Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 6 November 2016

This report is for media and the general public.

In Donetsk region the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations on 5 November compared to the previous day and fewer during the reporting period covering 6 November. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations on 5 November than the previous day and more during the reporting period covering 6 November than on either of the previous two days. The Mission observed damage caused by shelling on both sides of the contact line and followed up on reports of civilian casualties in Donetsk city and Avdiivka. It continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and was restricted in its movement in all three areas.* The SMM monitored the withdrawal of weapons and observed the presence of unexploded ordnance on both sides of the contact line. It monitored a border area currently not under government control.  

The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region on 5 November, with approximately 470 explosions and over 100 projectiles observed compared with 585 explosions in the previous reporting period.[1] Most of these were recorded in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport triangle and around Debaltseve. In the reporting period covering 6 November, the SMM observed fewer ceasefire violations, with over 230 explosions and approximately 130 projectiles, mostly in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport area. 

While in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city centre over the course of 12 hours on the evening and night of 4-5 November, the SMM heard 62 undetermined explosions 5-10km north-west. The SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) recorded 60 undetermined explosions on the evening and night of 4-5 November, and 12 undetermined explosions, six airbursts and three projectiles fired from west to east during the day on 5 November. All explosions on both days were recorded 2-5km south-east of the camera’s location. The SMM camera at the “DPR”-controlled Oktiabr mine (9km north-west of Donetsk) recorded eight airbursts 4-10km north-east and one 8-9km south-east. During the day on 5 November, positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM recorded about 100 undetermined explosions, over 170 bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire and four instances of continuous heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire (nearly ten minutes of continuous fire in total), mainly 1-6km west and west-south-west.

During the night of 5-6 November the SMM did not observe any ceasefire violations in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport triangle. Positioned in Yasynuvata for nearly six hours throughout the morning and early afternoon on 6 November, the SMM heard 32 undetermined explosions and a 40-minute episode of continuous bursts and single shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 2-7km west and west-south-west. Positioned in Avdiivka for 3.5 hours in the morning and early afternoon of 6 November, the SMM heard 44 explosions assessed as outgoing rounds (39 from unknown weapons and five assessed as automatic-grenade-launcher rounds) 4-5km south-east. Beginning in the late afternoon of 6 November, the SMM camera in Avdiivka recorded two projectiles fired from east to west 6-7km south of the camera’s location. During an ensuing exchange the camera recorded 38 undetermined explosions, one airburst, 44 projectiles fired west to east, four projectiles fired north to south, and 71 projectiles fired east to west, all 4-5km east-south-east. Also in the late afternoon, the SMM camera at the Oktiabr mine recorded ten projectiles fired from east to west 2-3km north-east of the camera’s location.

While in “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk) on the night of 4 November and during the day on 5 November, the SMM heard 51 explosions assessed as impacts of 82mm and 120mm mortar rounds and 155 undetermined explosions, all 5-12km north and north-north-west. While in “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve, between 04:00 and 06:30 on the morning of 6 November, the SMM heard 46 undetermined explosions 5-8km north-west.

While in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk) on the evening of 5 November the SMM heard three explosions assessed as mortar rounds of unknown calibre. While in Svitlodarsk the SMM heard 27 undetermined explosions and two explosions assessed as outgoing rounds, all 2-4km south-south-east on the afternoon of 6 November.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Sofiivka (formerly Karlo-Marksove, 40km north-east of Donetsk) for 20 minutes on 5 November, the SMM heard and saw two explosions assessed as impacts of mortar rounds 1-2km south-west.

From the late afternoon through the night of 4-5 November, the SMM camera in government-controlled Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded an exchange of fire which began with seven projectiles assessed as multiple-launch-rocket-system (MLRS) rounds fired from the south-west to the north-east approximately 2km east-north-east of the camera’s position, and four explosions assessed as impacts of MLRS rounds landing in “DPR”-controlled Sakhanka (24km north-east of Mariupol), 4km north-east of the camera’s position. This was followed by 81 rocket-assisted projectiles fired from the south-west to the north-east and four indirect rocket-assisted projectiles fired from east to west, all 2km east-north-east of the camera’s location.

In the late afternoon and early evening of 5 November the SMM camera in Shyrokyne recorded an exchange which began with five explosions assessed as impacts of artillery rounds and ten airbursts assessed as artillery rounds, all 2km north-east of the camera’s location. During an ensuing exchange the camera recorded seven rocket-assisted projectiles assessed as MLRS rounds fired from south-west to north-east and four indirect rocket-assisted projectiles fired from south to north, all 2km north-east; and over 130 bursts of tracer rounds fired from westerly to easterly directions and 38 tracer rounds from easterly to westerly directions, all at unknown distances north-east.

Positioned in government-controlled Lebedynske (16km north-east of Mariupol) for approximately ten minutes on the afternoon of 4 November, the SMM heard 40 undetermined explosions at unknown distances to the north-east and one explosion at an unknown distance to the north-west.

Positioned for 15 minutes 1.5km south-east of government-controlled Lomakyne (15km north-east of Mariupol) later in the afternoon, the SMM heard four explosions assessed as impacts of mortar rounds at unknown distances to the north-north-east.

During the early afternoon of 6 November, in Sakhanka, the SMM heard ten undetermined explosions 1.5-2km south-west and three undetermined explosions 10km north-west.

In Luhansk region, on the evening of 4 November the SMM heard three short series of explosions (five-ten seconds each) assessed as partial, outgoing volleys of MLRS (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) and seven explosions assessed as artillery rounds, as opposed to 13 explosions in the previous reporting period. The explosions on the evening of 4 November were recorded while in “LPR”-controlled Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, 50km west of Luhansk), 5-10km west of the SMM’s position for the MLRS and 15-20km west for the artillery rounds.

The SMM observed an increase in the rate of ceasefire violations on 6 November, including about 430 explosions, mostly in the western part of the Luhansk region. While in Kadiivka on the night of 5-6 November the SMM heard 31 outgoing artillery rounds (3-5km west) and their corresponding impacts (more than 10km south-west) as well as 63 explosions assessed as artillery rounds, 5-10km and at unknown distances in a westerly direction. Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Irmino (54km west of Luhansk) early in the morning of 6 November, the SMM heard ten explosions assessed as impacts of artillery rounds, 66 undetermined explosions, all 10km south-west. Approximately 20-30 minutes later, positioned 1km north-west of “LPR”-controlled Pervomaisk (58km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard more than 200 explosions in one hour, assessed as outgoing rounds and impacts of artillery, mortar and automatic-grenade-launcher rounds 10km west and south-west. Positioned in a government-controlled part Zolote (60km west of Luhansk) later in the afternoon, the SMM heard 21 explosions assessed as artillery rounds 15km south-west.

The SMM followed up on reports of shelling and civilian casualties. A Russian Federation Armed Forces officer at the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) told the SMM that one person had been injured on the morning of 5 November as a result of shelling in Petrovskyi district of Donetsk city. Medical personnel at a hospital in Donetsk city told the SMM that a man had been admitted with shrapnel wounds.

In Avdiivka, medical personnel at a hospital and a law enforcement official separately told the SMM that a man had been hospitalized on the evening of 3 November after suffering shrapnel wounds.

The SMM observed two fresh impact sites on Lenin street in government-controlled Krymske (43km north-west of Luhansk) which had destroyed a barn. A third impact site on a side street was located 2m from an abandoned house. The SMM assessed the three impacts as possibly caused by 82mm mortar rounds fired from an easterly direction. The SMM observed four more fresh impact sites just south of the village. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer at the JCCC and a Ukrainian Armed Forces commander told the SMM that the settlement had been shelled on the night of 2 November. The SMM assessed the impacts as caused by 122mm rounds fired from an easterly direction.

In government-controlled Troitske (69km west of Luhansk) the SMM saw two impact sites approximately 150m from a house at the eastern edge of the settlement assessed as possibly caused by 82mm mortar rounds fired from an easterly direction. The owner of the house told the SMM that the shelling had occurred during the afternoon of 5 November. The SMM observed that the man had a shrapnel wound on his leg. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer at the JCCC and a television crew were present at the site.

In Novooleksandrivka (65km west of Luhansk) a resident told the SMM that on the night of 3 November he had heard five to six grenade explosions near his house. The SMM observed a fresh impact on a road approximately 50m from the house and assessed that it had been caused by an automatic-grenade-launcher round (AGS) fired from a north-easterly direction. Another resident told the SMM that the settlement had been shelled on the morning of 6 November. The SMM observed four fresh impacts 5-50m from a bus stop and assessed them as having been caused by automatic-grenade-launcher rounds (AGS-17) fired from an easterly direction.

The SMM observed several small, fresh impact sites around a checkpoint south of “DPR”-controlled Olenivka (23km south-west of Donetsk).  An armed man told the SMM that the checkpoint had been shelled on the evening of 5 November.

In “DPR”-controlled Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, 23km north-east of Mariupol) the SMM observed a fresh impact site, assessed as caused by an automatic-grenade-launcher round. The impact was approximately 100m from a “DPR” checkpoint and approximately 50m from the nearest house. An armed man told the SMM that the checkpoint had been shelled on the evening of 5 November. The SMM observed shrapnel damage to a barn and water tower which the owner of the property told the SMM had occurred the previous day.

The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process and to pursue full access to the disengagement areas of Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote (60km west of Luhansk) and Petrivske (41km south of Donetsk), as foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas,* but the Mission was able to partially monitor them. It noted no demining or fencing off of mines in any of the areas.

On 5 and 6 November a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer at the JCCC told the SMM that Ukrainian Armed Forces had still not received an order to withdraw from the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. On 5 and 6 November the SMM was unable to proceed from the “LPR” checkpoint south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (16km north-east of Luhansk) toward the railway bridge due to the threat of mines.*

In government-controlled parts of Zolote (60km north-west of Luhansk) a group of residents told the SMM that houses in the settlement had been damaged by shelling on 23, 26 and 30 October. The SMM observed damage to a garage and chicken coop of one house. The SMM observed an unexploded grenade in the yard of the house and assessed it as an automatic-grenade-launcher (AGS-17) round. At another house the SMM observed a fresh impact site in the garden which it assessed it as caused by a rocket-propelled-grenade (RPG-7) round fired from a south-westerly direction. At a third site, the SMM observed shrapnel damage to a wooden gate and electricity metre of a house, and assessed them as caused by an automatic-grenade-launcher (AGS-17) round fired from a south-easterly direction. The impact sites were about 1km outside the disengagement area. On 6 November, positioned between government- and “LPR”-controlled parts of Zolote, the SMM heard a burst of small-arms fire 500m south-east of its position (assessed as outside the disengagement area). On 5 November, while at an “LPR” checkpoint at the edge of the Zolote-Pervomaisk (57km west of Luhansk) disengagement area an “LPR” member told the SMM that the “LPR”-controlled sector of the disengagement area was clear of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). The SMM had not observed any demining activity and continued to observe the presence of mine hazard signs. On 6 November, however, an “LPR” member at the same checkpoint said he could not guarantee the security of the SMM due to the possible presence of mines and UXO in those areas. On 6 November the SMM was prevented from proceeding towards the government-controlled checkpoint near the disengagement area as the road was blocked with concrete blocks, branches and a mine sign.*

In “DPR”-controlled Petrivske (41km south of Donetsk) the SMM observed 11 armed men walking west through the village (outside the disengagement area) on 5 November. On 6 November a “DPR” member told the SMM that no demining activity had taken place in the disengagement area and that he could not provide security guarantees for the SMM to travel west to Viktorivka (42km south-west of Donetsk) due to the potential presence of mines.

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

In government-controlled Andriivka (61km south of Donetsk), beyond the withdrawal lines but outside permanent storage sites, the SMM observed three mortars (120mm) under a tarpaulin.

The SMM observed weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage does not comply with the criteria set out in the 16 October 2015 notification. In a government-controlled area beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM noted one such area remained abandoned, six self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) still missing.

The SMM observed the following armoured combat vehicles in the security zone.[2] In government-controlled areas the SMM observed two armoured personnel carriers (APC) east of Mariupol (102km south of Donetsk), three infantry fighting vehicles (IFV; BMP-2) near Novotoshkivske (53km west of Luhansk), two IFVs (BMP-2) near Krymske (42km north-west of Luhansk), one APC (BRDM-2) near Staryi Aidar and again near Lobacheve (20and 17km north-west of Luhansk, respectively). In areas not controlled by the Government, the SMM observed one IFV (BMP-2) blocking a road and firing 21 30mm cannon rounds in a westerly direction near Bezimenne (30km east of Mariupol) and one IFV (BMP-2) near Staromykhailivka (15km west of Donetsk).

The SMM observed fresh tank tracks (assessed as at least one T-64 and one T-72) from north-east of “DPR”-controlled Zaichenko (26km north-east of Mariupol) to south-west of “DPR”-controlled Nova Tavriia (25km north-east of Mariupol).

The SMM continued to observe the presence of UXO. In Novotoshkivske a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer at the JCCC showed the SMM two unexploded tank shells (125mm) next to a road and 50m from a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint. South of “DPR”-controlled Sakhanka the SMM observed a 120mm mortar tail sticking out of the ground.

The SMM monitored a calm situation while present at a border area currently not under Government control near “DPR”-controlled Novoazovsk (40km east of Mariupol) for approximately 30 minutes.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Chernivtsi and Kyiv.

*Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines, unexploded ordnance, 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:

• On 5 and 6 November the SMM was unable to access secondary routes in the Zolote-Pervomaisk disengagement area (58km west of Luhansk). On 5 November the SMM continued to observe the presence of mine hazard signs and on 6 November an “LPR” member told the SMM that he could not guarantee the safety of the SMM due to possible threat of mines and UXO. The SMM informed the JCCC.      
• The SMM could not proceed from a government-controlled part of Zolote (60km north-west of Luhansk) to the Zolote-Pervomaisk crossing route on 6 November as several concrete blocks obstructed the way, necessitating a detour. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 5 and 6 November, the SMM could not proceed from the “LPR” checkpoint south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (16km north-east of Luhansk) toward the railway bridge due to the presence of a mine hazard sign. The SMM informed the JCCC. 
• On 6 November the SMM could not travel across the bridge south of government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) in either direction as a Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier and an armed “LPR” member told the SMM that the bridge was still mined. On 5 November the SMM twice attempted to travel across the bridge from “LPR” to government-controlled areas but was unable to do so due to the threat of mines. The SMM informed the JCCC.                      
• On 6 November a “DPR” member told the SMM that he could not provide security guarantees for the SMM to travel west to Viktorivka due to the danger of mines. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 5 November, at a checkpoint in government-controlled Katerynivka (69km west of Luhansk), a Ukrainian Armed Forces commander told the SMM that the road towards government-controlled Popasna was mined and he had not received orders to open the road. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 5 November, a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer denied the SMM access to a heavy weapons holding area. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 5 November an IFV firing towards the west blocked the road between “DPR”-controlled Bezimenne (30km east of Mariupol) and “DPR”-controlled Sakhanka (24km north-east of Mariupol), forcing the SMM to turn around and drive back to Bezimenne.
• On 5 November, near government-controlled Andriivka (61km south of Donetsk), a Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier refused to give the SMM access to a compound. After nearly 40 minutes the SMM was allowed to enter the compound on condition that monitors of Russian nationality not be allowed to enter. The SMM observed three pieces of hardware assessed as mortars, covered by a tarpaulin. Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel did not allow the SMM to look under the cover. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 6 November, at a checkpoint in “DPR”-controlled Staromykhailivka, an armed man did not allow the SMM to travel west. The SMM informed the JCCC.

Delay:

• On 6 November the SMM was stopped by a member of the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the western entrance of Slavne (26km south-west of Donetsk) and told to wait until the unit commander arrived. The SMM spoke with the unit commander upon his arrival and was allowed to proceed after having waited for approximately 40 minutes.

[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.

[2] This hardware is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.