Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 7 June 2016

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM observed more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared to the previous day. Luhansk region remained calm with no ceasefire violations recorded. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and noted heavy weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines; it also noted armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. Armed “DPR” members continued to keep the power supply to SMM’s repeater in Donetsk city disconnected, and prevented the SMM from accessing Verkhnoshyrokivske.* The Mission has been working to verify the whereabouts and ensure the safe return of an SMM national staff member missing since 7 June. The SMM observed the situation at the administrative boundary line between Kherson and Crimea.

The SMM observed more ceasefire violations[1] in Donetsk region as compared with the previous reporting period. Whilst in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city centre, during the night hours of 6-7 June, the SMM heard 66 undetermined explosions at locations 3-10km north-north-west, north and north-east of its position. Positioned at the “DPR”-controlled Donetsk central railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk city centre), the SMM heard 105 undetermined explosions at locations 2-8km ranging from west, west-north-west, north-west, north and north-north-east of its position.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 73 undetermined explosions and numerous bursts and single shots of small-arms fire at locations 2-7km ranging from west, west-north-west and north-west of its position.

Whilst in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard 86 undetermined explosions and at least 250 bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, 3-6km east, east-south-east and south-east of its position. The SMM heard three explosions assessed as caused by impact rounds of 82mm mortar 5km south-east of its position.

During night hours of 6-7 June, whilst in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 95 explosions assessed as caused by outgoing mortar rounds and artillery fire at locations 1-8km ranging from west to south-west, 47 explosions assessed as caused by impacts of rounds of 82 and 120mm mortar and 122 and 152mm artillery fire at locations 1-8km south and south-west of its position. In addition, the SMM heard at least 257 shots and 100 bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire 1.5-3km south-west of its position.

In Luhansk region, the SMM noted a calm situation, observing no ceasefire violations.

An SMM national staff member based in Luhansk region has been missing since 7 June. The police were informed. The Mission has been working through all relevant channels to verify his whereabouts and ensure his safe return.

In relation to the implementation of the Addendum to the Package of measures the SMM revisited an “LPR” permanent storage site, on 6 June, and noted that all weapons previously verified as withdrawn to the site were present. The SMM observed as missing 16 tanks (T-72, 125mm) and six mortars (2B9 Vasilek, 82mm) previously verified as withdrawn to Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent storage sites.

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 respective withdrawal lines, the SMM saw one self-propelled howitzer (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) in government-controlled Chervonyi Zhovten (40km north of Luhansk), being moved on a flat-bed truck, heading north-east, and one stationary self-propelled surface-to-air missile system  (9K35 Strela-10, 120mm) near the government-controlled part of Zolote (60km west of Luhansk).

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 locations and observed: 18 towed anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm), 12 multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS; BM-21 Grad, 122mm), 31 tanks (T-64,), and 18 mortars (2B11, 120mm). The SMM noted as missing four self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm), four towed howitzers (2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm), and eight guided anti-tank systems (9K114 Shturm, 134mm), all first observed as missing on 1 March .

The SMM observed the presence of armoured combat vehicles and other hardware in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, the SMM observed three armoured personnel carriers (APC; BTR-60), an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) and one armoured track layer/recovery vehicle (BAT-2) all stationary near Popasna (69km west of Luhansk), one armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) stationary in Novozvanivka (71km west of Luhansk) and one APC (BTR-70) near Raihorodka (33km north-west of Luhansk). In “DPR”-controlled areas, the SMM observed five military-type trucks, one of which was loaded with ammunition boxes, driving on highway H21, approximately 5km south-east of Donetsk city centre.

The SMM continued to observe the presence of unexploded ordnances (UXO). In Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol), the SMM saw three 120mm unexploded mortar rounds  stuck in the ground, about 150 metres north of a school, assessed as having been fired from a westerly direction.

The SMM continued to monitor queues at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line. At the “LPR” checkpoint south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, the SMM observed in the morning hours of 7 June, about 300 civilians waiting to cross the bridge and walk towards government-controlled areas and about 60 civilians in the opposite direction. Later on, at the Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint north of the bridge, the SMM observed 200 civilians waiting to enter government-controlled areas. The SMM did not observe any people waiting to proceed towards non-government-controlled areas. At a government checkpoint near Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk) the SMM observed in the morning hours of 7 June, 380 civilian vehicles lined up to proceed towards government-controlled areas and about 100 vehicles lined up to proceed in the other direction. At the nearby “DPR” checkpoint, the SMM observed more than 360 vehicles lined up to proceed towards government-controlled areas. The SMM did not observe any people waiting to proceed towards non-government-controlled areas. Later on, the SMM observed at the government checkpoint 250 vehicles lined up to enter government-controlled areas and 120 vehicles and at least 60 pedestrians waiting to proceed towards non-government-controlled areas.

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair of essential infrastructure. Near “LPR”-controlled Obozne (19km north of Luhansk) the SMM continued to facilitate and monitor ongoing repair work to an electrical power line.

The SMM monitored a border area not controlled by the Government. At the “LPR”-controlled Dovzhanskyi border crossing point (85km south-east of Luhansk) the SMM observed approximately ten commercial trucks with Ukrainian licence plates, and 11 passenger vehicles (nine with Ukrainian and two with Russian Federation licence plates) lined up to proceed towards the Russian Federation.

The SMM monitored the situation at the administrative boundary line between Kherson region and Crimea at the three crossing points in Kalanchak, Chaplynka and Chonhar (95, 90 and 162km south-east of Kherson, respectively). At the Kalanchak crossing point, the SMM observed 23 civilian cars, all with Ukrainian licence plates, lined up to proceed towards Crimea. At the Chaplynka crossing point, the SMM observed five civilian cars, all with Ukrainian licence plates, and one pedestrian crossing the administrative boundary line towards Crimea. At the Chonhar crossing point, the SMM observed about 30 civilian cars, eight vans, all with Ukrainian licence plates, and some 25 pedestrians waiting to proceed towards Crimea. The SMM observed that the majority of passengers were families with small children. Two members of the civil formation Asker were present in the area of passport and customs check. They told the SMM that they observed the situation at the crossing point. The SMM stayed about 45 minutes at each crossing point and observed that the average waiting time for passengers was about 15 minutes.

*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:

• A “DPR” member at a “DPR” checkpoint in Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, 29km north-east of Mariupol) did not allow the SMM access to the village and told the SMM not to visit this area again. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• Armed “DPR” members continue to keep the power supply to SMM’s repeater in Donetsk city disconnected as they have been since 20 May. As a result, SMM remote monitoring equipment at “DPR”-controlled Oktiabr mine and in government-controlled Avdiivka are disabled (see SMM Daily Report 21 May 2016).

[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.