Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 21 September 2016

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM recorded a higher number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk, including 126 explosions compared with 38 in the previous reporting period. Most of the recorded ceasefire violations occurred in the areas of Svitlodarsk and Yasynuvata. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded six explosions compared with one in the previous reporting period. The SMM continued to observe the presence of weapons in violation of respective withdrawal lines, and the presence of mines near populated areas. The Mission facilitated and monitored repair works to essential infrastructure in Luhansk region. The SMM monitored the situation at schools along the contact line. The Mission monitored three border areas currently not under government control. The SMM encountered restrictions to its freedom of movement, including near the disengagement areas in Zolote and Petrivske. In Odessa, following the resumption of the anti-mayor protest, the SMM observed a demonstration by supporters of the mayor.  

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations[1] in Donetsk region, including three times more explosions (126 compared with 38) than in the previous reporting period. In Svitlodarsk the SMM heard, for the second night in a row, an exchange of artillery and mortar fire.

During the night hours of 20-21 September, whilst in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM heard an exchange, in a sequence starting with five explosions assessed as impacts, of 45 explosions assessed as both impacts of and outgoing mortar (82mm) and artillery (122mm) rounds, all 3-9km south-south-east. In the early morning hours, the SMM heard six undetermined explosions 4-5km south-east of its location.

In the evening hours of 20 September, the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded, within five minutes, ten rocket-assisted projectiles fired from west to east, 1km north-north-west of its location.

The following day, positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM heard, during 75 minutes, 65 undetermined explosions, as well as bursts and shots of heavy-machine gun and small-arms-fire 2-7km west, west-north-west and north-north-west.

In Luhansk region the SMM continued to note a relatively calm situation, with six explosions recorded compared with one during the previous reporting period. At the government checkpoint north of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (16km north east of Luhansk) the SMM heard one undetermined explosion 1km south of its position. While in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk), the SMM heard two undetermined explosions 0.8-1.5km south-east, and three undetermined explosions 8-10km east-south-east of its location.

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, the SMM observed 12 anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) at two Ukrainian Armed Forces compounds – six in Novozhelanne and six in Zhelanne (34 and 36km north-west of Donetsk, respectively). An SMM mini UAV spotted the presence of what was assessed as a self-propelled howitzer (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) south-east of government-controlled Pryovrazhne (19km north-east of Mariupol).

Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside assigned areas the SMM noted ten stationary tanks (T-64) at a training area in “LPR”-controlled Myrne (28km south-west of Luhansk), and one tank (T-64) loaded on a truck trailer south of Luhansk city, heading north.

The SMM revisited a Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent storage site whose location corresponded with the respective withdrawal lines and observed as missing 20 tanks (T-64), including five noted as missing for the first time, and five mortars (2B9M Vasilek, 82mm), as previously noted.

The SMM observed the presence of armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. In government-controlled areas the SMM observed one armoured personnel carrier (APC; BTR-80) mounted with a heavy machine-gun in Dacha (53km north of Donetsk), one armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) near Bakhmutivka (39km north-west of Luhansk), as well as one infantry fighting vehicle (IFV; BMP-1) at the government checkpoint north of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge.

The SMM continued to observe the presence of mines near populated areas. Following up on reports by residents about sea mines being planted along the coastline in government-controlled Pionerske (14km east of Mariupol), the SMM observed stacks of approximately 200 sea mines on the beach on the eastern edge of Pionerske, guarded by Ukrainian Armed Forces officers. The officer-in-charge said that the mines had not been planted into the sea, adding that they were being kept in storage, and that the area was safe for fishing. An armed “LPR” member at a checkpoint south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge told the SMM that at 10:00 in the morning he had heard an explosion caused by the detonation of a mine about 400m north-east of the checkpoint, in the area between the railway bridge and a location of summer houses. He did not report any casualties. Another armed “LPR” member and a civilian separately told the SMM that they had heard an explosion in the area of the bridge at 10:00 in the morning.

The SMM continued to observe queues at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line. On 20 September, at a government checkpoint in Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM noted one hour before the closure of the checkpoint, three vehicles and around 80 pedestrians queuing to enter government-controlled areas, and 84 vehicles and five pedestrians queuing in the opposite direction. At approximately the same time, at another government checkpoint in Marinka - 3km further south-west - the SMM observed 180 vehicles queuing to enter government-controlled areas.

At 09:05, at the government checkpoint north of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, the SMM observed some 250 pedestrians queuing to enter government-controlled areas and 200 pedestrians queuing in the opposite direction. After 90 minutes, the line had reduced to some 150 pedestrians queuing to enter government-controlled areas and 100 pedestrians queuing in the opposite direction. At the “LPR” checkpoint south of the bridge, the SMM observed around 550 pedestrians queuing to walk towards government-controlled areas and none in the other direction.

The SMM facilitated and monitored repairs to essential infrastructure. The SMM monitored from both sides of the contact line, in government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk) and “LPR”-controlled parts of Zolote (61km north-west of Luhansk) adherence to the ceasefire for an assessment of the area to enable repair works to the railway line in this area. The SMM also maintained its presence to facilitate repair works on the well pumping systems near “LPR”-controlled Krasnyi Lyman (30km north-west of Luhansk).

The SMM continued to monitor the situation at schools along the contact line. The SMM visited several schools in “DPR”-controlled Ilovaisk and Amvrosiivka (30 and 56km south-east of Donetsk, respectively). The SMM observed that the schools were functional and noted no damage to the buildings.

The SMM monitored three border areas currently not under government control. At the pedestrian border crossing point Sievernyi (50km south-east of Luhansk) the SMM observed, within 35 minutes, 30 pedestrians entering and 13 others leaving Ukraine. The SMM also noted 33 civilian vehicles (27 with Ukrainian and six with Russian Federation licence plates) parked nearby. At the border crossing point in Dovzhanskyi (85km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed nine closed commercial trucks with Ukrainian licence plates, one tanker truck with Russian Federation licence plates, and four civilian vehicles (three with Ukrainian and one with Russian Federation licence plates) queuing to exit Ukraine, and two closed trucks (Ukrainian licence plates) entering Ukraine, within 25 minutes. At the pedestrian border crossing point in Novoborovytsi (79km south of Luhansk), the SMM observed no movement.

In Odessa the SMM monitored a gathering in support of the Odessa mayor and another against him. Near the city hall, where on 19 September the SMM had monitored the re-establishment of a protest camp against the mayor (see SMM Daily Report 20 September) - the SMM observed, about 20m from where the camp was, some 600 people (men and women between 20-75 years old) many of whom were holding banners and shouting slogans in support of the mayor. Alongside the supporters, the SMM saw also 30-40 people protesting against the mayor. The two groups were separated by a cordon of 25 police officers. The SMM noted 20 members of Azov Civil Corps (between 18-30 years old, including two women) in black outfits, who left the area after a brief appearance. The SMM observed a bus with riot police officers parked nearby and 30 police officers on foot, as well as an additional 20 riot police officers and 25 National Guard officers in front of the entrance to the city hall. The group of supporters left the scene without any incidents. After that, 30 anti-mayor activists, including eight men (between 30-50 years old) in camouflage clothing staged a separate counter-demonstration near the camp. In the afternoon, following media reports on attempts to set up two additional tents, the SMM observed some 150 people present at the square, most anti-mayor activists. Next to them were 50 supporters of the mayor. One of the anti-mayor activists told the SMM that the municipal guards had prevented them from setting up the tents.

*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 a forward position east of Bohdanivka (41km south of Donetsk) Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel denied SMM access to the disengagement area of Petrivske on the road towards “DPR”-controlled Viktorivka (42km south-west of Donetsk), citing security concerns due to possible presence of mines. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer at the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) was present.
• The SMM could not reach the disengagement area in Zolote (60km north-west of Luhansk) from either side of the contact line because its access was blocked by obstacles on the road. At the closed crossing point in government-controlled parts of Zolote the SMM was forced to take a detour in order to cross the contact line as Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel said that they could unblock the road, but there were mines and booby traps. At the closed crossing route between “LPR”-controlled Pervomaisk (58km west of Luhansk) and government-controlled parts of Zolote,  armed “LPR” members told the SMM that the road had not been in use for a long time, and that they were not able to remove the concrete blocks to facilitate SMM movement due to the presence of mines and booby traps. The SMM informed the JCCC.

Other impediments:

• Near “LPR”-controlled Novosvitlivka (16km south-east of Luhansk), two 25-year old men in a silver passenger car aggressively overtook an SMM vehicle forcing it to slow down. The SMM noted a Russian Federation flag flying outside the front window and an “LPR” flag on the dashboard inside the car. After a while the car left. 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.