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

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the period between the evenings of 18 and 19 December. The SMM observed damage from fighting on 18 December, and followed up on reports of shelling and civilian casualties. The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and its access was again restricted.* The Mission facilitated and monitored repairs to essential infrastructure in Horlivka, Zolote, Orikhove and Krasnyi Lyman. It continued to observe long queues at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations[1] in Donetsk region, including about 1,000 explosions, compared with about 2,900 explosions between the evenings of 18 and 19 December. The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in the areas around Svitlodarsk, Horlivka and Debaltseve.

On the evening of 18 December, while in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 31 explosions assessed as outgoing recoilless gun (SPG-9, 73mm) or infantry fighting vehicle (IFV; BMP-1) cannon (73mm) rounds and 12 explosions assessed as outgoing tank (unknown type) rounds, all 2-4km south. The SMM also heard 71 undetermined explosions 8km south-east.

While in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard: 49 undetermined explosions at distances 5-15km ranging from south-west to north; seven explosions assessed as mortar rounds, mostly 5-10km south-west; and three explosions assessed as recoilless gun (SPG-9, 73mm) or IFV (BMP-1) cannon (73mm) rounds, 5-9km north-west. During one hour, the SMM also heard almost continuous bursts and shots assessed as small-arms, heavy-machine-gun and automatic-grenade-launcher fire, all 5-10km south-west, west, and north-west.

On the night of 18-19 December, while in “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard at least 570 undetermined explosions 6-8km north-west. During the day on 19 December, positioned about 3km north-north-east of Debaltseve during 30 minutes, the SMM heard 22 undetermined explosions 5-8km north-north-west and north. Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Vuhlehirsk (49km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 72 undetermined explosions and 15 explosions assessed as outgoing rounds of an undetermined weapon, all 5-8km north and north-east.

The SMM camera in Avdiivka (government-controlled, 17km north of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, three undetermined explosions, 38 rocket-assisted projectiles in flight from north and north-west to south and south-east, three more undetermined explosions, and 15 tracer rounds in flight from north-west to south-east, all 3-6km east-south-east.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 14 undetermined explosions, more than 20 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire and over 55 shots and nine bursts of small-arms fire 1-5km in directions ranging from south-west to north.

The SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded an exchange of fire beginning with 26 tracer rounds in flight from west to east at an undetermined distance to the north-north-east, followed by two illumination flares, 18 tracer rounds from west to east, and one undetermined explosion, all at an undetermined distance to the north-east. The exchange concluded with 27 rocket-assisted projectiles in flight from south-south-west to north-north-east, at a location 1-2km north-east, as well as five subsequent impacts 5-7km north-east of the camera.

In Luhansk region the SMM observed fewer ceasefire violations, including one explosion, compared with 82 explosions between the evenings of 18 and 19 December. Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Kalynove (60km west of Luhansk) for 45 minutes, the SMM heard one impact of a round from an unknown weapon and over 50 shots of small-arms fire, 1km south-west.

The SMM followed up on reports of shelling and civilian casualties. In government-controlled Luhanske (59km north-east of Donetsk), following up on reports of damage from fighting on 18 December (see SMM Daily Report 19 December 2016), the SMM observed a fresh crater, assessed as caused by an artillery or mortar round, about 150m from a kindergarten and about 50m from an abandoned hospital. One of the kindergarten’s windows was completely blown out. On Kalinina street, the SMM observed workers repairing an electricity supply line; while there the SMM heard two explosions assessed as impacts of mortar (120mm) rounds 500-800m in an undetermined direction and left the area.

In Debaltseve, a Russian Federation Armed Forces officer of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) told the SMM he had received no reports of civilian casualties or damage to buildings resulting from the 18 December fighting. A deputy head doctor of the hospital in “DPR”-controlled Yenakiieve (41km north-east of Donetsk) told the SMM that the hospital had no civilian patients admitted during the fighting.

On the roof of a house in the eastern outskirts of “DPR”-controlled Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, 23km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM observed large, fresh holes assessed as caused by five impacts of rounds from west-north-westerly and west-south-westerly directions. The residents of the house (male and female, aged about 60) said shelling had occurred in the morning.

In government-controlled Kurakhove (40km west of Donetsk), accompanied by a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC, the SMM followed up on a media report of a man injured on 18 December by shrapnel from an explosion in government-controlled Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk). A doctor at the town’s hospital told the SMM that a 25-year-old male resident of Marinka had been admitted to the hospital on 18 December for a bullet wound that had damaged two bones in his right hand. The SMM was not able to see the patient due to his temporary absence from the hospital. A police investigator in Kurakhove told the SMM that a police report had been filed, and that it indicated the injury was caused by a gunshot.

Approximately three kilometres north-east of government-controlled Troitske (69km west of Luhansk), a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC led the SMM to three impact sites that the SMM assessed as fresh and caused by 122mm artillery rounds fired from a north-easterly direction. One of the impacts was 150m from a house that had a small fresh cut, which the SMM assessed as possibly caused by shrapnel, on its south-east-facing wall.

In “LPR”-controlled Zhovte (17km north-west of Luhansk), a woman (aged about 30) showed the SMM damage to her apartment that she said had occurred the night of 18 December. In metal siding on the patio, the SMM observed two holes assessed as fresh and consistent with small-arms fire. At a nearby apartment building, the SMM saw a north-facing window frame with a fresh hole assessed as the result of a 5.45mm bullet.

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 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.

Imagery from the SMM camera in the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area revealed ceasefire violations during night-time hours over the past week. On the nights of 11-12 and 12-13 December, the camera recorded sporadic small-arms fire, including three shots assessed as inside the disengagement area: 300m south, 600m south-east and 1.7km south-south-west.

On the evening of 13 December, the camera recorded an exchange beginning with multiple flashes assessed as bursts of small-arms fire 2.2km south-south-east (assessed as outside the disengagement area) and continuing for over 4.5 hours with flashes assessed as small-arms fire (assessed as both inside and outside the disengagement area). The exchange concluded with more intense fighting (assessed as inside the disengagement area), including 19 projectiles in flight (14 from south-east to north-west and one from south to north, all 1.6km south; and four from north-west to south-east 830m south) and five explosions assessed as impacts of recoilless gun (SPG-9, 73mm) rounds 1.6km south and four explosions assessed as mortar (unknown calibre) rounds 830m south.

On the evening of 14 December, the camera recorded three projectiles in flight from north-west to south-east assessed as one each of a rocket-propelled grenade (1km south), IFV (BMP-1) cannon (1km south) and recoilless gun round (SPG-9; 650m south-south-west) and one projectile in flight from north to south assessed as a rocket-propelled grenade round, 850m south. The camera also recorded one explosion assessed as the impact of a mortar (unknown calibre) round 1km south. All were assessed as occurring inside the disengagement area.

On the evening of 15 December, the camera recorded a flash assessed as a small-arms shot outside the disengagement area, followed by an exchange inside the disengagement area consisting of one flash assessed as an IFV (BMP-1 ) cannon round, 640m south-south-west; two projectiles in flight from south-east to north-west, assessed as anti-tank guided missiles, 400-500m south and west-south-west; and one projectile in flight from north to south, 1km south-south-east of the camera. The camera also recorded an explosion assessed as the subsequent impact of one of the anti-tank guided missiles, 350m south-west, assessed as on the edge of the disengagement area.

During the day on 19 December, the SMM noted a calm situation while positioned in the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area.

In the Zolote disengagement area, the SMM noted a calm situation and was able to cross via the main road from the “LPR”-controlled to the government-controlled area. In the Petrivske disengagement area, the SMM noted a calm situation.

The SMM observed the following armoured combat vehicles[2] in the security zone in government-controlled areas: one stationary armoured personnel carrier (APC; BRDM-2) near Vrubivka (72km west of Luhansk), four IFVs (BMP-2) (three stationary and one travelling north) near Popasna (69km west of Luhansk), three stationary IFVs (BMP-2) near Novozvanivka (70km west of Luhansk), and three stationary IFVs (BMP-1) in Stanytsia Luhanska (outside the disengagement area). In “LPR”-controlled areas, the SMM observed one APC (MT-LB) travelling east near Brianka (46km south-west of Luhansk) and a stationary IFV (BMP-2) near Kalynove. In “DPR”-controlled areas, the SMM observed three IFVs (BMP-1) travelling north near Debaltseve.

Near “LPR”-controlled Verhulivka (64km west of Luhansk) the SMM observed fresh wheeled-vehicle tracks on a north-south dirt road alongside a railway. Parked in a nearby field was a dark green Kamaz truck with orange signs warning of explosive and ammunition hazards and two armed men inside.

The SMM observed fresh tracks, assessed as those of a self-propelled howitzer (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) near Kalynove.

The SMM continued to monitor repairs to essential infrastructure, co-ordinated by the JCCC. In Horlivka, Russian Federation Armed Forces officers of the JCCC accompanied the SMM to a location near a water pipeline under repair. In Zolote, a water company continued repairs on a pipeline. Near government-controlled Orikhove (57km north-west of Luhansk), a railway company carried out regular maintenance and repair on railway tracks. In “LPR”-controlled Krasnyi Lyman (30km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM monitored the repair and replacement of water pipes by a water company.

The SMM continued to observe queues at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line. At a government checkpoint in Berezove (31km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM observed about 400 civilian vehicles and about 150 pedestrians queuing to enter government-controlled areas and two civilian vehicles queuing in the opposite direction. At the entry-exit checkpoint in government-controlled Maiorsk (45km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM observed 42 civilian vehicles and about 250 pedestrians queuing to enter government-controlled areas and 49 civilian vehicles queuing in the opposite direction. At the “LPR” checkpoint by the bridge to Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM observed 700-800 pedestrians queuing to travel toward government-controlled areas. During one hour, the SMM observed about 200 people pass through the checkpoint in the opposite direction.

The SMM monitored a border crossing point in government-controlled Novobila (134km north of Luhansk), where two Ukrainian border guards told the SMM that no civilians or vehicles were present because the crossing opened only on certain holidays.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, 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. They have also agreed that the JCCC should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance.

Denial of access:

• Just south of the “LPR” checkpoint inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the SMM observed a mine hazard sign and thus could not proceed east toward a summer cottage area. At the nearby Prince Ihor monument, the SMM could not proceed west toward a summer cottage area (also inside the disengagement area) due to an anti-tank obstacle placed on the road. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• The SMM was unable to access secondary routes in the Zolote disengagement area. On the government-controlled side, a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC told the SMM that the routes had not been cleared of mines or unexploded ordnance (UXO). On the “LPR”-controlled side, armed “LPR” members said they could not guarantee the SMM’s safety due to the possible presence of mines or UXO. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• The SMM could not travel to the government checkpoint next to the Zolote disengagement area from government-controlled Zolote-3 (60km west of Luhansk) due to concrete blocks, wire and a mine hazard sign on the road. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• In “DPR”-controlled Petrivske, an unarmed “DPR” member told the SMM no demining had taken place on the road west toward the disengagement area. The threat of mines and the absence of security guarantees prevented the SMM from using the road. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• The SMM was unable to proceed toward government-controlled Katerynivka (64km west of Luhansk) from a checkpoint near government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk), as Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel said they had no orders to allow the SMM to pass. 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 might be mines or UXO in the area. South of the bridge, an armed “LPR” member told the SMM the same thing. The SMM informed the JCCC.

Delay:

• Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel at a checkpoint in government-controlled Troitske (69km west of Luhansk) requested to see the SMM’s patrol plan. The SMM was not allowed to proceed further  after it refused to show it. The SMM informed the JCCC. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC arrived to assist, and the SMM was then allowed to proceed after a delay of 58 minutes.

 

[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.

* Please see the section at the end of this report entitled “Restrictions of SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate”.

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