Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 15 December 2016

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer ceasefire violations in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM continued to follow up on reports of civilian casualties near Maiorsk. The Mission continued to monitor the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske but its access was still restricted.* The Mission verified withdrawal of some weapons and observed others in violation of the withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The Mission monitored developments at one border crossing point currently not under government control and observed the arrival of a new Russian Federation contingent to the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination at a border crossing point controlled by the Government. A protest in Kyiv took place peacefully.

The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period, including more than 360 explosions, mostly in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport area.[1]

Positioned at the “DPR”-controlled Donetsk central railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk city centre) for nearly five hours on 15 December, the SMM heard 135 undetermined explosions 3-5km north-west. Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) for five hours the SMM heard 28 undetermined explosions and about five minutes of intense heavy-machine-gun fire, all 2-8km west and north-west. Positioned in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) for just under five hours the SMM heard 38 undetermined explosions 2-4km north-west and south-west, and two undetermined explosions 2-3km east.

On the afternoon of 15 December the SMM camera in Avdiivka recorded eight undetermined explosions, ten rocket-assisted projectiles in flight from west to east and five from north to south, all 3-6km east-south-east of the camera.

While in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk) on the evening of 14 December the SMM heard 15 explosions assessed as impacts of 122mm artillery rounds 8-10km south-west, ten explosions assessed as outgoing recoilless gun (SPG-9, 73mm) rounds  4-5km south, nine undetermined explosions 8-10km south-west and three undetermined explosions 4-5km south-south-east.

While in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north of Donetsk), during three hours late in the evening on 14 December, the SMM heard 57 undetermined explosions 5-7km west.

On the morning of 15 December, positioned in and around “DPR”-controlled Novoselivka (37km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard five explosions 3-4km south-east. The SMM assessed them as part of a live-fire exercise within the security zone, in violation of the ceasefire and of the Trilateral Contact Group decision of 3 March 2016 on the prohibition of live-fire exercises within the security zone.

The SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded one undetermined explosion on the evening of 14 December followed by two rocket-assisted projectiles in flight from south-west to north-east.

Positioned 6.5km north-west of government-controlled Sartana (15km north-east of Mariupol) on 15 December, the SMM heard 20 undetermined explosions at an unknown distance north-west.

In Luhansk region the SMM observed fewer ceasefire violations, including two explosions compared with 30 during the previous reporting period. Positioned in government-controlled Staryi Aidar (20km north-west of Luhansk) the SMM heard two explosions assessed as automatic-grenade-launcher rounds and four bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 3km south.

The SMM continued to follow up on the case of a civilian casualty (see SMM Daily Report 15 December) close to a checkpoint near government-controlled Maiorsk (45km north-east of Donetsk). A medical expert from a morgue in government-controlled Bakhmut (formerly Artemivsk, 67km north of Donetsk) told the SMM that the deceased was a 59-year-old male resident from Horlivka.

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 to all three areas remained restricted, but the Mission was able to partially monitor them.* The SMM noted no demining or fencing off of mines in any of the three areas during the reporting period.

While present in and around the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area for nearly five hours on 15 December the SMM observed a calm situation.

The SMM noted a calm situation at the Zolote-Pervomaisk disengagement area.

Near the Petrivske disengagement area, on the main street in Petrivske, the SMM observed fresh tracks assessed to be of an armoured combat vehicle, travelling from the south to the north and then turning off to the east.

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 five towed howitzers (2A65 Msta-B, 152mm) near government-controlled Marynivka (39km north-west of Donetsk) and one tank (T-64) with its cannon barrel missing near “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside assigned sites, the SMM observed two mortars (2B9 Vasilek, 82mm) near government-controlled Novoaidar (49km north-west of Luhansk) and one surface-to-air missile system (9K33 Osa, 120mm) near government-controlled Pokrovsk (formerly Krasnoarmiisk, 55km north-west of Donetsk).

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 beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM observed nine tanks (T-64), six towed howitzers (2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm) and 18 anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm). The SMM noted that 12 towed howitzers (2A36) and nine anti-tank guns (three MT-12 and six D-48, 85mm) were absent, all last observed between May and September 2016.

The SMM observed the following armoured combat vehicles and an anti-aircraft gun in the security zone: three infantry fighting vehicles (IFV; BMP-1) and three armoured personnel carriers (two BTR-70s and one MT-LB), one mounted with an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm), near “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve, one IFV (BMP-1) near “LPR”-controlled Smile (31km north-west of Luhansk), and two IFVs (BMP-2) near government-controlled Novotoshkivske (50km north-west of Luhansk).[2]

The SMM monitored the Ukraine–Russian Federation border in an area currently not controlled by the Government. While present for one hour at the border crossing point near Izvaryne (52km south-east of Luhansk) the SMM observed 11 trucks (nine with Ukrainian licence plates and two with Hungarian licence plates) queuing to exit Ukraine and two trucks entering Ukraine (both with Ukrainian licence plates), all with their storage areas covered.

The SMM monitored the arrival of a new Russian Federation JCCC contingent at the border crossing point near Hoptivka (33km north of Kharkiv). The SMM observed as 75 members of the contingent arrived in Ukraine and proceeded to travel towards government-controlled Soledar (79km north of Donetsk).

The SMM continued to monitor the situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Four residents of a collective centre in government-controlled Sviatohirsk (117km north of Donetsk) separately told the SMM that they had no hot water and that more than 130 IDPs who had relocated from Odessa were living in the collective centre.

The SMM monitored a public gathering in Kyiv in front of the Russian Federation Embassy. About 100 protestors (men and women of different ages) were holding banners in relation to Syria and some people laid dolls and flowers on the ground in front of the Embassy. About thirty officers of the National Guard and five police officers were around the embassy. The protest remained peaceful.

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

*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. They have also agreed that the JCCC should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance.

Denial of access:

• South of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge anti-tank obstacles prevented the SMM from travelling on a road west and the possible presence of mines prevented the SMM from travelling on a road east. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• In Petrivske the SMM did not observe any signs that “DPR” members had demined the road toward the disengagement area. The threat of mines and the absence of security guarantees prevented the SMM from using the road to “DPR”-controlled Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk) that would facilitate monitoring of the area. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• At a checkpoint south of the Zolote-Pervomaisk disengagement area an armed “LPR” member told the SMM that he could not guarantee its safety. The SMM was thus unable to access secondary routes in the area. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel at a checkpoint near government-controlled Katerynivka (64km west of Luhansk) did not allow the SMM to proceed toward government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk). The SMM informed the JCCC.
• The SMM was denied passage across the bridge in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) from both directions. North of the bridge, Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel told the SMM there were mines in the area. South of the bridge, an armed “LPR” member said there might be mines or UXO in the area. 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.

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