Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 27 December 2016

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region compared with the period between the evenings of 25 and 26 December. The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and its access was restricted by the continued presence of mines and unexploded ordnance.* The SMM facilitated and monitored the removal of unexploded ordnance on Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, and repairs to essential infrastructure. The SMM visited a border crossing point currently not under government control in Luhansk region. In Kyiv the SMM observed a newly-erected tent of activists on the Independence Square.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations[1] in the Donetsk region, including some 150 explosions, compared with some 200 explosions in the period between the evenings of 25 and 26 December.

During the evening of 26 December, while at its forward patrol base in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM heard 41 undetermined explosions and more than 500 bursts and shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire 2-8km south-east and south. During the day of 27 December, while in the same location the SMM heard three outgoing explosions assessed as outgoing artillery rounds 2-5km south-east and 1-3km south-west. The SMM also heard 25 undetermined explosions and more than 100 bursts and shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire 2-10km east, south-east, south and south-west.

During the evening of 26 December, while in “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east) the SMM heard 30 undetermined explosions 8-10km north-west. On the afternoon of 27 December, positioned at three separate locations in and around Debaltseve the SMM heard 11 undetermined explosions 6-8km north-west.

During the evening of 26 December, the SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) recorded 17 undetermined projectiles in flight from north-east to south-west, all 4-6km east-south-east of the camera. During the day of 27 December, positioned in Avdiivka for more than five hours the SMM heard three undetermined explosions 3-5km south-east and one undetermined explosion 3-5km north-west. Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east) for five hours the SMM heard two undetermined explosions 2-7km south-west and west-north-west, and one undetermined explosion 8-10km north-west.

During the night of 26-27 December, the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded 16 tracer rounds from north-west to south-east, followed by one undetermined explosion, one rocket-assisted projectile in flight from west to east, and 30 tracer rounds (21 from east to west, six from west to east, one from south to north, and two from north-west to south-east), all at unknown distances north-east, north-north-east and north of the camera. On the evening of 27 December, the same camera, facing north, recorded four undetermined explosions at unknown distances.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Zaichenko (26km north-east of Mariupol) the SMM heard three explosions assessed as caused by outgoing rounds from a recoilless gun (SPG-9, 73mm) 2km south, and 17 undetermined explosions at locations 3-6km ranging from south to west. Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Azov (formerly Dzerzhynske, 25km north-east of Mariupol) the SMM heard three explosions assessed as the impacts of 82mm mortar rounds and one undetermined explosion, all 2-3km south-west.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including ten explosions, compared with the period between the evenings of 25 and 26 December (several bursts and shots). Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Veselohorivka (64km west of Luhansk) the SMM heard eight undetermined explosions 10km south-south-west. Positioned 5km north-east of government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk) the SMM heard one undetermined explosion 10km south.

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.

During the evening of 23 December, the SMM camera in Stanytsia Luhanska recorded eight flashes assessed as single shots of small-arms fire (all of them were assessed as outside the disengagement area).

Throughout the reporting period, the SMM observed a calm situation both in the Zolote-Pervomaisk disengagement area and the Petrivske disengagement area while positioned there.

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, in implementation of the Package of Measures and its Addendum, as well as the Memorandum.

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside assigned sites the SMM observed in government-controlled areas four tanks (T-64), each loaded on a stationary flatbed transporter, near Chasiv Yar (62km north of Donetsk), and 12 towed howitzers (2A36 Giatsint-B, 152 mm) each towed by a military truck heading north near Sievierodonetsk (74km north-west of Luhansk).

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 12 towed howitzers (2A36), while six were again absent (as first noted on 28 July 2016).

The SMM revisited a Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent storage site whose location corresponded with the withdrawal lines. The SMM noted as absent six mortars (2B9 Vasilek, 82mm) and 49 tanks (eight T-64 and 41 T-72), two of those tanks (T-64) were noted as absent for the first time.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles[2] and in the security zone. In government-controlled areas the SMM observed: one stationary armoured personnel carrier (BRDM-2) near Vrubivka (72km west of Luhansk) on 26 December; three stationary infantry fighting vehicles (IFV; BMP-1), one inside the disengagement area and other two outside); and one stationary IFV (BMP-2) near Popasna.

The SMM facilitated and monitored the removal of unexploded ordnance (UXO) on Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. The SMM observed for the first time an unexploded under-barrel grenade launcher (GP-25) round lying on snow-covered ground at the edge of an asphalt road between the broken part of the bridge and the southernmost Ukrainian Armed Forces position (inside the disengagement area). The SMM informed a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) and “LPR” members. Subsequently a demining team of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine arrived at the scene, and after one hour the UXO had been removed from the site. The SMM noted that pedestrian passage had been temporarily stopped in both directions during the  activity.

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to essential infrastructure, co-ordinated by the JCCC. In government-controlled Pivnichne (former Kirove, 44km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM observed repair work on high-voltage power lines. During its observation the SMM heard one undetermined explosion 4-5km south-west and several bursts and shots of small-arms fire 2-5 km south. The SMM also observed a railway company conducting regular maintenance and repairs to the railway tracks near government-controlled Orikhove (57km north-west of Luhansk). During its monitoring the SMM conducted a flight of its mini unmanned aerial vehicle in the area, which spotted a train made up of 35 freight cars loaded with coal travelling from “LPR”-controlled areas to government-controlled areas.

The SMM continued to observe the situation of civilians living near the contact line. In Avdiivka, the SMM observed people drawing water from wells and transporting containers of water by sled to their apartments. A woman (aged 79) told the SMM that the neighbourhood had been without water for a week.

The SMM visited a border area currently not controlled by the Government. While present for 20 minutes in the Verkhnoharasymivka pedestrian border crossing point (57km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed that 12 people entered Ukraine and 20 people exited. At the parking lot the SMM observed 27 passenger cars (15 with Ukrainian licence plates, two cars with Russian Federation licence plates, nine with “LPR” plates, and one without licence plates).

The SMM visited a border crossing point in government-controlled Milove (108km north-east of Luhansk). During its 55-minute observation the SMM saw that six civilian cars, two trucks, one minivan (all with Ukrainian licence plates) and 25 pedestrians exited Ukraine and five civilian cars (all with Russian Federation licence plates) entered Ukraine.

In Kyiv, on 26 December the SMM observed a press conference organized by former Donbas and Aidar battalions, where the speakers announced that they would conduct a trade blockade on areas not under government control as people allegedly being detained in those areas had not been released yet. On the evening of that day on Independence Square the SMM saw a yellow tent with flags of Donbas and Aidar battalions and a national flag and a banner marking the tent as the headquarters of the blockade of trade. The following day the SMM saw seven men (middle aged) wearing camouflage clothes (one with Aidar battalion patch) standing around the tent, some of whom talked to pedestrians. One of the activists present told the SMM that they were recruiting volunteers who would join a trade blockade on areas not under government control along the contact line.  

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:

• In government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska the SMM was not able to access areas other than the 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 UXO in those areas. The SMM informed the headquarters of the JCCC.
• In “LPR”-controlled parts of the disengagement area in Stanytsia Luhanska bridge the SMM was not able to proceed east towards a summer cottage area (inside the disengagement area) due to threat of mines and UXO.  The SMM informed the JCCC.
• The SMM was unable to travel further south into the Zolote-Pervomaisk disengagement area using secondary roads on the government-controlled side. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC told the SMM that no demining had taken place. The SMM informed the headquarters of 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 leading west towards the disengagement area, which prevented the SMM from continuing. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• The SMM was denied passage across the bridge in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) from the north due to the presence of mines or UXO in the area. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On two separate occasions the SMM was prevented from travelling on the road between government-controlled Katerynivka (64km west of Luhansk) and Popasna from both sides as Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel present at a respective checkpoint did not allow the SMM to proceed further. The SMM informed the JCCC.

Delay:

• At an “LPR” checkpoint at the eastern outskirts of “LPR”-controlled Veselohorivka armed men prevented the SMM from entering the village. The SMM informed the JCCC and after one hour the SMM was able 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.