Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 3 March 2017

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. It followed up on a civilian casualty in Zolote-4 and observed damage from gunfire and shelling in Kalynove, Donetskyi and Avdiivka (at a site where an SMM camera is positioned). The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Petrivske and Zolote but its access remained restricted.* It recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote disengagement area. The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines, and had to depart from its observation position near Khreshchatytske on one occasion due to nearby small-arms fire. Its freedom of movement was restricted further, while visiting storage sites in non-government-controlled areas, and it lost control of an unmanned aerial vehicle in flight near Yasynuvata shortly after the SMM heard small-arms fire nearby. The Mission monitored the blockade of routes crossing the contact line in four locations. It followed up on media reports that certain companies would be placed under “temporary administration” in non-government-controlled areas. The SMM observed public gatherings in Kyiv.

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations,[1] including about 560 explosions compared with over 1,400 explosions in the previous reporting period, mostly in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport area.

During the day on 3 March, positioned in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard 30 undetermined explosions and 12 bursts of small-arms fire 2-10km at directions ranging from east to south-west. Positioned in government-controlled Kamianka (20km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard almost 160 undetermined explosions, as well as intense heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 2-9km at directions ranging from east to south-west.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard over 150 undetermined explosions, 40 shots of infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-2) cannon (30mm) and intense heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 2-8km at directions ranging from west-south-west to north-west.

Positioned north of Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard one explosion assessed as an 82mm mortar round, 17 explosions assessed as recoilless gun (SPG-9, 73mm) rounds, nine explosions assessed as rounds of IFV (BMP-1) cannon (73mm), ten explosions assessed as impacts of automatic-grenade-launcher rounds, four bursts of automatic-grenade-launcher fire, 20 explosions assessed as impacts of rocket-propelled grenades, one burst of rocket-propelled-grenade launcher fire, 11 undetermined explosions, one burst of heavy-machine-gun fire, as well as bursts and shots of small-arms fire, all 1.5-2km north-north-east.

Positioned in Donetsk city’s Petrovskyi district, the SMM heard 16 minutes of uncountable, overlapping bursts of small-arms fire 2-3km west and two undetermined explosions 4-6km north. Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Oleksandrivka (20km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM heard 14 undetermined explosions, four minutes of uncountable, overlapping bursts of small-arms fire, and one minute of uncountable, overlapping anti-aircraft cannon fire, all 4-8km at directions ranging from west to north.

On the night of 2-3 March, the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded one tracer round in flight from west to east followed by a total of three undetermined explosions and an exchange of 142 tracer rounds in flight (129 from west to east, ten from south-east to north-west, and three from south-west to north-east), all at unknown distances to the north-north-east and north-east of the camera.

During the day on 3 March, positioned north-west of government-controlled Lebedynske (16km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard 24 undetermined explosions, ten shots of automatic-grenade-launcher fire, two bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, and ten bursts of small-arms fire, all 4-6km east-north-east. Positioned in government-controlled Hnutove (20km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard 61 undetermined explosions at an unknown distance south-east.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including 479 explosions compared with over 1,150 explosions in the previous reporting period.

On the evening of 2 March, while in “LPR”-controlled Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, 50km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 211 undetermined explosions 10km north-west. While in government-controlled Sievierodonetsk (74km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 50 explosions assessed as 152mm artillery rounds 10-15km south-east.

During the day on 3 March, positioned in “LPR”-controlled Kalynove (60km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard two explosions assessed as artillery rounds 5km south-south-west followed by 53 explosions assessed as artillery or mortar rounds 3-5km west and north.

Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Irmino (54km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 59 undetermined explosions 5km north. Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Donetskyi (49km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 11 undetermined explosions 2-4km west-south-west and nine bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 2-4km north-east.

Positioned in government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard two explosions assessed as impacts of 120mm mortar rounds 1-2km north-east and four explosions assessed as mortar rounds (three outgoing and one impact) 4km east.

Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Malomykolaivka (36km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard ten explosions assessed as mortar rounds and 20 shots of small-arms fire, all assessed as part of a live-fire exercise 10km north.

The SMM followed up on reports of a civilian casualty and damage caused by shelling. Outside a hospital in government-controlled Hirske (63km west of Luhansk) the SMM saw a man with a bandage on his left hand; he said that his head and hand had been injured by fragments of an exploding mortar round while he was entering his house on Nakhimov Street in government-controlled Zolote-4 (60km north-west of Luhansk) on the evening of 1 March.

At a house in south-western Kalynove, the SMM observed a fresh crater, assessed as caused by an artillery round fired from a westerly direction, and a shattered west-facing window on a house 160m to the east, assessed as the result of the impact’s shockwave. The house’s owner said an explosion had occurred around 00:40 in the morning.

In Donetskyi, accompanied by Russian officers of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), armed “LPR” members, and media, the SMM observed that roof tiles of a building at 30-Rokiv Peremohy 1 were lying on the ground, and a fourth-floor apartment’s balcony windows had been shattered. According to a building resident, an impact had occurred the evening of 2 March. The SMM could not see the roof and thus was unable to assess the alleged impact site. At 30-Rokiv Peremohy 9, the SMM saw a broken window in a second-floor apartment and assessed that the damage was caused by shrapnel. According to residents of the apartment, an impact had occurred the evening of 2 March. The SMM observed a broken window in an unoccupied apartment next door. At 13 Elektrovodna Street, the SMM saw a hole in the wall of a house and, 50-80m away, a round assessed as that of an IFV (BMP-1) cannon (30mm). The house’s owner (man, aged about 65) said the round had pierced the house’s roof and exited through the wall on the evening of 2 March.

In Avdiivka, the SMM observed eight fresh impacts on a building at Vorobieva 15, including one 1.5m below a static SMM camera. The impact, assessed as that of a round of an undetermined weapon fired from an east-south-easterly direction, caused structural damage to the south-eastern corner of the building, which may have been rendered unstable. Although there was no apparent damage to the wires connecting the camera to the building’s fuse box, the camera was not operational at the time of observation. Civilians and Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel at the site told the SMM that impacts had occurred the previous day, beginning around 16:30.

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 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 remained restricted but the Mission was able to partially monitor them.*

On the evening of 1 March, the SMM camera in government-controlled Zolote recorded three projectiles in flight from north to south, 1-2km east of the camera, followed by a total of eight explosions assessed as artillery or mortar rounds, an exchange of 17 projectiles in flight (16 from north to south and one from south to north) and three bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 1-4km at easterly directions. All the violations were assessed as outside the disengagement area.

On 3 March, positioned in Zolote, the SMM heard 26 explosions assessed as mortar rounds 2-3km south-west; the Mission could not assess whether these were inside or outside the disengagement area. The SMM also heard 23 explosions assessed as mortar rounds (five outgoing, one impact, and 18 undetermined) 1.5-2km south-west, assessed as outside the disengagement area. Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Pervomaisk (58km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 14 undetermined explosions 3-10km north-west and north, assessed as outside the disengagement area.

On the morning of 3 March, while positioned in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska the SMM heard one undetermined explosion 5km north-west, 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.[2]

In violation of the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM saw in non-government-controlled areas: 18 multiple-launch rocket systems (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) near Miusynsk (62km south-west of Luhansk) and two self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) moving north and turning east 2-3km east of the SMM’s position south-west of Khreshchatytske (formerly Krasnoarmiiske, 33km north-east of Mariupol). While in the area, the SMM heard small-arms fire – including five bursts 300-500m from its position, assessed as warning shots – and departed due to security considerations.* (See SMM Spot Report 4 March 2017.) The Mission noted that the howitzers were observed in a zone within which deployment of heavy weapons is proscribed also according to Point 5 of the Memorandum of 19 September 2014.

Beyond withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas but outside storage sites, the SMM observed, on 2 March, 15 tanks (type undetermined) near Paraskoviivka (75km north of Donetsk), and on 3 March, three howitzers (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm) towed by trucks moving north-west near Urzuf (40km south-west of Mariupol).

The SMM revisited “DPR”-controlled permanent weapons storage sites and noted as missing for the first time: 17 tanks (ten T-64, seven T-72), nine mortars (2B14 Podnos, 82mm) and 15 anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm). The Mission also noted that nine tanks (two T-64, seven T-72) were missing, as previously observed. At two sites, the SMM’s freedom of movement was restricted.*

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles[3] and tracks in the security zone. In non-government-controlled areas, the SMM saw, on 2 March, one armoured personnel carrier (APC; MT-LB) near Kalynove, and on 3 March, fresh tracks assessed as those of tanks (type unknown) near Kalynove, two APCs (BTR-80) near Haiove (14km west of Luhansk), and a stationary IFV (BMP-1) near Horlivka.

In government-controlled areas, the SMM saw a static APC (MT-LB) near Staryi Aidar (20km north-west of Luhansk), where the SMM also heard movement of tracked vehicles (likely APCs) and saw new wooden reinforcement of trenches by a checkpoint in the same area. In Hranitne (60km south of Donetsk), the SMM observed for the first time the national Ukrainian flag on a hill about 300m to the east of the Kalmius river.

The SMM launched a mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from a position 3km west of Yasynuvata to gather information on the security situation to facilitate access for repair work near the Donetsk Water Filtration Station. The SMM heard small-arms fire assessed as occurring at a south-south-westerly direction. The Mission recalled the UAV, but it began drifting and spinning without responding to operator commands. The SMM performed a forced landing of the UAV and was unable to retrieve it, due to a lack of security guarantees. (See SMM Spot Report 4 March 2017.)

The SMM continued to monitor the blockade of routes that lead across the contact line from government-controlled areas. (See SMM Daily Report 3 March 2017.) In Hirske (63km west of Luhansk), the railway tracks remained blocked by wooden logs and barbed wire, and a train was stationary on the rails. There was no police presence. At the road junction in Karbonit (part of Zolote), previously occupied by blockade participants, the SMM observed military police stopping and checking military vehicles. An officer-in-charge told the SMM the checks were routine and unrelated to the blockade. At the blockade site in Shcherbynivka (44km north of Donetsk), the SMM noted a calm situation. In Bakhmut (67km north of Donetsk), blockade participants were fortifying their position with wooden barricades and barbed wire, and using a tractor to dig a trench. At the camp along the highway in Buhas (44km south-west of Donetsk), a man identifying himself as a Right Sector member told the SMM his group conducted night-time patrols to stop and check commercial trucks.

The SMM followed up on media reports that certain companies would be placed under “temporary administration” if not “registered” in non-government-controlled areas. On 2 March, a DTEK Sverdlovantratsyt representative in “LPR”-controlled Dovzhansk (formerly Sverdlovsk, 60km south-east of Luhansk) told the SMM that company executives had instructed employees to stay home until further notice. On 3 March, at a Metinvest Group metallurgical factory in “DPR”-controlled Yenakiieve (41km north-east of Donetsk), a company representative said the factory management had not received any notice in relation to “temporary administration”.

The SMM monitored access to humanitarian aid in non-government-controlled areas. At the entrance to the Donbass Arena in Donetsk city, the SMM saw 10-15 unarmed men in military-style clothes and three “DPR” members, one of whom told the SMM that humanitarian distribution in the Arena had been suspended. (See SMM Daily 2 March 2017.)

On 2 March, the SMM was present to monitor and facilitate the crossing of a United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP) medical-supplies convoy through the government-controlled entry-exit checkpoint in Novotroitske (36km south-west of Donetsk). A UNWFP representative told the SMM the convoy reached non-government-controlled areas.

The SMM observed public gatherings in Kyiv. In front of the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting on Prorizna Street, about 50 people (70 per cent men, mostly young or middle-aged) held signs supporting the council’s decision not to renew the broadcasting licence of Radio Vesti, while a separate group of about 100 people (80 per cent women, mostly elderly) held signs opposing the decision. About 25 police officers were present. The two groups argued with each other, but the situation remained calm and ended peacefully. In front of the Parliament building, a group of about 225 women held signs and spoke through loudspeakers in support of peace in Ukraine. About 20 police officers were present, and the event ended peacefully.

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

*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 (UXO), 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:

• At the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, a Ukrainian officer of the JCCC told the SMM that its safety could not be guaranteed in the areas surrounding the main road due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• At an “LPR” checkpoint at the edge of the Zolote disengagement area, armed men told the SMM that its safety could not be guaranteed in the fields and side roads due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• The SMM was twice unable to proceed along a road between government-controlled Artema (26km north of Luhansk) and government-controlled Nyzhnoteple (26km north of Luhansk) due to barriers blocking the way. The Mission saw mine hazard signs on one of the barriers and on each side of the road. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel denied the SMM access through a checkpoint in Nyzhnoteple. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• A Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier at a checkpoint in Troitske (69km west of Luhansk) shouted at the SMM and threatened to shoot its vehicles’ tyres. The SMM left and informed the JCCC.
• A “DPR” member at a permanent weapons storage site demanded in a threatening and hostile manner that the SMM leave the site. The Mission departed and informed the JCCC.
• The SMM was unable to access a “DPR” permanent weapons storage site, as the gates were closed and no one was present. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• A Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier denied the SMM access to a compound in Topolyne (19km north-west of Mariupol). The SMM informed the JCCC.
• Three unarmed “DPR” members stopped the SMM in Oleksandrivske (formerly Rozy Liuksemburh, 90km south-east of Donetsk) and said it could not proceed further because the road is blocked. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• An armed man wearing a Russian Federation Armed Forces-style uniform with “DPR” badges demanded in an aggressive manner that the SMM leave the area of the entry-exit checkpoint in Olenivka (23km south-west of Donetsk). The SMM departed and informed the JCCC.

Other impediments:

• The SMM heard small-arms fire assessed as occurring at a south-south-westerly direction shortly after launching a mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near the Donetsk Water Filtration Station west of Yasynuvata. The UAV began drifting and spinning without responding to operator commands. The SMM performed a forced landing of the UAV and was unable to retrieve it, due to a lack of security guarantees. (See SMM Spot Report 4 March 2017.)
• While monitoring the movement of weapons assessed as two self-propelled howitzers near “DPR”-controlled Khreshchatytske (see above), the SMM heard 20 single shots of small-arms fire 1km north-east and then five bursts of small-arms fire 300-500m east-south-east, assessed as warning shots. Due to security considerations, the SMM left the area. (See SMM Spot Report 4 March 2017.)

 

[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] Despite the joint statement of 1 February by the Trilateral Contact Group and the consent reached on 15 February, the sides have not yet provided the baseline information requested by the SMM related to weapons to be withdrawn and locations of units and formations.

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