten minutes, whilst at the government-controlled side of the still-unopened Zolote (60km west  of Luhansk) entry-exit checkpoint, the SMM heard nine undetermined explosions approximately 7-10km south-south-west of its position.

The SMM followed up on reports of shelling in government-controlled Krasnohorivka (21km west of Donetsk). The Ukrainian Armed Forces officer who was present at the site in the Technical School area told the SMM that he had heard three explosions in the early morning hours. The SMM analysed one partly contaminated crater (with footprints seen on one side) and assessed that it had been caused by an 82mm mortar round fired from the east-southeast.

The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties. On the edges of Pavlopil (government-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol), on the western bank of the Kalmius river, the SMM saw the wreckage of a tractor. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer told the SMM that one of the young men driving the tractor had been killed and the second was severely injured and taken to a hospital in government-controlled Mariupol, as they had hit an anti-tank mine while driving on a path near the river bank. The SMM observed no mine hazard signs in the area.

In relation to the implementation of the Addendum to the Package of Measures, the SMM noted in violation of withdrawal lines 11 tanks (T-64) at different stages of repair at two compounds in “LPR”-controlled Luhansk city.

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of heavy weapons as 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 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 notification.

In government-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM revisited such a location and observed five anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) and 11 towed howitzers (Msta-B, 152mm).

The SMM observed the presence of armoured combat vehicles (ACV) and anti-aircraft weapons in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, the SMM observed: an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) mounted on a stationary military truck at a checkpoint near government-controlled Zolote-1 (60km north-west of Luhansk); one armoured personnel carrier (APC, BRDM-2) mounted with an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) at a checkpoint 2km east of Novotoshkivske (53km west of Luhansk); one infantry fighting vehicle (IFV, BTR-60) in Nyzhnie (56km north-west of Luhansk). In “LPR”-controlled areas, the SMM observed some 40 IFVs (20 BMP-1 or BMP-2 and approximately 20 BTR-70 or BTR-80) at various stages of repair at a compound in Luhansk city. On 17 May, the SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted: in government-controlled areas, two IFVs near Novotoshkivske (53km north-west of Luhansk); in “LPR”-controlled areas, 23 ACVs near Stakhanov (50km west of Luhansk), three ACVs near Kalynove (60km west of Luhansk), one ACV near Donetskyi (49km north-west of Luhansk) and one ACV near Zholobok (47km north-west of Luhansk). On 16 May aerial surveillance imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of: six armoured vehicles (AVs) in Donetsk city; 10 AVs in “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk); nine AVs near “DPR”-controlled Yakovlivka (10km north of Donetsk); two AVs south-east of “DPR”-controlled Dokuchaievsk (30km south-west of Donetsk); eight AVs near government-controlled Novotroitske (36km south-west of Donetsk) and four AVs near government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk).

The SMM monitored two border areas not controlled by the Government. At the “LPR”-controlled Izvaryne border crossing point (52km south-east of Luhansk) on 17 May the SMM observed 25 commercial trucks (20 with Ukraine licence plates, three with Belarus licence plates, and two with Russian Federation licence plates) queuing to cross into the Russian Federation. In addition, it noted 41 civilian cars (35 with Ukraine licence plates and six with Russian Federation licence plates) and five buses (all with Ukraine licence plates), waiting to cross to the Russian Federation. The SMM observed one bus, around 20 civilian cars, and 60 pedestrians (men and women of different ages) crossing into the Russian Federation within two hours. The SMM observed around 200 pedestrians (men and women of different ages) entering Ukraine within the same timeframe. The SMM was present in the area for two hours. At the “LPR”-controlled Dolzhanskyi border crossing point (85km south-east of Luhansk) the SMM observed approximately 25 trucks waiting to cross into the Russian Federation.

The SMM facilitated adherence to the ceasefire and monitored repairs of essential infrastructure. The SMM monitored repair work on a high-voltage power line 5km north-east of “LPR”-controlled Pryvitne (11km north of Luhansk). The power line supplies parts of northern Luhansk region on both sides of the contact line.

The SMM monitored a peaceful protest by internally displaced persons (IDPs) in front of the Odessa regional state administration building. On 17 May, SMM observed some 100 IDPs, mostly women with children and also disabled persons in wheel chairs, half of whom were inside the public reception area of the building. According to the IDPs, the purpose of the rally was to address their social grievances, including restoring electricity and water supply to one collective centre, where they said utilities were turned off the previous day. On 18 May, the SMM saw 50 of the same IDPs at the same location. The head of the non-governmental organization All-Ukraine Collegium of People with Restricted Abilities Social Solidarity, which supported the IDPs’ protest, told the SMM that 28 IDPs had spent the night in the building as agreed with a representative of the regional state administration. The SMM observed a stack of wooden pallets at the site to be used to set up a camp outside of the building. An IDP informed SMM that the protest would continue 24/7 both inside and outside the regional state administration building until issues were addressed.

In Kherson region and Kyiv city, the SMM monitored peaceful commemorations marking the “Day of Remembrance for the victims of Crimean Tatar genocide”. In Kherson city the SMM monitored an official event in front of the regional state administration building attended by some 700 people; 20 police officers were present. In Henichesk (172km south-east of Kherson) the SMM monitored a gathering near the district administration building attended by some 400 participants, mainly Crimean Tatars. The SMM noted an extensive police presence of approximately 200 officers patrolling the neighbouring streets. Additionally, some 50 unarmed, masked members of the Asker civil formation dressed in camouflage clothing provided security at the rally. Several officials and community leaders spoke at the rally, including the head of the regional state administration, the head of the Mejlis, and Crimean Tatar activist leaders. Among those in attendance the SMM noted a group of five men in military-type uniforms with green berets carrying a “Chechen Republic of Ichkeria” flag. At an event held near the administrative boundary line crossing point several kilometres south of the village of Chonhar (167km south-east of Kherson) the SMM saw at least 2,000 people and some 500 police officers in attendance. In Kyiv, 50-60 students gathered peacefully in front of Shevchenko University; some of them were dressed in traditional Crimean Tatar clothing. The SMM also monitored a gathering held in front of the Kyiv Opera House. The SMM saw approximately 120 middle aged people, men and women, eight of whom were dressed in Crimean traditional clothing.

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

*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:

• Armed men stopped the SMM at a checkpoint on the eastern edge of Novolaspa (“DPR”-controlled, 50km south of Donetsk) and denied it access to the village in an aggressive manner.

Other impediments:

• On 17 May, the SMM long-range UAV experienced jamming of its Global Positioning System and internal navigation system while flying over “LPR”-controlled Irmino (54km west of Luhansk).

[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.