Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 22 December 2016

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period, including about 2,300 explosions in Donetsk region and more than 330 explosions in Luhansk region. The SMM followed up on reports of shelling in Debaltseve, Dokuchaievsk and Kalynove. The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and its access was again restricted.* The Mission observed proscribed weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM monitored a border crossing point currently not under government control in Luhansk region. In Lviv the SMM observed a peaceful gathering.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations[1] in Donetsk region, including about 2,300 explosions, compared with nearly 1,600 explosions in the previous reporting period. The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in the areas around Svitlodarsk, Debaltseve and Horlivka (57, 58 and 39km north-east of Donetsk, respectively).

During the evening of 21 December, while in government-controlled Svitlodarsk, the SMM heard 10-12 explosions assessed as the impacts of rockets from multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) 5km south, seven explosions assessed as the impacts of 120mm mortar rounds 3-4km south-south-east, and two explosions of outgoing rounds from a recoilless gun (SPG-9, 73mm) or an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV; BMP-1) cannon (73mm) 2km south.  During the day of 22 December, while in the same location the SMM heard 14 explosions assessed as the impacts of 122mm artillery rounds 3.5-4km south-south-east, south and south-west, 16 explosions assessed as outgoing 122mm artillery rounds 4km north, 66 explosions assessed as caused by 120mm mortar rounds (59 impacts and seven outgoing) 1.5-3km south-east, south-south-west and south-west, and 19 explosions assessed as outgoing rounds from tank 3km south-west. The SMM also heard 36 explosions assessed as outgoing rounds from a recoilless gun (SPG-9, 73mm) or an IFV (BMP-1) cannon (73mm) 2-3km south-south-east and south-west, and 34 undetermined explosions 8km south-south-west and 5km south-west. Positioned in government-controlled Klynove (68km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM heard 14 explosions assessed as outgoing artillery rounds 5-7km south.

During the evening of 21 December, while in “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve, the SMM heard, within four hours, 200-250 undetermined explosions 6-8km north-west, and 200-250 undetermined explosions 8-10km north. During the morning of 20 December, positioned at the north-north-eastern edge of Debaltseve the SMM heard, within an hour, 157 undetermined explosions 8-10km north-north-west. 

During the evening of 21 December, while in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka, the SMM heard 774 explosions: 24 assessed as caused by outgoing rockets of MLRS, 423 undetermined, and 11 assessed as the impacts of rounds from an undetermined weapon, all 4-10km south-west, 280 undetermined explosions 8-12km north-west, and 35 undetermined explosions 8-12km north. During the morning of 22 December, positioned at the east-north-eastern outskirts of Horlivka the SMM heard, within an hour, 500 undetermined explosions 4-6km north-east.  

During the night of 21-22 December, while in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city centre the SMM heard 36 undetermined explosions 8-10km north-west.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) for over four hours, the SMM heard 30 undetermined explosions 6-8km north-east, 17 undetermined explosions 3-10km west, and one undetermined explosion 5-10km north-west.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including more than 330 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (nearly 170 explosions). All ceasefire violations were recorded while the SMM was positioned in the western parts of Luhansk region adjoining to the Svitlodarsk-Debaltseve area.

Positioned 2km west of “LPR”-controlled Bairachky (57km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 40-50 explosions assessed as outgoing 122mm artillery rounds 5-10km north-west. During its observation a civilian car pulled over in front of the SMM. A man (aged 25-30) wearing camouflage clothes with a “DPR” insignia patch on his left shoulder got out of the vehicle, and started shouting. Shortly later he returned to the vehicle and took an assault rifle. He continued to yell at the SMM while holding his finger on the trigger at all times. After some conversation with the SMM he drove away. The SMM left the area.

Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Verhulivka (61km west of Luhansk) the SMM heard 32 explosions assessed as 152mm artillery rounds 10km west. Positioned 1.4km south-west of “LPR-controlled Sofiivka (60km west of Luhansk) the SMM heard 40-60 explosions assessed as outgoing artillery rounds 10-15km west-south-west. Positioned 2km north-west of government-controlled Troitske (69km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 60 explosions 15-20km south and 40 explosions 15-20km west, all assessed as artillery rounds.

The SMM followed up on reports of shelling. In “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve the SMM, accompanied by Russian Federation Armed Forces officer of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), observed two impacts sites. At the first site the SMM saw a hole (1.5m wide) on a roof of a garage and broken windows on the fifth floor of an apartment building nearby. The SMM also found shrapnel consistent with 120mm mortar. At the second site the SMM saw a crater on a grass area 50m west from an apartment building, and a tree nearby with fresh shrapnel damage to its branches. The SMM assessed the crater as caused by a 120mm mortar round fired from a north-north-westerly direction. Several residents separately told the SMM they had heard explosions around 15:00 on 21 December. In “DPR”-controlled Dokuchaievsk (30km south-west of Donetsk) the SMM, accompanied by “DPR” members and Russian Federation Armed Forces officer of the JCCC, observed damage to the frame of the south-facing window of the first floor of a school building, and to the interior wall inside the building. The director or the school told the SMM that the damage had been caused by a projectile on the afternoon of 21 December. The SMM also saw a crater in a yard of a house and assessed it as caused by a mortar round (at least 82mm calibre) fired from a south-south-westerly direction. The SMM also saw damage to the west-facing wall of the house, which a resident said had been caused by shelling on the evening of 21 December. In “LPR”-controlled Kalynove (60km west of Luhansk) the SMM, accompanied by armed men, observed two fresh craters in a field at a location 200-300m, east from their position.

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.

On 21 December the SMM observed four fresh impacts on “LPR”-controlled parts of the disengagement area near Stanytsia Luhanska. The SMM saw two impacts on an asphalt road covered with snow 15-20m north of an “LPR” checkpoint south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, and assessed them as caused by rounds from an automatic grenade launcher or an under-barrel grenade launcher. The other two impacts were located around 500m south-east the checkpoint on the edge of the road, and the SMM assessed them as caused by rounds from an automatic grenade launcher fired from a northerly direction. Near these impacts the SMM also noted that the metal-covered door of one of the toilet cabins had been ripped off. The SMM assessed the damage as caused by shrapnel of undetermined ammunition.

During the evening of 20 December the SMM camera in Petrivske recorded in sequence one undetermined projectile in flight from west to east and another undetermined projectile in the opposite direction 1-2km south-west of the camera (both assessed as inside the disengagement area), followed by 16 undetermined explosions 2-3km north-west of the camera (all assessed as outside 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 withdrawal lines the SMM observed in government-controlled areas: one stationary surface-to-air missile system (9K33 Osa, 120mm) in Klynove (68km north-west of Donetsk); and two stationary towed howitzers (2A36 Giatsint-B, 155mm) in Mykolaivka (77km west of Luhansk). The SMM checked their serial numbers, which matched the serial numbers of the weapons noted absent from a Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapon holding area. In areas not under government control the SMM observed 15 stationary anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) in “DPR”-controlled Zelene (28km south-east of Donetsk) on 21 December, and stationary four towed howitzers (2A65 Msta-B, 152mm) in a firing position with their barrels oriented toward a westerly direction in “LPR”-controlled Verhulivka (64km west of Luhansk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside assigned sites, near government-controlled Orikhuvatka (90km north of Donetsk) the SMM observed ten mortars (2S12 Sani, 120mm) loaded on a trailer truck heading east.

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 towed howitzers (2A36); 37 self-propelled howitzers (30 2S1 Gvozdika 122mm and seven 2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm); 19 tanks (nine T-64 and ten T-72); and 18 mortars (M120-15, 120mm). The SMM noted as absent 20 towed howitzers (12 2A65, two 2A36, and six D-20 152mm) (two 2A36 were noted as missing for the first time); 25 self-propelled howitzers (23 2S1 and two 2S3) (two 2S3 were noted as missing for the first time); and six mortars (2B11, 120mm).

The SMM revisited a Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent storage site whose location corresponded with the withdrawal lines. The SMM noted ten tanks (T-64) as absent (as first noted on 21 July 2016).

The SMM revisited “DPR” permanent storage sites whose locations corresponded with the withdrawal lines. The SMM noted that all previously observed weapons were present at those sites except for one, where it noted five tanks (T-72) as absent for the first time.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles and an anti-aircraft weapon[2] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, the SMM observed: one stationary IFV (BMP-1) near government-controlled Makarove (19km north-east of Luhansk) and one stationary IFV (BMP-1) near Stanytsia Luhanska (outside the disengagement area). In areas outside government control the SMM observed: one IFV (BMP-2) heading east near “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve; and one anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) mounted on one stationary APC (MT-LB) near “LPR”-controlled Verhulivka.

In “LPR”-controlled Verhulivka the SMM observed about 50 wooden dark-green boxes with prints “D-30” and “2S1” in the Russian language at the edge of a wooden area. The SMM noted that at least one box was not empty.

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to essential infrastructure, co-ordinated by the JCCC. The SMM observed repair work on the railway tracks near government-controlled Orikhove (57km north-west of Luhansk), and on water pipelines in government-controlled parts of Zolote.

The SMM monitored a border area currently not controlled by the Government. While present for 65 minutes in Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, 65km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed that five pedestrians, 26 civilian cars (20 with Ukrainian licence plates and six with Russian Federation licence plates), three trucks (all eight with Ukrainian licence plates), one bus (with Russian Federation licence plates) exited Ukraine. A driver of a truck told the SMM that he had been waiting for more than three hours to exit Ukraine. During its observation the SMM saw 13 civilian cars (ten with Ukrainian licence plates and three with Russian Federation licence plates), one bus (with Russian Federation licence plates) and nine pedestrians entered Ukraine.

On 21 December in Lviv city the SMM monitored a public gathering of 80 people (men and women equally, different age groups) with a banner stating “Let’s name every prisoner of war”. About 20 participants held pictures and posters of Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers allegedly being detained in areas not under government control. The gathering passed of peacefully, overseen by two police officers.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, 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:

• The SMM was not able to proceed on Donetska Street (outside the disengagement area) in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska as a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC present told the SMM that the area had not been demined. The SMM informed the headquarters of the JCCC.
• In government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska the SMM was not able to access areas other than main road located in the disengagement area as Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC present told the he could not assist in ensuring the security of the SMM due to the possible presence of mines or unexploded ordnance (UXO) in those areas. The SMM informed the headquarters of the JCCC.
• The SMM observed a mine hazard sign south-east of an “LPR” checkpoint south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge and did not proceed east towards a summer cottage area (inside the disengagement area). Armed men at the “LPR” checkpoint told the SMM that the area had not been demined. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• The presence of anti-tank obstacles on the road leading from the Prince Ihor monument south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge prevented the SMM from proceeding further west. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• The SMM was unable to access secondary routes in the Zolote-Pervomaisk disengagement area from the “LPR”-controlled side. An armed “LPR” member said they could not guarantee the SMM’s safety due to the threat from mines or UXO. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• In “DPR”-controlled Petrivske the SMM noted that no demining had taken place on the road west towards the disengagement area, which prevented the SMM from using the road. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On two separate occasions the SMM was prevented from travelling on the road between government-controlled Katerynivka and government-controlled Popasna (64 and 69km north-west of Luhansk, respectively) from both sides due to the presence of anti-tank obstacles and mines on the road. 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.
• A Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier at a heavy weapons holding area demanded the SMM to show the patrol plan, national passports and a written approval of the regional military commander. Consequently he denied the SMM access upon its refusal to comply with such demand. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel denied SMM access to a heavy weapons holding area, citing the absence of the commander.
• At an “LPR” checkpoint in “LPR”-controlled Zhovte (17km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM was not able to proceed further to Siverskyi Donets river due to the presence of improvised obstacles of tree branches and a hazard mine sign on a road. The SMM informed the JCCC.

Other impediment:

• In “LPR”-controlled Bairachky, a man wearing camouflage clothes with a “DPR” insignia approached the SMM and started shouting. Shortly later after taking an assault rifle from a car parked nearby, he continued to yell at the SMM while holding his finger on the trigger at all times. After some conversation with the SMM he drove away. The SMM left the area and informed the JCCC.

The Mission’s next report will be issued on 27 December 2016.

[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.