Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 1 December 2016

This report is for the general public and the media.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region the SMM noted a similar number of ceasefire violations as in the previous reporting period. 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.* The Mission followed up on reports of water supply cuts in Luhansk city. It visited one border area currently not under government control. In Kherson region, the SMM monitored the situation on the coast of the Black Sea and at the administrative boundary line between the Ukrainian mainland and Crimea, noting a calm situation.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations[1] in Donetsk region, including some 310 explosions compared with the previous reporting period (including some 150 explosions).

During the night of 30 November, while in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city centre the SMM heard 35 undetermined explosions 8-10km north-west. On the afternoon of 1 December the SMM camera at the “DPR”-controlled Oktiabr mine (9km north-west of Donetsk city centre) recorded nine airbursts 7-10km north-east.

The SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk), just after midnight between 30 November and 1 December, recorded two undetermined projectiles (in sequence: one in flight from north-west to south-east and another in the opposite direction). During the morning the same camera recorded five undetermined explosions and 27 undetermined projectiles (seven in flight from north-west to north-east, two from north-east to south-west, seven fired from north-west to south-east and 11 fired from west to east) beginning with seven undetermined projectiles in flight from north-west to south-east, all 3-5km east-south-east and south-south-east. In the afternoon, the camera recorded three undetermined explosions and eight airbursts at a location 3-6km ranging from east to south-east.  

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) for more than six hours, the SMM heard 44 undetermined explosions 2-7km south-south-west, west-south-west and west. Positioned in Avdiivka for three and a half hours, the SMM heard 24 undetermined explosions 4-6km south-east.

During the night of 30 November while in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM heard 38 undetermined explosions 6-8km west-south-west. During the same night while in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM heard 46 undetermined explosions 5-8km south-east.

Positioned in government-controlled Pivnichne (formerly Kirove, 44km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard one explosion assessed as a 120mm mortar round 5-7km south-east, seven undetermined explosions, 59 bursts and shots of automatic-grenade-launcher fire, and multiple bursts and shots of small-arms fire, mostly 6-8km south-east and south.

Positioned 3km north-west of Lebedynske (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard 58 explosions: two explosions assessed as outgoing rounds from unknown weapons 2km south-south-east; 25 undetermined explosions at an undetermined distance north-west; 12 undetermined explosions 2-3km south-east; and 19 undetermined explosions at an undetermined distance south-east.

Positioned at the eastern edge of “DPR”-controlled Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, 23km north-east of Mariupol) the SMM heard four bursts of small-arms fire 50-100m south-east. Five minutes later the SMM heard three undetermined explosions at an unknown distance south-south-west.

The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region as in the previous reporting period – fewer explosions (six compared with 25 in the previous reporting period) but more bursts and shots (more than 100 compared with 14 in the previous reporting period). Positioned in government-controlled Artema (26km north of Luhansk) the SMM heard two undetermined explosions and 100 bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire 2km south-east. Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Slovianoserbsk (28km north-west of Luhansk) the SMM heard two undetermined explosions 8km south.

The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. At a hospital in Horlivka, the SMM, accompanied by the Russian Federation Armed Forces officer of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) and a “DPR” member, met medical staff, who said that a man (aged 34) suffered shrapnel wounds on his shoulders, back and chest following an explosion the previous evening when working in a field in “DPR”-controlled Holmivskyi (49km north-east of Donetsk).

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. 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. The SMM observed a small fresh crater on an asphalt road 30m north of the southernmost Ukrainian Armed Forces forward position north of the bridge and assessed it as caused by a round from a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG-7) fired from an undetermined direction.

Positioned on the bridge over the railway in the middle of the Zolote-Pervomaisk disengagement area, the SMM observed two armed men wearing winter camouflage clothes walking on the railway lines towards the west.

Positioned in government-controlled Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk) – west of the Petrivske disengagement area – for more than five and a half hours, the SMM heard: one undetermined explosion at an undetermined distance north-north-west, ten single shots of small-arms fire 3-4km south-west, three undetermined explosions at an undetermined distance south, seven single shots of small-arms fire 3-4km south, 17 undetermined explosions, six bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire and more than 50 bursts of small-arms fire at an undetermined distance north-north-west (all ceasefire violations were assessed as outside the disengagement area.) The SMM also heard one explosion assessed as an outgoing round from an unknown weapon at an undetermined distance south-east, and subsequently saw and heard one explosion assessed as its impact 3-4km south-east; the SMM was not able to determine whether it occurred inside the disengagement area.

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 the withdrawal lines the SMM observed five stationary self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) in government-controlled Tarasivka (43km north-west of Donetsk). Aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed on 1 December the presence of a probable multiple-launch rocket system (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) in government-controlled Bohdanivka.

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 government-controlled areas the SMM observed four self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) and noted as missing another 11 (five were noted as missing as of 25 October and six were noted as missing for the first time).

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles and an anti-aircraft weapon in the security zone.[2] In government-controlled areas the SMM observed: three stationary infantry fighting vehicles (IFV; BMP-1) and one IFV (BMP-1) near Stanytsia Luhanska (outside the disengagement area); one armoured personnel carrier (BTR-60) near Zolote (outside the disengagement area); and one IFV (BMP-1) near government-controlled Plotyna (28km north-east of Luhansk). In “LPR”-controlled areas the SMM observed one anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) mounted on a stationary truck near Kalynove-Borshchuvate (61km west of Luhansk).

The SMM followed up on media reports of cuts to water supply in Luhansk city. An employee of a water company in government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk) told the SMM that the Luhansk Electrical Association had sealed water pumps in government-controlled Petrivske (87km north of Luhansk) at 11:00 due to unpaid debts for electricity charges. The head of a water pumping station in Petrivske informed the SMM that the water supply from the pumping station to Luhansk city had been totally stopped at 12:00. An employee of a water company operating in “LPR”-controlled areas confirmed the interruption of the water supply, adding that some areas of Luhansk city would be supplied with water in accordance with a reduced timetable.

The SMM monitored repairs to essential infrastructure, co-ordinated by the JCCC. In Pivnichne,  the SMM monitored repair work on water pipes between government-controlled Toretsk (formerly Dzerzhynsk, 43km north of Donetsk) and government-controlled Leninske (40km north-east of Donetsk) (see SMM Daily report 1 December). During its four-hour observation, the SMM heard multiple ceasefire violations (see above). The SMM also observed repair work: on the railway line in government-controlled Orikhove (57km north-west of Luhansk); on the water pipe between “LPR”-controlled Zhovte and Krasnyi Lyman (17 and 30km north-west of Luhansk, respectively); and on the water system in “LPR”-controlled Slovianoserbsk (28km north-west of Luhansk).

The SMM monitored the recovery of a body near the contact line, co-ordinated by the JCCC. On the northern outskirts of “LPR”-controlled Raivka (16km north-west of Luhansk) the SMM observed three civilians and one “LPR” member recovering a body from the southern bank of the Siverskyi Donets river. According to the Russian Federation Armed Forces officer of the JCCC present, on the morning of that day a resident had found the dead body of a man at the bank. An “LPR” member told the SMM that the man could have been killed by a detonation of a booby-trap as he found multiple fragments in the body.

The SMM visited one border area currently not under government control. At the pedestrian border crossing point in Novoborovytsi (79km south of Luhansk) during its half-hour observation, the SMM did not see any pedestrians crossing in either direction.

In Kherson region, the SMM monitored the situation on the coast of the Black Sea and at the administrative boundary line between the Ukrainian mainland and Crimea. The SMM noted a generally calm situation in Zaliznyi Port (62km south-west of Kherson), Skadovsk (62km south- of Kherson), and Kalanchak and Chaplynka (67 and 77km south-east of Kherson respectively). Near Zaliznyi Port the SMM observed two military trucks and three small groups of unidentified vehicles, all stationary

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

*Restrictions of 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 was unable to proceed further to the railway bridge (inside the disengagement area) south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge due to the presence of a mine hazard sign. An armed “LPR” senior member told the SMM that the area was mined. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• The presence of an anti-tank obstacle (“Czech hedgehog”) on a road leading west from the Prince Ihor monument at the edge of the disengagement area near Stanytsia Luhanska prevented the SMM from proceeding further west. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• At an “LPR” checkpoint at the southern edge of the Zolote-Pervomaisk disengagement area, the SMM was not able to access fields and areas other than roads located in the disengagement area as armed “LPR” members present did not guarantee the security of the SMM due to the possible presence of mines or unexploded ordnance (UXO) in those areas. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• The SMM could not proceed from government-controlled parts of Zolote towards the Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint north of the Zolote-Pervomaisk disengagement area due to concrete blocks and barbed wires, as well as mine hazard signs on the road. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• The SMM was not able to travel further west from “DPR”-controlled Petrivske due to the possible presence of mines in the area. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• The SMM could not proceed further south from a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint north of Shchastia bridge (government-controlled, 20km north of Luhansk). Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel present told the SMM that mines were still present in the area. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• In “LPR”-controlled Luhansk city armed men told the SMM to leave a compound, citing an instruction from their superior, a few minutes after the SMM had entered. The SMM informed the JCCC.

Conditional access:

• Near “LPR”-controlled Veselohorivka (64km west of Luhansk) a civilian car with two armed men wearing military-style clothes stopped the SMM vehicle by blocking a road. After one of the men wrote down the destination of the SMM they allowed the SMM to proceed. 

[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.