Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 8 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. The Mission observed damage to homes and infrastructure caused by shelling in residential areas of Dokuchaievsk and Pikuzy. It continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Petrivske and Zolote, but its access remained restricted.* The SMM recorded ceasefire violations in the Zolote disengagement area. The Mission, in co-ordination with the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), facilitated demining activities and repair works in areas of the Donetsk Water Filtration Station. It continued to monitor the blockade of routes crossing the contact line at four locations in government-controlled areas. The SMM visited two border areas currently not under the government’s control. The Mission observed initiatives related to the International Women's Day.

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations,[1] with about 515 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period. Most ceasefire violations were recorded on the night of 7-8 March in the Svitlodarsk-Horlivka area.

On the night of 7-8 March, while in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city centre, the SMM heard 40 undetermined explosions 6-10km north-west. On the evening of 7 March, the SMM camera in Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) recorded one undetermined explosion 4-6km south-east.

On the evening of 7 March, while in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM heard 242 undetermined explosions as well as hundreds of bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 8-10km south-west. On the night of 7-8 March while in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east) the SMM heard 55 undetermined explosions, 55 shots of anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) and 172 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all at 3-5km south and south-east.

In the morning of 8 March, while in Svitlodarsk, the SMM heard eight undetermined explosions and three bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 3-5km south. At the same location, after noon, the SMM heard 73 undetermined explosions and 63 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 4-5km south. Around noon, while in Horlivka, the SMM heard three explosions assessed as impacts of mortar rounds (82mm) 2km south. At the same location, later on in the day, the Mission heard 13 undetermined explosions 8-10km south-west. 

Positioned at two different locations in government-controlled Kamianka (20km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard five explosions assessed as outgoing mortar rounds (four as 82mm and one as 120mm), 1-3km south-south-east, south-east and east.

During the night of 7-8 March, the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded in sequence one undetermined explosion, six tracer rounds in flight from south to north and one in flight from west to east, followed by a total of ten undetermined explosions, one rocket-assisted projectile in flight south-west to north-east and 20 tracer rounds in flight (six from south-east to north-west, one from south-south-west to north-north-east, one from south-west to north-east and 12 from west to east), all at unknown distances to the north and north-east of the camera.

On 8 March, positioned 3km north-north-east of government-controlled Hnutove (20km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard three undetermined explosions and 42 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 2-3km south-east. Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, 23km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard, in less than ten minutes, 25 undetermined explosions and ten bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire at unknown distances north, as well as four undetermined explosions at unknown distances south-south-east.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, with about 150 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period.  

On the evening of 7 March, while in “LPR”-controlled Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, 50km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 88 undetermined explosions 10km west and west-south-west. On 8 March, positioned 1km south-east of government-controlled Bobrove (56km north-west of Luhansk), the Mission heard four explosions assessed as outgoing rounds of an unknown weapon system 2-3km south-east. Positioned in government-controlled Katerynivka (64km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 15 explosions assessed as outgoing artillery rounds of unknown calibre 8-10km south and four explosions assessed as recoilless gun (SPG-9, 73mm) rounds 6-8km east. Positioned in government-controlled Muratove (51km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard six explosions assessed as outgoing mortar rounds of unknown calibre and 15 bursts of infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-2) cannon (30mm) fire 1-2km south. In “LPR”-controlled Kalynove (60km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard five explosions assessed as impacts of rounds from unknown weapons 3-5km north-west.

The SMM followed up on reports of damage caused by shelling. In Pikuzy, on 8 March, the SMM saw the site of direct hits to houses on 6 and 8 Kirova Street, and major structural damages to both buildings, as well as two fresh craters in the ground between the houses, assessed as having been caused by artillery rounds of unknown calibre fired from an unknown direction. The Mission also noticed debris on the ground and broken electrical wires. Residents said shelling had occurred on 5 March. On 8 March, on 23 Pobeda Street, the SMM observed five fresh craters, all less than 10m from the closest houses. Two craters were on an asphalt road and three in a garden 3-8m from the house, where debris of a metal sheet was scattered. The Mission assessed the craters as having been caused by artillery rounds of unknown calibre fired from a south-westerly direction. At a second site, a house on Kirova Street 60, the SMM observed three fresh impact sites and damages to the roof, the main body and southern wing of the house. The SMM assessed that all three impacts were caused by artillery rounds of unknown calibre fired from a south-westerly direction. The SMM also saw damage to gas pipelines, which a resident said had been damaged due to shelling over the previous days.

On 8 March in “DPR”-controlled Dokuchaievsk (30km south-west of Donetsk), on 90 Lenina Street, led by a Russian officer of the JCCC, the SMM observed a hole in the external wall of a house, assessed as caused by a small-arms round fired from a southerly direction.

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

On the night of 5-6 March the SMM camera in Zolote recorded three bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire and one burst of small-arms fire 1-3km south-south-east, south-east and east-south-east (assessed as inside the disengagement area). On 6 March the SMM performed a re-assessment, after snow had melted, of the presence of potential explosive hazards in the Zolote disengagement area. The SMM noted that warning markers previously placed on four craters were barely visible. Additionally, two non-explosive parts of an 82mm mortar were identified and removed by Russian officers of the JCCC. Later that day in Luhansk city the SMM met Russian officers of the JCCC, who agreed to perform both additional marking of existing spots and to remove the mortar remnants from the surface of the road.

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]

On 8 March, in violation of the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM saw, in non-government-controlled areas, one mortar (2B9 Vasilek, 82mm) towed by a military-type truck in Horlivka.

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside storage sites, the SMM observed, in government-controlled areas: two self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) stationary in a field in Vasiukivka (82km north of Donetsk); three tanks (T-64) on flatbed carriers in Sievierodonetsk (74km north-west of Luhansk); two tanks (T-64) on flatbed carriers and one tank on the side of the road next to a flatbed carrier, in Novookhtyrka (55km 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 beyond respective withdrawal lines, the SMM observed: eight MLRS (BM-21 Grad, 122mm), 22 towed howitzers (2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm), 18 self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm), 11 mortars (M120-15, 120mm) and six anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm). The Mission continued to observe as missing: 24 MLRS (BM-21), 12 towed howitzers (ten 2A65 and two 2A36, 152mm), 18 self-propelled howitzers (2S1) and six mortars (six 2B11, 120mm). The SMM also noticed that one towed howitzer (2A36) and seven mortars (M120-15, 120mm) were missing for the first time. The SMM continued to observe as abandoned three sites, with 12 MLRS (BM-21), 12 self-propelled-howitzers (2S1) and six mortars (2B11 Sani, 120mm) missing. The Mission observed for the first time that one site was abandoned, with six mortars (PM120/PM38, 120mm) missing.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles[3] in the security zone. In non-government-controlled areas, the SMM saw a stationary IFV (BMP-1) in Lyman (12km north-west of Luhansk). In government-controlled areas, the SMM saw: one armoured personnel carrier (MT-LB) loaded on a truck in Voitove (33km north-west of Luhansk); one stationary IFV (BMP-1) south of Stanytsia Luhanska; and two dug-in IFVs (BMP-1) 5km south-west of Stanytsia Luhanska.

The SMM noted the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO). The SMM saw for the first time a piece of UXO, which it assessed as an 82mm mortar round stuck in the tarmac on the west side of the H20 road, approximately 2km south of government-controlled Kamianka (20km north of Donetsk). The SMM also saw other fragments of exploded ammunition in the area.

The SMM, in co-ordination with the JCCC, facilitated demining efforts and repair works at and around the Donetsk Water Filtration Station. In the morning the SMM observed demining works by “DPR” members on the access road, which included a controlled detonation. Shortly after noon, workers of Voda Donbassa and DTEK utility companies, as well as the SMM, entered the premises of the Filtration Station. After an initial assessment of the situation, a representative of Voda Donbassa told the SMM that despite the fact that the chlorine supply line had been damaged, operations could be resumed using a different type of reagents. A worker of DTEK said that one of the oil tanks of a 110KV transformer has been found partially damaged and might stop functioning. In Avdiivka, a Ukrainian officer of the JCCC told the SMM that water supply to Avdiivka was being provided from the reservoir of Donetsk Water Filtration Station. He added that there was leakage in the water pipes connecting the Station to the town that needed to be fixed. The SMM confirmed there is water and electricity supply in Avdiivka.

The SMM continued to monitor in four locations the blockade of routes that lead across the contact line. On 8 March, at railway crossings in government-controlled Hirske (63km west of Luhansk) and Shcherbynivka (44km north of Donetsk) and on the side of a highway near government-controlled Buhas (44km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM observed a calm situation and no changes compared with the previous reporting period. In Bakhmut (formerly Artemivsk, 67km north of Donetsk), the Mission saw approximately 30 people gathered around tents and spoke with a group of about ten of them, all men aged between 40 and 60. They said that two lines of the railway from the non-government-controlled side were blocked and that they could block a third one on short notice.

The SMM monitored two border areas currently outside government control. At the Izvaryne (52km south-east of Luhansk) border crossing point, in half an hour, the SMM saw 16 civilian cars (14 with Ukrainian, one with the Russian Federation licence plates, and one with “LPR” plates), one coach (with Ukrainian licence plates) and 18 covered trucks (11 with Ukrainian, six with Belarusian and one with Georgian licence plates) in a queue to exit Ukraine. The SMM saw three civilian cars and two covered trucks (all with Ukrainian licence plates) enter Ukraine. At the Dovzhanskyi border crossing point (84km south-east of Luhansk), in about an hour, the SMM saw: 14 civilian cars  (ten with Ukrainian, four with Russian Federation licence plates), one civilian minibus (with Ukrainian licence plates) with  four people on board, seven covered freight lorries (all with Ukrainian licence plates), one bus (with Ukrainian licence plates, bearing a sign indicating its itinerary “Krasnyi Luch-Rostov”) with about five people on board and five pedestrians (three men, two women) exit Ukraine. The SMM also saw: 12 civilian cars (eight with Ukrainian and four with Russian Federation licence plates), two minivans (with Ukrainian licence plates), two freight lorries (with Ukrainian licence plates), one of which was covered, the other was transporting wood logs and three pedestrians (women) enter Ukraine. The SMM noted 14 civilian cars (12 with Ukrainian licence plates, one with Georgian and one with Russian Federation licence plates) parked near the crossing point.

On the occasion of the International Women's Day, in Lviv the SMM facilitated a roundtable discussion with local youth representatives focusing on the impact of the conflict on gender issues and the role of SMM in promoting gender equality. Participants, in total 13 people, both men and women, including five internally displaced persons, highlighted the need for higher representation of women in politics, gender equality in workplaces, as well as for tackling gender-based violence issues in a more effective way.

In Kharkiv, the SMM saw 80 people (young women and men) march through the centre of the city in two groups: one group (mostly men) wore balaclavas and carried a banner reading “anti-fascist action movement” and chanted anti-fascist slogans. The other group (mostly women) carried banners calling for equality and solidarity among women.

In Kyiv, the SMM monitored an annual march, this year under the motto “No to violence of all formats – from maternity hospitals to military enlistment offices”. Some 700 people (mostly young and middle-aged women) participated in the march through the centre of the city. Near the National Opera House, the SMM saw four masked men throw a thick white liquid and green fluid onto the crowd. The masked men were detained by police. The SMM saw about 100 police officers, as well as five medics following the marchers. Again, at a street junction, the SMM saw four young men throw green fluid, which hit a few marchers staining their faces and clothes. The men ran away. The SMM observed the police officers screening the crowd and not allowing some individuals to join the march. The SMM did not see any further incidents.

On 7 March, in Ivano-Frankivsk city, the SMM monitored a protest of about 1,000 people (men and women of different ages), which began in front of the regional state administration building. The SMM saw flags of Svoboda, Ukrop, Azov Civilian Corps and Batkivshchyna, and slogans objecting to the current utility prices as well as the main governing party. The protestors chanted slogans in support of the trade blockade. They moved further through the city and stopped in front of the Security Service of Ukraine building; some of them tried to enter the building but were pushed away by police. Subsequently, fewer than a dozen protestors brought a garbage container in front of the entrance and threw coloured smoke grenades inside the container, as well as pictures of public figures. Eight police officers were present at the entrance of the building and accompanied the crowd throughout the demonstration.

On the same day, in the centre of Mariupol (102km south of Donetsk), the SMM monitored two concurrent rallies: one in protest of the trade blockade with about 1,800 participants, and one in support of the blockade with about 100 participants. About 20 police officers were present. With the exception of a brief altercation between representatives of both rallies over the microphone on the stage, both events concluded without further incidents in about an hour.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa 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, 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.
• Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel told the SMM that no demining had taken place on the side roads inside the Zolote disengagement area and that they could not guarantee the SMM’s security due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and 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 unable to travel west from “DPR”-controlled Petrivske due to a lack of security guarantees and the presence of mines, which was also confirmed by aerial imagery. The Mission informed the JCCC.
• The SMM could not travel across the bridge in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) as Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel said there were mines on the road south of the bridge. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• The SMM was again unable to proceed along a road between government-controlled Artema (26km north of Luhansk) and Nyzhnoteple (26km north of Luhansk) as a barrier was blocking the way (see SMM Daily Report 8 March 2017). The SMM informed the JCCC.
• The SMM was unable to proceed on the road between government-controlled Katerynivka and government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk) as it was blocked with a barrier. The JCCC was informed.
• In “LPR”-controlled Borzhykivka (66km west of Luhansk), armed “LPR” members in the entrance of the village denied SMM access to it, citing demining activities. The JCCC was informed.
• Armed men denied the SMM access to “LPR”-controlled Veselohorivka (64km west of Luhansk), citing demining activities in the area. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• At the eastern entrance of “DPR”-controlled Novolaspa ( 52km south of Donetsk), armed “DPR” members prevented the SMM from proceeding further towards “DPR”-controlled Bila Kamianka ( 53km south of Donetsk), saying that the road was unsafe due to the presence of mines and UXO. The Mission informed the JCCC
• While in the centre of Novolaspa, an armed “DPR” member demanded that the SMM leave the area immediately saying that they were acting upon orders of their “superiors”. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel denied the SMM access to two separate heavy weapons holding areas, citing the lack of permission from their respective commanders. The Mission 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.

* 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] 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.