Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 27 November 2016
The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations between the evenings of 25 and 26 November and fewer ceasefire violations between the evenings of 26 and 27 November, compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM recorded the majority of ceasefire violations in the area north-east of Mariupol and around the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport area. In Luhansk region the SMM observed ceasefire violations between the evenings of 25 and 26 November and the evenings of 26 and 27 November; it had observed none in the previous reporting period. All of the ceasefire violations were recorded in the western part of Luhansk region. The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and faced restrictions of its freedom of movement in all three areas.* It lost contact with a mini unmanned aerial vehicle north-east of Mariupol.* The Mission monitored three border areas not controlled by the Government. The SMM observed a public gathering near the Cabinet of Ministers in Kyiv.
The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region between the evenings of 25 and 26 November, including more than 860 explosions, compared with some 500 explosions during the previous reporting period. More than half of the explosions were recorded in areas north-east of Mariupol and more than one third were recorded in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport area.
The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations between the evenings of 26 and 27 November compared with the previous reporting period, including more than 300 explosions, over one third of which were recorded in areas north-east of Mariupol.
While in Donetsk city centre the SMM heard 79 undetermined explosions on the night of 25 November and 22 undetermined explosions on the evening of 26 November, all 5-8km north-west.
On 26 November the SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) recorded about 30 undetermined explosions 3-8km east-south-east and 69 undetermined projectiles in flight, beginning with one undetermined projectile from north to south, and followed by the aggregated totals of: 27 undetermined projectiles from west to east, 39 from east to west and north-east to south-west, and two from north to south, all 4-5km east-south-east and east-north-east of the camera. From the evening of 26 November until the evening of 27 November the same camera recorded 45 undetermined projectiles (beginning with two from north-east to south-west and followed by aggregated totals of eight in flight from north-east to south-west and west, nine from south to north, 23 from south-west to north-east and three from north to south), 22 indirect rocket-assisted projectiles in flight from north-west to south-east which were assessed as impacting 3-5km south-east, and nine undetermined explosions, all 3-8km south-east and east-south-east of the camera.
During the afternoon of 26 November, the SMM camera at Oktiabr mine (“DPR”-controlled, 9km north-west of Donetsk city centre) recorded 21 undetermined explosions and ten undetermined projectiles in flight from west to east, all 4-5km north-north-east.
Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) for nearly five hours in the morning and early afternoon of 26 November, the SMM heard 48 explosions assessed as impacts of automatic-grenade-launcher rounds 2-3km west and about 150 undetermined explosions and over 450 bursts of small-arms fire, all 1-5km west and north. Over about six hours during the day on 27 November the SMM heard 30 undetermined explosions 2-7km west-south-west and west.
From the evening of 25 November to the evening of 26 November, the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded nine explosions assessed as impacts at an unknown distance north, six undetermined explosions at an unknown distance north-east and three instances of continuous tracer fire from west to east (one of these instances lasting for more than 20 minutes). On 27 November the camera recorded 13 undetermined explosions and 25 rocket-assisted projectiles in flight from south-south-west to north-north-east at an unknown distance north-east.
Positioned 2.6km south-south-east of government-controlled Lomakyne (15km north-east of Mariupol) for 25 minutes on the morning of 26 November, the SMM heard 48 undetermined explosions 3-5km north-west, north, north-east and east. Positioned in government-controlled Lebedynske (16km north-east of Mariupol) for less than 45 minutes on the same morning, the SMM heard at least 50 undetermined explosions 6-8km north and at least 250 explosions assessed as mortar and artillery rounds and nearly 30 minutes of continuous bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire 4-7km north-west and 4-7km north-east.
Positioned 2.5km north-east of government-controlled Hnutove (20km north-east of Mariupol) for just under two hours before and after noon, the SMM heard 12 explosions assessed as outgoing artillery rounds and one undetermined explosion, all 5-7km south-south-west, and saw one airburst assessed as an artillery round 4km south-south-east and four airbursts assessed as mortar rounds 10km south-south-east. Positioned in government-controlled Sopyne (16km north-east of Mariupol) the SMM heard 25 explosions assessed as impacts of mortar rounds 2-4km north-north-east, 19 undetermined explosions at unknown distances east, north-east and north, more than ten minutes of continuous bursts of cannon fire at unknown distances north-north-east, and saw one airburst assessed as an artillery round at an unknown distance north-east.
Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Kulykove (30km north-east of Mariupol) on 27 November the SMM heard 21 undetermined explosions at unknown distances south-south-east and north-west, eight explosions assessed as outgoing 152mm artillery rounds 10km south-south-east and what were assessed to be their impacts at an unknown distance south-south-east, and 28 explosions assessed as outgoing artillery rounds 10km west-south-west and their impacts 7-8km south-south-east.
Positioned in and around Hnutove in the early afternoon the SMM heard 25 undetermined explosions and saw one airburst at unknown distances east and south-east.
Positioned 3km north-north-east of “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk) on 27 November the SMM heard 60 undetermined explosions 3-5km north-west and 8-10km north-north-west over three and a half hours.
Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) for about four hours on 27 November, the SMM heard 29 undetermined explosions 4-6km west and west-south-west.
The SMM recorded ceasefire violations in Luhansk region between the evenings of 25 and 26 November, including six explosions; it had recorded no ceasefire violations during the previous reporting period. From the evening of 26 November to the evening of 27 November the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including one undetermined explosion. All of the ceasefire violations were recorded in western parts of Luhansk region.
Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Veselohorivka (64km west of Luhansk) on 26 November the SMM heard six undetermined explosions 5-10km south-west. Positioned in government-controlled Katerynivka (64km west of Luhansk) the SMM heard one undetermined explosion and 30 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 3-4km south.
The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties.
On 26 November the SMM spoke with an elderly man at a hospital in Donetsk city who said that he had been injured when an unidentified projectile had exploded close to him the previous evening at the western edge of Donetsk city’s Petrivskyi district. Medical staff told the SMM that the man’s injuries were consistent with shrapnel injuries.
In government-controlled Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk) an elderly woman told the SMM that her husband had been injured in a north-eastern part of Marinka on 26 November. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) told the SMM the man had stepped on a booby-trap. Medical staff at a hospital in government-controlled Kurakhove (40km west of Donetsk) told the SMM that a man had just undergone surgery for minor injuries caused by shrapnel.
The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement areas and to pursue full access to the areas near 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’s decision, the SMM did not note any signs of further disengagement or any demining activity in the three areas during the reporting period.
The SMM did not note any signs of disengagement in the Stanytsia Luhanska area. On the morning of 26 November, at about 10:50, the SMM observed a white flare being fired from an “LPR” checkpoint south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. The Russian Federation Representative of the JCCC, who was present on the spot, told the SMM that it was the second flare launched that morning and that it signified the readiness of “LPR” members to begin disengagement. The SMM observed a larger presence of armed men at the checkpoint than normal, as well as the presence of three rocket-propelled grenade launchers at the southern edge of the checkpoint and one heavy-machine gun at the northern edge of the checkpoint. On the northern side of the bridge, a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC told the SMM that they would not commence with disengagement citing ceasefire violations which had taken place two nights earlier (see SMM Daily Report 26 November).
On 26 November, outside of the Zolote-Pervomaisk disengagement area, on the road between “LPR” controlled parts of Zolote and Pervomaisk, the SMM observed a severely damaged civilian car, assessed as having been involved in an accident. The car was positioned close to a Ural truck. Approximately 20 armed men were present at the site. On 27 November in “LPR”-controlled parts of Zolote an armed man told the SMM that one civilian had died in the accident. The SMM observed people crossing from government- to non-government controlled parts of Zolote (outside of the disengagement area), according to an armed “LRP” member, to attend a funeral.
On 27 November, in an area controlled by the Government, the SMM observed eight fresh craters in a field 1km west of government-controlled Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk) near the Petrivske disengagement area which it assessed as caused by 122mm artillery rounds fired from a northerly direction.
The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, in accordance with the Package of Measures and its Addendum, as well as the Memorandum.
In violation of withdrawal lines the SMM observed three self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) near government-controlled Talakivka (17km north-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. In government-controlled areas the SMM observed 11 multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS; BM-21 Grad, 122mm) and noted that one MLRS (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) was missing (as previously noted).
The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles and an anti-aircraft gun in the security zone.[1] On 26 November the SMM observed one stationary infantry fighting vehicle (IFV; BMP-1) near government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska. Near “LPR”-controlled Kalynove-Borshchuvate (61km west of Luhansk) the SMM observed an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) mounted on the back of a truck on 27 November. Aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed seven armoured vehicles near government-controlled parts of Zolote (outside the disengagement area), one armoured vehicle near government-controlled Katerynivka, and one armoured vehicle near “LPR”-controlled Molodizhne (63km north-west of Luhansk), all on 24 November.
On 27 November, near government-controlled Halytsynivka (28km north-west of Donetsk) the SMM observed a red sport utility vehicle driven by Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers. The vehicle had square white stickers with white letters inside blue boxes, in a shape and colour similar to those of the OSCE logo, on the front doors. At the bottom of the sticker the words “Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine” were written in blue letters.
On 26 November representatives from the non-government, non-profit organization People in Need informed the SMM that on 25 November “DPR” members had entered the office of the organization in Donetsk city and sealed their office and the warehouse where humanitarian aid was stored. They told the SMM the organization’s “accreditation” had been “withdrawn” and that all international members of the organization had left “DPR”-controlled areas by the morning of 26 November.
The SMM monitored three border areas currently not under government control in Luhansk region. While present at the Dovzhanskyi (101km south-east of Luhansk) border crossing point for about one hour the SMM observed three commercial trucks exiting Ukraine and one entering. The storage areas of all the trucks were covered. While present at the Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, 65km south-east of Luhansk) border crossing point for one hour the SMM observed three commercial trucks with their storage areas covered exiting Ukraine. The SMM noted a calm situation at the Ulianivske pedestrian border crossing point (61km south-east of Donetsk) while present for more than 30 minutes.
In Kyiv the SMM monitored a public gathering of about 3,500 people near the Cabinet of Ministers in support of a new political movement headed by the former head of the Odessa regional state administration, who addressed the crowd. The gathering remained peaceful.
The SMM observed a series of public gatherings throughout Ukraine, marking Holodomor Remembrance Day, in commemoration of the victims of the 1930s’ famine. The SMM observed some 3,000 people in Kyiv city centre, some 500 people in Kherson city centre, some 250 people in Chernivtsi city centre, about 150 people in the centre of Ivano-Frankivsk city, over 100 people in Odessa city centre, and about 500 people marking the day in Lviv city centre, including a short theatrical play in front of the Russian Federation consulate. All of the events remained peaceful.
The SMM continued monitoring in Kharkiv and Dnipro.
*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 27 November the SMM was unable to proceed towards the railway bridge (inside the disengagement area) south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge due to the presence of a mine hazard sign. “LPR” members told the SMM that they could not guarantee its safety in the adjacent fields and paths on the way towards the bridge. The SMM informed the JCCC.
- On 27 November the presence of an anti-tank obstacle (“Czech hedgehog”) on a road south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge prevented the SMM from proceeding further west from an “LPR” area at the edge of the disengagement area. The SMM informed the JCCC.
- On 26 and 27 November, at an “LPR” checkpoint at the southern edge of the Zolote-Pervomaisk disengagement area, the SMM was not able to access fields and areas off of main roads located in the disengagement area as an armed “LPR” member present did not guarantee the security of the SMM due to the possible presence of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) in those areas. The SMM informed the JCCC.
- On one occasion on 26 November, and on two occasions on 27 November, the SMM was unable to travel on the road between government-controlled settlements of Popasna and Katerynivka (69 and 64km west of Luhansk, respectively) due to the presence of mines and obstacles on the road. On 27 November a Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier told the SMM that he had orders not to allow the SMM to pass. The SMM informed the JCCC.
- On 26 and 27 November, the SMM was not able to travel further west from “DPR”-controlled Petrivske (41km south of Donetsk) as an armed “DPR” member present did not guarantee the security of the SMM and the Russian Federation Armed Forces officer of the JCCC did not assist in ensuring security for the SMM. The SMM informed the JCCC.
- On 27 November, the SMM was unable to travel between government-controlled Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk) and Viktorivka (42km south of Donetsk) as Ukrainian Armed Forces officers of the JCCC warned the SMM of the possible presence of mines on the road.
- On 26 November the SMM could not proceed north from an “LPR”-checkpoint to cross the bridge south of government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) as an “LPR” member present at the checkpoint told the SMM that he could not guarantee the SMM’s safety due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. On 27 November both an “LPR” member and Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel told the SMM that the bridge was still mined. The SMM informed the JCCC.
Other impediments:
- On 27 November the SMM launched a mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near government-controlled Pyshchevyk (25km north-east of Mariupol). Approximately 500m north-north-east of the launch point the operator received several warning messages after which the screen of the ground control station tablet used by the operator went black. The SMM travelled to the point where the UAV was last located and regained a signal from the UAV; the SMM, however, was unable to regain control over the UAV as it continued to fly toward the north-north-east, into an area possibly contaminated by UXO. The SMM lost all contact with the UAV. The SMM informed the JCCC.
[1] This hardware is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.