Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 20 July 2016

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded a similarly high number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period, with violence focused in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata area, northern Donetsk city and Horlivka. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded an increase in the total number of recorded ceasefire violations, all of which occurred around Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, but noted a decrease in the total number of explosions. The SMM followed up on reports of shelling and injuries to civilians in Popasna, Avdiivka and Yasynuvata, and of damage to power lines leading to a water filtration station. It monitored the withdrawal of weapons. The Mission faced a restriction while monitoring a border area not controlled by the Government; its freedom of movement was restricted on four additional occasions, three of which were in areas outside government control.* In Kyiv, the SMM followed up on an explosion in a vehicle that led to the death of a journalist and monitored a demonstration against increases in utility rates.

The number of ceasefire violations[1] recorded in Donetsk region was similar as during the previous reporting period.

Whilst in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) on the night of 19 July, the SMM heard over 240 explosions. Approximately 100 were assessed as impacts of 82 and 120mm mortar and 122 and 152mm artillery rounds, and two assessed as impacts of tank rounds; mainly occurring 3-5km west and 4-6km south-west. Another 110 explosions were assessed as outgoing 152mm artillery rounds 5km north-west of the SMM’s position. The SMM assessed a further 30 explosions as tank rounds 6-7km north-west of its position, occurring over an eight-minute period after midnight.

While in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk) during the same night, the SMM heard 41 explosions, including 22 assessed as outgoing 122mm artillery rounds 5km south-south-west of its position.

From its position in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city centre, again on the night of 19 July, the SMM heard 108 undetermined explosions, mainly 5-7km north-north-east, north and north-north-west of its position.

Over the course of the day on 20 July, positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard over 180 undetermined explosions mainly 2-5km south-west, west and west-north-west of its position.

Before midnight on 19 July, the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded 40 explosions 5-8km north-east of the camera, 24 assessed as impacts and 16 as incoming, all assessed as occurring in areas not controlled by the Government. The camera then recorded nine explosions assessed as impacts in Shyrokyne, near Ukrainian Armed Forces positions.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded a higher number of ceasefire violations than during the previous reporting period; the increase was due to single shots from small-arms fire, while the number of recorded explosions decreased.

In the early morning hours, whilst in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM recorded 15 explosions, ten of which were assessed as outgoing grenade rounds from the north side of the river to the south side of the river; the remaining explosions were undetermined. The SMM also heard over 650 single shots and bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, the majority of which were assessed as originating from government-controlled areas 3-5km south of its position.

The SMM followed up on reports of shelling and injured civilians. On 19 July, in government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk), the SMM observed seven fresh impact sites but was unable to analyse them, as evidence from the sites had been removed. The SMM observed a broken window and traces of blood at one house. Neighbours said that a man in his early sixties and his wife had been hospitalized due to injuries sustained during shelling the previous night. On 20 July, the SMM spoke with two government officials, as well as two doctors from a hospital in Popasna, who confirmed the injuries to the man. A doctor who had treated the man stated that he had undergone surgery for two wounds to his stomach and that his life was not at risk. Separately, the SMM observed a fresh crater in front of a house on 20 July, and assessed that the crater had been caused by a recoilless gun (SPG-9) round fired from a north-easterly direction. The SMM followed up on a third incident in Popasna, when according to a government official two civilians had been injured in an explosion the previous day while trying to cross the contact line at an unofficial crossing route near government-controlled parts of Zolote (60km north-west of Luhansk). The SMM spoke with a doctor at a hospital in government-controlled Lysychansk (75km north-west of Luhansk), who confirmed that the civilians were being treated there after having hit a tripwire connected to an explosive device late in the evening of 19 July. The doctor stated that the woman was in stable condition but the condition of the man was worse.

In government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk), the SMM responded to reports regarding the death of a 19-year-old man who was allegedly shot in the head while in the yard of his house, less than 1km from the contact line. The chief doctor in a hospital in Avdiivka and the chief of police confirmed the man’s death.

In “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM observed a house of which the kitchen roof had been completely destroyed and assessed the damage as having been caused by an 82mm mortar round fired from between a north-westerly and a north-easterly 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 withdrawal lines, the SMM observed a tank near “DPR”-controlled Bezimenne (30km east of Mariupol).

The SMM observed weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage does not comply with the criteria set in the 16 October 2015 notification. At a Ukrainian Armed Forces area, the SMM observed six towed anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm).

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. In government-controlled areas the SMM observed: one command vehicle (BMP-1Ksh) near Nyzhnie (56km north-west of Luhansk) and one infantry fighting vehicle (BMP-2) near Stanytsia Luhanska, as well as an armoured vehicle (Kraz Cougar) mounted with a heavy machine-gun (12.7mm) near Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) and an armoured personnel carrier (APC; BRDM-2) near Staryi Aidar (21km north-west of Luhansk). Near Popasna, the SMM observed eight APCs (two BRDM-2s and six BTR-60s) on 19 July and four APCs (two BRDM-2s and two BTR-60s) on 20 July. In “DPR”-controlled areas, the SMM observed an APC (MTLB) in Bezimenne.

Government officials in Popasna told the SMM that two houses in Zolote were being used by members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces without written approval from the owners. The SMM has observed houses being used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Zolote and a local government official had previously confirmed that soldiers were staying in two houses without the approval of the owners.

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure and demining. The Mission followed up on reports of damage to power lines to a water filtration station between Avdiivka and Yasynuvata with a capacity to provide water to over 450,000 people on both sides of the contact line (see SMM Daily Report 19 July). The SMM spoke with representatives from two electrical companies, who stated that the damage was close to armed positions. The Ukrainian Armed Forces representative at the JCCC told the SMM that the whole of Avdiivka was without electricity.

On the northern outskirts of Horlivka, the SMM facilitated demining work by “DPR” members and observed as two anti-personnel mines were destroyed by controlled explosions.

At the headquarters of the JCCC in government-controlled Soledar (79km north of Donetsk), the new representative of the Russian Federation Armed Forces to the JCCC stated that they could not provide any security guarantees to the SMM. He stated that they were only willing to relay security guarantees from “DPR” and “LPR”, but would not provide guarantees themselves.

The SMM’s freedom of movement was restricted* when monitoring a border area not controlled by the Government. At the border crossing point near “LPR”-controlled Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, 65km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM refused to provide its patrol plan to an armed man who then told the SMM to leave the area immediately. Before departing, the SMM observed 12 vehicles queuing to leave Ukraine (eight with Ukrainian licence plates and four with Russian Federation ones).

On the morning of 20 July, in Kyiv, the SMM heard a loud explosion on Bohdana Khmelnytskoho Street, in the city centre. Later, on the spot, the SMM observed a heavily damaged vehicle which it assessed as having been caused by an explosion and an ensuing fire. According to news reports, the driver of the vehicle was a journalist working for a prominent Ukrainian media outlet. In an official statement, the Kyiv city police department confirmed that a criminal investigation into the intentional murder of the journalist had been launched.

The SMM monitored a public gathering in Kyiv. The SMM observed as approximately 500-700 members of a coal miner’s union (90 per cent men, mostly middle-aged) and activists (60 per cent men, mostly 16-30 years old) from the Azov Civil Corps, demonstrated against increases in utility rates. The demonstrators marched through the city centre and stopped in front of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Presidential Administration and the Ministry of Energy and Coal Mining. The protest remained peaceful and was observed by approximately 50 police officers. The SMM noted the presence of 15 police buses near the Cabinet of Ministers.

*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:

• Approximately 50 metres before the “LPR” checkpoint immediately south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (16km north-east of Luhansk), an armed man told the SMM that it was not allowed to proceed further. The SMM notified the JCCC and was told to attempt to cross the bridge again in 25 minutes. At that time the SMM was again denied access by the armed man.
• An armed man at the “LPR” checkpoint immediately south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, did not allow the SMM to photograph damage caused by fighting from the previous night.
• At a checkpoint in “LPR”-controlled Kalynove (60km west of Luhansk), two armed men refused to allow the SMM to pass. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• Upon arrival at a border crossing point near “LPR”-controlled Voznesenivka, an armed man told the SMM to immediately leave the area. Before the SMM left, the armed man took the names of the SMM patrol members. The SMM contacted the JCCC.
• Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel denied the SMM access to a compound near government-controlled Manhush (25km south-west of Mariupol). The SMM contacted 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. 

* Please see the section at the end of this report entitled “Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to the fulfilment of its mandate”.