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

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM noted an increase in ceasefire violations recorded in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period, including more than 600 explosions, of which approximately 400 were recorded by the SMM camera in Shyrokyne. In Luhansk region, the SMM noted an increase in ceasefire violations recorded, including more than 150 explosions, primarily near government-controlled Lobacheve and Stanytsia Luhanska. In government-controlled areas, and in violation of the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM observed four loaded MLRS near Kalynove, four MLRS and one towed howitzer in Makedonivka, and two self-propelled howitzers near Tarasivka. The SMM followed up on reports of shelling and conducted crater analysis on both sides of the contact line in Avdiivka and Sakhanka. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure in government-controlled Shchastia and non-government-controlled Slovianoserbsk and Zolote 5. Its freedom of movement was restricted on seven occasions, five of which were in areas outside government control, near the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge.*

The SMM recorded a higher number of ceasefire violations [1] in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period.

While in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city centre during the night of 18-19 July, the SMM heard 34 undetermined explosions 5-7km north and north-north-west and two undetermined explosions 10-15km north-north-west of its position.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) during the same night, the SMM heard four explosions assessed as outgoing 122mm artillery rounds, 15 explosions assessed as impacts of 120mm mortar rounds, three explosions assessed as outgoing tank rounds, one explosion assessed as a tank round, and 32 undetermined explosions 3-7km west and north-west of its position.

While in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk) during that night, the SMM heard two explosions assessed as impacts of 120mm artillery rounds, eight explosions assessed as impacts of 82mm mortar rounds, four explosions assessed as impacts of recoilless gun (SPG-9) rounds, 12 explosions assessed as impacts of automatic-grenade-launcher rounds, and 19 bursts of heavy-machine gun fire 3-4km south-east of its position.

The SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol), during the night of 18-19 July, recorded 437 explosions the majority of which were assessed as impacts from indirect fire to the north-east and east, at unknown distances and from unknown weapons. The camera also recorded 20 bursts of direct tracer fire from west to east and two from north-west to south-east of its position.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 80 undetermined explosions and one explosion assessed as an impacting round from an unknown weapon and 76 bursts and 133 single shots of small-arms fire 1-5km west-south-west, north-west, and north-north-west of its position.

Positioned in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard six undetermined explosions, four explosions assessed as impacts of 82mm mortar rounds, five bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, and five bursts of small-arms fire 3-5km east-south-east of its position.

Positioned in government-controlled Karlivka (25km north-west of Donetsk), the SMM heard three undetermined explosions from unknown weapon systems and ten bursts of small-arms fire 2km north-west, which it assessed as live-fire training.

On the evening of 18 July, the SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) recorded an exchange of at least 47 82mm mortar rounds between the industrial zone government-controlled Avdiivka and “DPR”-controlled Spartak. The UAV first recorded three explosions assessed as impacts of 82mm mortar rounds along E50 road at Yasynuvata railway station no. 2, 11 explosions assessed as impacts of 82mm mortar rounds in and around the industrial zone in the south-eastern corner of Avdiivka, two more explosions assessed as impacts of 82mm mortar rounds again along E50 road, and five explosions assessed as outgoing 82mm mortar rounds from Spartak area. The UAV then recorded two more explosions assessed as 82mm mortar round impacts south-west of Yasynuvata railway station no. 2. Approximately 30 minutes later, the UAV recorded four explosions assessed as impacts of 82mm mortar rounds near and on a large, fenced-in industrial building on the northern edge of the industrial zone. Finally, the UAV recorded 20 more explosions assessed as 82mm mortar impacts in the industrial zone, leading up to the E50 road.

In Luhansk region, the SMM also recorded a higher number of ceasefire violations than during the previous reporting period.

During the night of 18-19 July, while in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM heard 72 undetermined explosions and continuous fire over the course of almost three hours, assessed as small arms and 30mm or 23mm cannon rounds 3-5km south-south-west. The SMM saw machine-gun fire assessed as an exchange as determined by tracer rounds from the area of the broken railway bridge to the south-west towards non-government-controlled areas and from the south towards the same bridge towards government-controlled areas.

Positioned in government-controlled Lobacheve (17km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 87 explosions in less than 30 minutes after midday 8-10km south-south-west of its position.

The SMM followed up on reports of shelling and conducted crater analysis. According to information from the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), Voda Donbassa water company, and DTEK electric company, the electric power lines near “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) were damaged due to shelling, causing the local water filtration station to stop operating as of 04:00 on 19 July. According to the electric company, the damaged power line is the main line between Makiivka-Yasynuvata-Avdiivka that supplies Avdiivka city, Avdiivka coke plant, and the Donetsk water filtration station. According to the water company, Avdiivka; the Avdiivka coke plant; and 50 per cent of Yasynuvata, Krasni Partizan, Verkhnotoretske, and the surrounding villages are without potable water, with approximately 40,000 people affected by the water shortage.

In government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north-west of Donetsk), the Ukrainian Armed Forces JCCC officer informed the SMM about two homes that had been damaged by alleged shelling on 18 July and a man who had reportedly received non-fatal shrapnel wounds. The local police confirmed this report and the chief surgeon at the Avdiivka hospital said that the patient had received multiple small, but deeply embedded shrapnel wounds to the back.

Approximately 200 metres north of the checkpoint in “DPR”-controlled Sakhanka (24km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM observed two craters. The first was assessed as caused by a projectile fired from a north-north-westerly direction. The second was next to the paved road between the checkpoint and Sakhanka and assessed as caused by a projectile fired from a north-north-westerly direction. Approximately 1-2km from the checkpoint, the SMM observed three additional craters, two of which were not analysed due to security reasons as they were located in a field. The third crater was assessed to have been caused by a projectile fired from a westerly direction.

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

In violation of the respective withdrawal lines in government-controlled Kalynove (formerly Kalinine, 65km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM observed four loaded multiple-launch rocket systems (BM-21 Grad, 120mm) at an agricultural compound 500 metres south of the east-west road running through the village. These MLRS were seen 2.5km away from another compound near the same village where the SMM had previously seen 323 MLRS rockets stored (see SMM Daily Report 15 July 2016). Near government-controlled Makedonivka (16km north of Mariupol), the SMM observed four MLRS (BM-21 Grad, 120mm) and one towed howitzer (D-20, 152mm). An SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted two self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) near government-controlled Tarasivka (43km north-west of Donetsk) on 18 July.

Beyond the respective withdrawal lines, but outside assigned areas, the SMM observed six towed anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) in government-controlled Kalynove (formerly Kalinine, 65km south-west of Donetsk).

The SMM also observed heavy weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as they are located in areas known to the SMM that do not comply with the criteria set in the 16 October 2015 notification. At Ukrainian Armed Forces areas, the SMM observed six towed anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) and 17 towed howitzers (2A65 Msta-B, 152mm). The SMM noted as missing six towed anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) and four towed howitzers (2A65 Msta-B, 152mm) that were previously recorded in these areas.

The SMM observed tracks of armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. In “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM observed fresh tracks of armoured personnel carriers (assessed as BMPs or MT-LBs) on the road leading to Novohryhorivka (“DPR"-controlled, 61km north-east of Donetsk).

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure. At a power plant near government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk), the SMM observed dredging of debris from the river bank near the plant. In “LPR”-controlled Slovianoserbsk (28km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM observed construction of a new gas pipeline running from Slovianoserbsk to “LPR”-controlled Pryshyb (34km north-west of Luhansk) and Znamianka (36km north-west of Luhansk). In “LPR”-controlled Zolote 5 (61km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM monitored electrical power line repairs. At the government checkpoint in Maiorsk, the SMM observed six sappers who detonated a mine in a controlled explosion to clear the area for infrastructure repairs. Afterwards, two workers assessed the extent of damage to railway tracks. The demining team and workers informed that the remaining 400 metres of demining and assessment are expected to be completed on 20 July.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation of civilians living near the contact line. The head of the village council in government-controlled Kodema (57km north-east of Donetsk), informed the SMM about drainage from an agricultural waste container into the Kodema river near the village. According to the interlocutor, analysis of the river waters reportedly has shown levels of ammonia 19 times higher than normal. According to the head of the village council, representatives of the Donetsk region civil-military administration and Anti-Terrorism Operation (ATO) and JCCC visited the village on 19 July to assess the situation. The interlocutor emphasized that the pollution might decrease the amount of usable water in both government-controlled and non-government controlled areas, including the city of Horlivka.

The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties. The SMM confirmed a JCCC report of civilians wounded by shelling reported to have occurred overnight on 17-18 July in government-controlled Novomykhailivka (28km south-west of Donetsk). Staff at the hospital in government-controlled Kurakhove (40km west of Donetsk) told the SMM that a 67-year-old male resident of Novomykhailivka and his 35-year-old female relative had been admitted at 03:10 on 18 July. A surgeon said the woman had suffered shrapnel wounds to her chest and shoulder and would likely be discharged later in the week. Another surgeon said that the man had suffered multiple shrapnel wounds to his abdomen and small intestine. The surgeon said he was in serious but stable condition.

The SMM continued to observe queues at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line. The Ukrainian Armed Forces JCCC officer in government-controlled Toretsk (formerly Dzerzhynsk, 43km north of Donetsk) and the head of the border guard unit at the government checkpoint in Zaitseve (60km north-east of Donetsk) told SMM that early in the morning of 18 July, explosions from mortar rounds had set dry wheat and weed fields ablaze in and around government-controlled Maiorsk (45km north-east of Donetsk). As a consequence the government checkpoints at Maiorsk and Zaitseve were closed for about three hours until the fires were eventually extinguished.

*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:

• Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel denied the SMM access to a compound located 3km south-east of government-controlled Makedonivka (16km north of Mariupol) where four MLRS (BM-21 Grad, 120mm) could be seen from outside the gate. The JCCC was informed.

• At 09:44, at the first “LPR” position north of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (16km north-east of Luhansk), armed “LPR” members prevented the SMM from proceeding south from the non-government-controlled areas.

• At 09:55, at the “LPR” checkpoint south of the bridge to government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska, an armed “LPR” member denied the SMM access to the bridge as it did not provide its patrol plan in the Russian language and stamped by the “LPR”. The SMM informed the JCCC.

• At 17:05, at the “LPR” checkpoint south of the bridge to government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska, armed “LPR” members denied the SMM access because it would not provide a patrol plan in the Russian language. The SMM contacted the JCCC again.

• At 17:30, the SMM made a second attempt, also unsuccessful. At 17:50, the SMM made a third attempt which was unsuccessful as well, and at 18:02 it left the area.

Other impediments:

• The global positioning system of an SMM long-range UAV was jammed while flying over government-controlled Romanivka (14km north-west 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.