Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 11 July 2016

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM recorded a similarly high number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared to the previous reporting period, with violence focusing around Donetsk city and the Avdiivka/Yasynuvata area. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations compared to the previous day. It followed up on reports of shelling and conducted crater analysis in Heorhiivka, Marinka, Popasna and Novooleksandrivka. The Mission continued to observe withdrawal of heavy weapons, observing weapons in violation of the withdrawal line and the presence of armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. The SMM faced restrictions to its freedom of movement.* The Mission followed up on reports about an explosion in Kharkiv.

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded a similarly high number of ceasefire violations,[1] including more than 500 explosions.

Positioned at the “DPR”-controlled Donetsk central railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk city centre), the SMM heard 30 undetermined explosions 1.5-8km at locations ranging from west, north, north-north-east and north-east of its position. The SMM heard seven impacting rounds of an undetermined type of weapon 1.5-5km at locations ranging from north, north-north-east and north-east of its position.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 317 undetermined explosions and about 210 shots of small-arms fire at locations ranging from 2-9km west-south-west, west and west-north-west of its position.

Whilst in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 13 explosions assessed as outgoing automatic-grenade launcher and 73mm BMP-1 cannon fire at locations west-south-west 5-6km of its position. The SMM heard 44 explosions assessed as 82 and 120mm mortar round as well as 122 and 152mm artillery round impacts at locations ranging from 4-8km south-south-west, south-west, west and north-west of its position.

Whilst in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 26 explosions at locations ranging from 2-10km north-north-east, east and south-east of its position. The SMM heard four explosions assessed as outgoing 73mm BMP-1 cannon fire and 82mm mortar fire at locations east and south-east 0.4-2km of its position.

During night hours of 10-11 July, the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol), facing north-east recorded one air burst at an undetermined distance. The camera recorded 35 explosions assessed as impacts at locations east-north-east of its position. It recorded exchanges of direct tracer fire, starting with one burst from north-west to south-east, and continuing with one burst from east to west, six bursts from north-west to south-east, four bursts from south to north and three bursts from south-west to north-east.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations compared to the previous reporting period, including more than 550 explosions. Positioned in Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM heard about 450 explosions, both incoming and outgoing, assessed as recoilless-gun (SPG), rocket propelled grenade launcher (RPG) and automatic-grenade-launcher (AGS) fire at locations 3-5km south and south-west of its position.

Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Obozne (18km north of Luhansk), the SMM heard one undetermined explosion at a location 3km north-north-east of its position. Forty-five minutes later the SMM saw an ambulance vehicle arriving. The SMM saw that “LPR” members were transferring another “LPR” member, with injuries to his head and hip, from a stretcher to an ambulance . One person from the ambulance staff told the SMM that the “LPR” member got injured by a mine explosion.

Whilst in “LPR”-controlled Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, 50km west of Luhansk), during the night of 10-11 July, the SMM heard 112 undetermined explosions assessed as 82 and 120mm mortar rounds at locations ranging from 7-20km south-west and west  of its position.

Whilst in “LPR”-controlled Myrne (28km south-west of Luhansk) the SMM heard 27 undetermined explosions at locations 5-10km south and west of its position which it assessed as related to live-fire exercises in the training area in Myrne, outside the security zone.

The SMM followed up on reports of shelling on both sides of the contact line. In Heorhiivka (government-controlled, 26km south-west of Donetsk), in an agricultural field the SMM observed six fresh craters and assessed them as caused by 122mm artillery rounds fired from an easterly direction. One additional fresh crater was assessed as caused by a 152mm self-propelled howitzer round, fired from an easterly direction. In Marinka (government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM observed on Gorki Street damage to an east-south-east-facing wall of a house and shattered windows on the east-south-east-facing side of the house. The SMM assessed the direct impact as caused by a 122mm artillery round fired from an east-south-easterly direction. On the same street, the SMM observed damage to concrete poles in the yard of another house and markings of shrapnel on the west-south-western-facing wall of a barn. The SMM assessed the damage as caused by a 122mm artillery round fired from an east-south-easterly direction. The SMM also observed damage to north-east-facing roofs of several houses located on Karl Marx Street. At five different locations, the SMM saw a total number of seven impacts and assessed them as caused by 30mm rounds fired from a north-easterly direction. At a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint near Popasna (69km west of Luhansk), the SMM saw a fresh crater and remnants of a recoilless-gun (SPG-9) round on the ground and assessed it as fired from an easterly direction. In Novooleksandrivka (65km west of Luhansk), the SMM observed a fresh crater and assessed it as caused by a 122mm artillery round fired from an easterly direction.

At a “DPR” checkpoint on the western edge of Kominternove (“DPR”-controlled, 23km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM observed a fresh crater. The SMM saw a tail fin of an 82mm mortar round near the crater and assessed it as fired from a south-south-westerly direction.

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, in implementation of the Package of Measures and its Addendum, as well as the Minsk Memorandum.

In violation of the respective withdrawal lines the SMM observed four multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS, BM-21 Grad, 122mm) and about 200 rockets  (BM-21 Grad, 122mm),  in government-controlled Ivanivka (59km south-west of Donetsk).

Beyond withdrawal lines, but outside storage sites, the SMM observed in “LPR”-controlled areas: 11 tanks (T-64) in static firing position at the Myrne training area (28km south-west of Luhansk) and six tanks (T-64) involved in an on-going exercise in Uspenka (23km south-west of Luhansk).

The SMM revisited permanent storage sites whose locations corresponded with the withdrawal lines. At an “LPR”-controlled site, the SMM observed that all weapons previously verified as withdrawn to the site were present. It also revisited a “DPR” permanent storage site and noted that all weapons previously verified as withdrawn to the site were present. At Ukrainian Armed Forces sites, the SMM observed 16 tanks (T-72) and six mortars (2B9 Vasilek, 82mm) missing and noted additional weapons (as observed on 31 March 2016).

The SMM observed the presence of armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. In government-controlled areas the SMM saw six stationary infantry fighting vehicles (IFV; BMP-2) in Krymske (42km north-west of Luhansk) with two of them stationary at the main road in a residential area; one Kraz truck with a 12.7mm machine gun mounted on top and four IFVs (BMP), three of them stationary in a residential area in Stanytsia Luhanska; and five stationary IFVs BMP) near Novotoshkivske (53km west of Luhansk).

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure. In Shchastia (government-controlled, 20km north of Luhansk), the SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable workers to conduct maintenance on a water pump within the power plant. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire for repair and maintenance work of the water pipeline located within “LPR”-controlled area of Krasnyi Lyman (30km north-west of Luhansk).

The SMM continued to observe queues at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line. At the southernmost government checkpoint north of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, the SMM observed 300-400 pedestrians queuing to enter government-controlled areas, and no queues in the opposite direction. The SMM observed a tent located south of the checkpoint, where approximately 35 civilians were sitting on benches, taking a rest and cover from the sun. The SMM observed two women (aged between 50 and 60) being transported on a stretcher by the State Emergency Service to government-controlled areas in order to receive medical treatment at the first aid tent at the checkpoint. At the “LPR” checkpoint south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge the SMM observed 25 pedestrians waiting to proceed towards government-controlled areas. At the recently installed first aid tent, near the “LPR” checkpoint, the SMM observed three elderly people standing, as there were no benches. The SMM noted also that no potable water was available.

In Kharkiv the SMM followed up on media reports of an explosion in the city centre, at Chernyshevsky Street. An official from the regional Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed to the SMM that an explosion had occurred at 00:50 on 10 July. According to the interlocutor, a forensics team had investigated and seized fragments of the device, but it had not yet determined its type. No casualties or damage had been reported, according to the interlocutor. The interlocutor said that a criminal investigation had been opened on charges of hooliganism (Article 296 of the Criminal Code).

*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:

• At the “LPR” checkpoint south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, an armed “LPR” member denied the SMM access to the bridge as it did not share its patrol plan.  The SMM informed Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC).

Other impediments:

• The global positioning system of an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle was jammed while flying near “DPR”-controlled Petrivske (41km south of Donetsk).

[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.