Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 16 June 2016

This report is for media and the general public.

In Donetsk region, the SMM observed fewer ceasefire violations during the night of 15 June, as compared to the previous night, while it recorded more ceasefire violations during the daytime of 16 June compared to the previous day. In particular, it noted a sharp increase in the number of ceasefire violations in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata area, with more than 300 explosions. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded a single case of ceasefire violations in Veselohorivka. The Mission conducted crater analysis and observed damage to  residential houses caused by shelling, in Staromykhailivka, Dokuchaievsk, and Holmivskyi. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted on one occasion in a government-controlled area.* In Chernivtsi and Kyiv the SMM monitored peaceful protests.

With about 30 explosions recorded, the SMM observed fewer ceasefire violations[1] during the night of 15 June in Donetsk region,  as compared to the previous night.   It recorded a higher level of violence with more than 310 explosions during the daylight  hours of 16 June  compared to the previous day. In particular, it noted a sharp increase in the number of ceasefire violations recorded in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata area, with more than 300 explosions.

During the night of 15 June, whilst in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 13 explosions assessed as caused by 82mm mortar round (five impacts and eight outgoing rounds) 3-5km east and south-east of its position.

In the early morning, whilst in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 20 explosions, one of which was assessed as an 82mm mortar round impact and 19 as automatic-grenade-launcher round impacts, all 5km west-south-west of its position.

Whilst in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk city centre), the SMM recorded 305 explosions, including 80 explosions in a five-minute period. The vast majority of explosions were recorded in the afternoon at locations ranging from west to north-west 2-5km of the SMM’s position, and they were accompanied by numerous bursts and shots of continuous heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire. Whilst in government-controlled Avdiivka (16km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard five explosions assessed as caused by impacts of automatic-grenade-launcher rounds and eight single shots 3-5km south-east of its position.

In Luhansk region, the SMM observed fewer ceasefire violations compared to the previous day, recording a single case of small-arms fire. Whilst in “LPR”-controlled Veselohorivka (64km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard approximately 200 single shots and 50 bursts of small-arms fire 2km west of its position.

The SMM followed up on reports of shelling. On 15 June, in “DPR”-controlled Staromykhailivka (16km west of Donetsk), the SMM saw three fresh craters in a residential area and assessed them as caused by 152mm artillery rounds fired from a north-north-easterly direction. Near the craters, the SMM observed a completely destroyed concrete building for coal storage, moderate damage to west-facing wall and roof of a house, and two severed trunks of trees. In the same area, the SMM also observed a fresh impact on a west-facing wall of a house, which it assessed as caused by a projectile fired from a westerly direction. Residents told the SMM that they had heard 14 explosions during the night of 14 June.

On 15 June, in “DPR”-controlled Dokuchaievsk (30km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM observed five fresh craters in a residential area and assessed them as caused by 122mm artillery rounds fired from a south-westerly direction. The SMM observed damage to a roof and shattered windows of a house, a completely destroyed entrance at the south-western corner of a house, a completely destroyed south-west facing roof of a building (garage and summer kitchen), an impact in the garden of a house, and an impact in a small ditch 8-10m south of a house. Several residents and owners of those houses told the SMM that shelling had occurred during the night of 14 June.

In “DPR”-controlled Holmivskyi (49km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM observed remnants of  shells with what it assessed as a point detonating fuse with delay action (AF-32 (FDSD2)) in a residential area. The SMM assessed them to have been fired from heavy machine-gun from a northerly direction. The SMM saw minor damage to north-north-west-facing walls and shattered windows facing north of three inhabited houses. Residents said the shelling had occurred on the night of 11 June.

The SMM followed up on reports of injuries to a civilian caused by shelling in government-controlled Krasnohorivka (21km west of Donetsk). The director of a hospital in government-controlled Kurakhove (40km west of Donetsk) told the SMM that a woman (aged 54) had been injured in the heel by shelling during the night of 14 June. The patient confirmed the information to the SMM, adding that she had been evacuated from her balcony by the fire brigade. The SMM saw black burn marks on upper third floor façade of a four-storey apartment where she was said to be living.

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. 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: 12 multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS; BM-21 Grad, 122mm), ten self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm), 36 towed howitzers (18 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm; and 18 2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm), and 12 anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm). The SMM also noted that two sites were abandoned with the following weapons missing: six self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm, first observed missing on 1 April), and four Addendum-regulated mortars (2B9 Vasilek, 82mm, observed missing for the first time).

The SMM observed the presence of armoured combat vehicles and an anti-aircraft weapon in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, the SMM saw one infantry fighting vehicle (BMP-2) near Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk), two armoured personnel carriers (BTR-60 and BTR-4) near Popasna (69km west of Luhansk), and one anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) mounted on a multi-purpose light-armoured towing vehicles (MTLB) near Troitske (69km west of Luhansk).

Beyond the southern edge of Stanytsia Luhanska, Ukrainian Armed Forces and “LPR” continued to hold and reinforce their new positions, established several hundred metres in front of those previously held, in violation of the Minsk Memorandum (see SMM Daily Report 16 June 2016). Both sides said they would not start to dismantle the new positions, about 300m from each other, or withdraw until the other side did so. The SMM continued to facilitate dialogue to reduce tension and to urge the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) to facilitate compliance with the Minsk Memorandum. During the reporting period including the night hours, the SMM did not observe any ceasefire violations in the area.

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure and demining works. In the vicinity of “LPR”-controlled Holubivske (50km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM facilitated and observed repair works on the high voltage cable and demining activities. In government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk), the SMM facilitated and observed repairs to electricity cables systems and collecting unexploded ordnance from water canals.

The SMM continued to monitor queues at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line. At the government checkpoint north of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, the SMM observed 350 pedestrians waiting to enter government-controlled areas and 286 waiting to cross in the opposite direction. At an “LPR” checkpoint south of the bridge, the SMM observed 250 people queuing to cross the bridge towards government-controlled areas. During the morning hours at a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint in government-controlled Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM observed 430 civilian cars, ten buses and at least 200 pedestrians queuing to enter government-controlled areas and 166 civilian cars queuing to cross in the opposite direction. People in the queue informed the SMM that they had been waiting overnight there for the checkpoint to open.

The SMM observed explosive remnants of war (ERW). In “DPR”-controlled Rozsypne (60km east of Donetsk), the SMM observed for the first time three remnants of MLRS rockets (BM-27 Uragan, 220mm) – two stuck on tarmac in a coal storage facility and another in the soil close to a forest. The SMM assessed the rockets as fired from north-north-westerly direction. A resident told the SMM that the former two had been there since February 2015 and the latter had been there since April 2014. On the roadside 50m south-west of a “DPR” checkpoint at the western entrance to Kominternove (23km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM saw empty metal casings emitting smoke. Armed men present told the SMM that few minutes prior to the SMM’s arrival to the spot, sniper shots had hit previously laid anti-tank mines which had not exploded but rather burned. 

The SMM monitored several public gatherings. In Chernivtsi, the SMM observed in front of the regional military headquarters building 20 protesters (men and women of mixed age group) complaining about what they referred to as the automatic prolongation of the contract of their family members and relatives serving in the Anti-Terrorism Operation (ATO). In Kyiv in front of the Presidential Administration building, the SMM saw 65 protestors (all women) – complaining about what they stated was the delay in the return from the ATO of soldiers involved in the fifth wave of mobilization. In front of the Parliament building, the SMM saw 260 people (mostly women) protesting against what they called dubious government tenders involving a railway shipping company. Law enforcement officers were present at all the events, which passed off peacefully.

*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:

• In government-controlled Hranitne (46km north-east of Mariupol), two Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel did not allow the SMM to cross a pedestrian bridge over the Kalmius river further south-east, referring to security concerns, while it observed civilians crossing without interference. The SMM informed the JCCC.

[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.