Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 2 September 2016

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region (three explosions compared with 18) and also in Luhansk region (one explosion compared with eight) compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM followed up on reports of civilian injuries, conducted crater analysis in Shchastia and Kamianka, and observed damage from shelling to civilian infrastructure. The SMM monitored three border crossing areas, in Zhovtneve, Petrivka and Uspenka, and visited schools on both sides of the contact line. The SMM encountered impediments to its freedom of movement, including threats of violence against SMM members, all in areas outside of government control. The SMM continued to monitor a calm situation along the administrative boundary line between the mainland and Crimea. The SMM observed clashes between protestors and the dispersal of a public gathering in Odessa.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations[1] in Donetsk region, with three explosions recorded, including one overnight and two during the daytime, compared with 18 explosions recorded in the previous reporting period.  

Whilst in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) during the evening hours of 1 September, the SMM heard one undetermined explosion 2-3km north-west of its position. Positioned at the Donetsk central railway station (“DPR”-controlled, 6km north-west of Donetsk city centre), the SMM heard one undetermined explosion 4-5km south-west of its location.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard one undetermined explosion, one burst of heavy-machine-gun and 32 single shots of small-arms fire approximately 1-4km west-south-west of its location.

The SMM observed fewer ceasefire violations also in Luhansk region, with one explosion recorded, compared with eight explosions recorded during the previous reporting period.

Positioned on the northern edge of government-controlled Orikhove (57km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard one undetermined explosion approximately 3-5km south-east of its position.

Positioned in government-controlled Mykolaivka (77km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard uncountable small-arms fire and sporadic heavy-machine-gun fire over a fifteen-minute period 2km north-west of its position. The SMM assessed the fire as part of a live-fire exercise, outside the security zone.  

The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties, observed the results of shelling and conducted crater analysis. At Kalinina Hospital in Donetsk city, the SMM spoke with a wounded civilian male and observed bloodied bandages wrapped around his chest. The man said he was shot in the back in the afternoon of 1 September while standing outside near 16 Lenina Street in “DPR”-controlled Oleksandrivka (20km south-west of Donetsk). The man said he had heard the sound of a second bullet after he was shot. According to him, another civilian had administered first aid, while armed “DPR” members present at a checkpoint approximately 100m from the accident location, had called an ambulance. The doctors at Kalinina Hospital confirmed the victim had sustained a chest wound but they refused to speak with the SMM further.

The SMM observed six fresh craters near government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk), all located between 70-220m south-west, west, and north-west of a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint. The checkpoint is located at the end of a residential street and the craters ranged from 15-30m away from civilian homes and a car repair shop. The SMM assessed that one of the craters had been caused by a 120mm mortar round and that four craters had been caused by 122mm artillery shells, and that five out of six were fired from a southerly or south-westerly direction. The SMM observed that an impact had destroyed a concrete fence in the vicinity of a house, damaged six square metres of the south-west building wall of a car repair shop, and observed shrapnel damage near the craters and surrounding areas. Additionally, the SMM observed damages to a garage building where the flat wooden roof was entirely destroyed, traces of shrapnel were found on all interior walls and a metal door on the southern side of the garage was pierced by shrapnel. The southern wall of a residential building to the north of the garage showed clear traces of shrapnel. The SMM assessed the damages as caused by a 120mm mortar shell fired from a southerly direction.

In government-controlled Kamianka (58km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM observed two craters on the edge of the village. One had been filled in but the SMM assessed the second crater as caused by a 120mm mortar round fired from a south-easterly direction. The SMM also observed a destroyed storage and damages to a fence nearby.

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

Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside assigned areas, at a military training area near “LPR”-controlled Myrne (28km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM observed eleven stationary tanks (T-64, 125mm).

The SMM observed weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage does not comply with the criteria set in the 16 October 2015 notification. The SMM revisited Ukrainian Armed Forces areas and observed in total 12 multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS; BM-27 Uragan, 220mm), six anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira,100mm) and six towed howitzers (2A65 Msta-B, 152mm). The SMM observed as missing five anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) as first observed on 19 April (one piece) and 19 July 2016 (four pieces), one towed howitzer (2A65 Msta-B, 152mm) as first observed on 15 February 2016, and six towed mortars (2B11 Sani, 120mm) as first observed on 28 February 2016. The SMM also observed weapons present for the first time.

The SMM observed the presence of aircraft and an anti-aircraft weapon in the security zone. While on the north side of the bridge near government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed a low-flying jet flying more than 10km to the north-east of the SMM’s position over government-controlled areas. While in government-controlled Orikhove (57km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM observed an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) mounted on a military truck moving west.

The SMM continued to observe the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) and observed a mine awareness presentation for school children. In “DPR”-controlled Styla* (34km south of Donetsk) an SMM patrol saw again two anti-personnel mines (MON-100) attached to a tree (SMM Daily Report 15 March 2016). The SMM continued to observe the presence of an unexploded 82mm mortar round 1m off the asphalt road approximately 120m north of the “LPR” position just north of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. Approximately 150m south of the southernmost Ukrainian Armed Forces position, the SMM observed an unexploded anti-tank rocket also just 1m off of the asphalt road (SMM Daily Report 26 August 2016). In government-controlled Novotoshkivske (53km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM observed the head of the local civil-military administration conducting mine awareness for approximately 50 school children.

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire on both sides of the contact line to enable repairs of essential infrastructure including the power plant in Shchastia. The SMM also observed demining activities for repair of the railway in Orikhove, which need to be completed prior to beginning work on the railway.

The SMM continued to visit schools on both sides of the contact line and spoke with school administrators in government-controlled Troitske (69km west of Luhansk), “LPR”-controlled Chornukhyne (64km south-west of Luhansk), and “DPR”-controlled Horlivka who said that student enrolment has increased for the start of the school year. The SMM also followed up on reports of a school closure in government-controlled Bylbasivka (92km north of Donetsk) and the transfer of students to a different school. The SMM observed a gathering of approximately 150-200 people (mostly women, ages 25-50) in front of the school, which was open, and the head of the Sloviansk District Administration addressing the crowd, some of whom were heard chanting in both Russian and Ukrainian, “No changes”. The school director told the SMM that the school had been closed due to legislative changes stipulating a minimum enrolment requirement for each school of 360 pupils. The head teacher at a combined kindergarten and secondary school in government-controlled Krasnohorivka (24km north of Donetsk) told the SMM that there were 42 children in the school from government-controlled Kamianka (20km north of Donetsk), Vesele (21km north-east of Donetsk), and Krasnohorivka. The SMM has observed a Ukrainian Armed Forces unit located in empty agricultural buildings some 400m from the school.

The SMM also monitored three border areas, in Kharkiv region, a government-controlled area of Luhansk region, and in an area outside government control in Donetsk region. Near the Zhovtneve border crossing point (107km north-east of Kharkiv), the SMM observed three new observation towers along the border fence and spoke with the head of the Ukrainian border guard division in Zhovtneve who said that the situation had been calm for the last week. At the border crossing point in government-controlled Petrivka (150km north of Luhansk), the SMM spoke with two border guards who said the situation was calm. At the border crossing point in “DPR”-controlled Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk) the SMM spoke with a family waiting to cross into the Russian Federation, who said they had moved from Petrovskyi district in Donetsk city to the Russian Federation when the conflict started. They said they had come to Donetsk to check on the condition of their house. Over a period of 60 minutes, the SMM observed two buses, two commercial trucks and 13 civilian cars crossing into Ukraine, and two buses, three commercial trucks and 23 cars traveling in the other direction. The number of licence plates of the vehicles was divided evenly between Ukrainian and Russian Federation plates.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation along the administrative boundary line between the mainland and Crimea. At the Kalanchak, Chaplynka and Chonhar crossing points (67km, 72km and 167km south-east of Kherson respectively) and in adjacent areas, the SMM observed a calm situation. On 1 September in the vicinity of Valok border guard outpost (205km south-east of Kherson), the SMM saw one armoured personnel carrier (APC).

On 1 September, the SMM observed a public gathering and the forcible removal of a protest camp outside of city hall in Odessa by other activists. The SMM observed as more than 100 male known activists who identified themselves through matching badges and t-shirts as the Council for Public Security and Odessa Self-Defence, systematically broke up the tents and other structures of a camp erected in front of city hall on 13 April 2016 by protestors in opposition to the Odessa Mayor. The SMM observed as protestors defending the camp fought physically and verbally with the activists clearing the camp, and 15 riot police intervening during the clashes. One protestor was injured and taken away in an ambulance. The SMM also noted 30 patrol police, 18 patrol police cars and an ambulance parked nearby. On 2 September, the SMM observed as 20 protestors attempted to re-assemble at the site but the area was cordoned off and inaccessible. They were met by 30 Odessa municipal guards and 20 patrol policemen. From 17:00-18:00, the SMM observed discussions that were ongoing between police and the protestors, but the scene was calm.

*Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to the fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM’s monitoring is restrained by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines and unexploded ordnance, and by restrictions of its freedom of movement 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.

Denial of access:

• Less than 1km east-north-east from “DPR”-controlled Sosnivske (35km north-east of Mariupol), an armed man, from approximately 30m away, pointed his automatic rifle (AK-47) at an SMM patrol and gestured for the patrol to leave the area. The patrol withdrew 200m and waited for 30 minutes before departing. The JCCC was informed.
• After an earlier delay in the same area, while in “DPR”-controlled Hryhorivka (68km south of Donetsk), an armed man stopped the SMM and said that it was too dangerous to continue. The SMM contacted the JCCC and left the area.
• In “DPR”-controlled Nova Marivka (64km south of Donetsk) an armed man stopped the SMM and claimed that no vehicular access of any kind was permitted into the village.  The SMM contacted the JCCC and after 52 minutes it left the area.

Conditional access:

• Near the eastern edge of “DPR”-controlled Mykolaivka (39km north-north-east of Mariupol), armed men told the SMM that they would only be allowed to patrol on two streets in the village and that they could only proceed under armed escort. The SMM contacted the JCCC and continued on the patrol under escort.
• On the north-eastern edge of “DPR”-controlled Snizhne (72km east of Donetsk), an armed man asked the SMM for its patrol destination, checked the identification of all patrol members and then inspected the trunk of each SMM vehicle before allowing the SMM to proceed. The JCCC was not informed.

Delay:

• While near “DPR”-controlled Shevchenko (69km south of Donetsk) armed men stopped the SMM and said that it could not proceed to “DPR”-controlled Mykolaivka due to security reasons. The SMM contacted the JCCC and after 40 minutes, the patrol was allowed to proceed.
• While in “DPR”-controlled Hryhorivka (68km south of Donetsk), the patrol was delayed by another armed “DPR” member for 15 minutes, who initially said the SMM could not proceed. The SMM contacted the JCCC and after 15 minutes delay the SMM was allowed to proceed.

Other impediments:

• Near “DPR”-controlled Styla (34km south of Donetsk) the SMM confirmed the presence of two anti-personnel mines (MON-100 A) attached to a tree (SMM Daily Report 15 March). After the SMM photographed the mines, an armed “DPR” member carrying an automatic rifle (AK-47) approached the patrol and asked what the SMM was doing. The SMM explained its mandate and that the photographs were taken for reporting purposes. The “DPR” member then told the patrol that the next time OSCE would come to look at the mines, he would detonate them.

[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.