Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 23 November 2016

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission recorded multiple rockets in flight in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport area. It continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and was restricted in its movement on three occasions.* The SMM’s freedom of movement was restricted on a further five instances. The SMM monitored three border areas not controlled by the Government. The SMM facilitated and monitored repair works on both sides of the contact line.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, including 359 explosions compared with over 460 in the previous reporting period[1].

While in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk) on the night of 22 November the SMM heard 15 explosions assessed as outgoing tank rounds, 13 explosions assessed as impacts of mortar rounds (120mm), almost 100 explosions assessed as outgoing recoilless-gun fire (SPG-9, 73mm) and infantry fighting vehicle (IFV; BMP-1) cannon (73mm) fire, 66 bursts of automatic cannon fire (either IFV (BMP-2) cannon (30mm) or anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23-2, 23mm), 158 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire and 168 bursts of automatic-grenade-launcher fire 1.5-4km south-east.

During the night of 22-23 November, the SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka recorded 153 undetermined projectiles in flight, almost 100 of which were from north-east to south-west, the rest south-west to north-east in areas 4-6km south-east and east-south-east of the camera. The firing started with 16 projectiles from north-east to south-west. On 23 November the same camera recorded, in an area 4-5km south-east, 31 rockets in flight from south-west to north-east assessed as fired from multiple launch rocket system (MLRS). Positioned in Avdiivka the SMM heard 22 explosions (19 assessed as outgoing, two as mortar round (82mm) impacts, and one undetermined), bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire and shots of small-arms fire 1-5km south and south-south-east.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM heard ten undetermined explosions, heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire 2-8km west-south-west and west.

Positioned on the H-20 highway, 3km south-east of government-controlled Volnovakha (53km south of Donetsk), the SMM heard 65 undetermined explosions at unknown distances south-east.

In Luhansk the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including 59 explosions compared with 27 during the previous reporting period.

The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process and to pursue full access to the disengagement areas of Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk), Zolote (60km west of Luhansk) and Petrivske (41km south of Donetsk), as foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016. The Mission’s access to most of these areas remained restricted. Contrary to the TCG decision, the SMM did not note any signs of the required disengagement or any demining activity in the three areas during the reporting period.

Between the edge of the disengagement area and the Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint north of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge the SMM observed civilian workers putting up mine awareness posters (written in the Ukrainian and English languages).

The SMM arrived at the checkpoint on the government-controlled side of the Zolote disengagement area at 08:54, did not observe any civilians and noted that all booths (five entry and five exit) were staffed. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) told the SMM that the ceremony for the opening of the entry-exit crossing point (EECP) had taken place before the SMM had arrived. Two border guard officers told the SMM that only a few civilians and cars were at the checkpoint at 08:00 but they did not allow them to cross. The border guard officers said they were ready to process exit-entry but had received a letter stating that “LPR” members had not agreed to open the EECP. At the “LPR”-controlled side of the disengagement area the SMM observed 10-15 armed “LPR” members and no civilians. “LPR” members said they had no plans to open the EECP.

Positioned north of “LPR”-controlled Pervomaisk (58km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 30 undetermined explosions 10km north-east, but could not assess if they were within the disengagement area. Later, the SMM heard 25 undetermined explosions 10km south-west of its position (assessed as outside the disengagement area). Positioned in Pervomaisk the SMM heard one undetermined explosion 3km north-west, but was unable to assess if it was within the disengagement area. The SMM observed shrapnel damage to a gazebo in the yard of a house that was about 20m from a checkpoint in an “LPR”-controlled part of Zolote. The owner of the house said that no one was injured. Three residents (two men and a woman) said that they had heard an explosion in the area at about 08:30.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Petrivske, the SMM heard two explosions 10-15km south-west. Positioned in government-controlled Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM heard 22 undetermined explosions at unknown distances south-east and south (assessed as outside of the disengagement area).

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 violation of the respective withdrawal lines the SMM observed two anti-tank guns (100mm, MT-12 Rapira) towed by Ural trucks travelling south-west of government-controlled Spirne (96km north of Donetsk).

Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside assigned areas the SMM observed: two trucks towing anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) near government-controlled Sievierodonetsk (74km north-west of Luhansk); two mortars (2B11, 120mm) on trucks travelling east near government-controlled Smolianynove (61km north-west of Luhansk); two anti-tank guns (D-44, 85mm) towed by Ural trucks south-east of Smolianynove; three mortars (2B11/2S12 or PM38, 120mm) on trucks heading east in an area south-east of government-controlled Oknyne (53km north-west of Luhansk).

The SMM revisited permanent storage sites, whose locations corresponded with the withdrawal lines. In government-controlled areas the SMM observed that 16 tanks (six T-64 and ten T-72) and six mortars (2B9 Vasilek, 82mm) continued to be missing, having last been observed on 31 March 2016. Thirty-one tanks (T-72) - that had been added to the site - continued to be missing, as first observed on 28 October 2016.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles and an anti-aircraft weapon[2] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas the SMM observed: two stationary IFVs (BMP-2) in different parts of Popasna (69km west of Luhansk); two stationary IFVs (BMP-2) in different parts of Stanytsia Luhanska (both outside the disengagement area); one anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) near government-controlled Raihorodka (34km north-west of Luhansk). Aerial surveillance imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of at least three armoured vehicles in government-controlled Verkhnotoretske (23km north-east of Donetsk) and ten armoured vehicles in “LPR”-controlled Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, 50km west of Luhansk) on 22 November. In “DPR”-controlled areas the SMM observed one IFV (BMP) and three armoured personnel carriers (BTR) in a compound near Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk) and four IFVs (three BMP-1 and one BMP-2) in a compound near Sosnivske (35km north-east of Mariupol).

The SMM facilitated and monitored repairs to essential infrastructure, most of them co-ordinated by the JCCC. In “LPR”-controlled Zhovte (17km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM monitored work carried out by a civilian repair team and “LPR” members tasked to demine. The SMM saw the repair team work on the high-voltage electric line and the “LPR” members searched for booby traps and mines. In government-controlled Zolote-Karbonit (60km west of Luhansk) the SMM monitored ongoing pipe repair works by a water company. Near government-controlled Artema (26km north of Luhansk) the SMM monitored a team clearing trees that could encroach on power lines in an area between Artema and the Siverskyi Donets river. On Shchastia bridge (20km north of Luhansk) the SMM facilitated a mine clearance assessment by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Near government-controlled Svitlodarsk the SMM monitored workers from a civilian power supply company assessing damage to a power line ahead of work scheduled to begin in the coming days.

The SMM monitored border areas currently not controlled by the Government. At the Marynivka border crossing point (78km east of Donetsk) armed “DPR” members denied the SMM access to the control area.* Over 40 minutes of monitoring the SMM observed a bus (carrying 20 people) and nine cars with the following licence plates: six Ukrainian, two Russian Federation and one Georgian, entering Ukraine. Seventeen civilian vehicles exited Ukraine: ten with Ukrainian, six with Russian Federation licence plates, and one with “DPR” plates. The driver of the car with the “DPR” plates told the SMM that the Russian Federation guards allowed vehicles with such plates to enter. He also claimed that guards allowed people with “DPR” “passports” to enter. At the Uspenka border crossing point (73km south-east of Donetsk) over 40 minutes of monitoring the SMM observed nine passenger vehicles cross into Ukraine and eight cross in the other direction. At the Ulianivske pedestrian border crossing point (61km south-east of Donetsk) the SMM observed two women with luggage exiting Ukraine.

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:

• The SMM could not travel between government-controlled Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk) and Viktorivka (42km south of Donetsk) as Ukrainian Armed Forces officers of the JCCC told the SMM that mines were still on the road and that they could not assist in ensuring security for the SMM.
• The SMM was not able to travel west from “DPR”-controlled Petrivske (41km south of Donetsk) as an armed “DPR” member did not guarantee the security of the SMM. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• 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 threat of mines. The SMM observed a sign warning of mines on the road and was told by an armed man at the checkpoint that no demining had taken place. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• At the Marynivka border crossing point (78km east of Donetsk) armed “DPR” members denied the SMM access to the control area.
• The SMM could not travel across the bridge in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) in either direction as a Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier and an armed “LPR” member at their respective positions said the bridge was still mined. The SMM informed the JCCC.   
• The SMM was unable to proceed on the road between government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk) and Katerynivka (64km west of Luhansk) after Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel at a checkpoint told the SMM that the road was mined. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers asked the SMM to show passports before entering a heavy weapons holding area. The SMM refused to do so and were denied entry. 

Conditional access:

• On the northern side of “LPR”-controlled Leonove (formerly Chervonyi Zhovten, 82km south of Luhansk), a border area, the SMM was approached by armed “LPR” members in a civilian car who escorted the SMM into the village. At a checkpoint outside the village two armed “LPR” members took the names of SMM monitors. The vehicle continued to escort the SMM until it reached the village.

[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.