Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 24 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 followed up on reports of a civilian casualty in Naberezhne and observed damage to houses and other infrastructure in Horlivka. The Mission monitored the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access there and elsewhere remained restricted.* An armed man fired a shot in the air 20m away from an SMM patrol in Znamianka.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The blockade of railway routes across the contact line in Buhas, Hirske and Bakhmut continued. In Kharkiv region the SMM continued monitoring the situation following a fire and a series of explosions at an ammunition storage depot.

In Donetsk region the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations,[1] including about 550 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (1,530 explosions).

On the evening of 23 March the SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) recorded one undetermined explosion and nine projectiles, in sequence, two were in flight from south to north, one from north to south, three from south to north, three from east to west and one from north to south, all 4-6km east-south-east of the camera.

On 24 March, positioned at the “DPR”-controlled Donetsk central railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk city centre), the SMM heard six explosions assessed as outgoing rounds of unknown weapon systems and their subsequent impacts 3-5km west-north-west, as well as 133 undetermined explosions and about 80 bursts of heavy-machine gun fire, all 2-6km west, west-north-west, north-west and north.

Positioned at two locations in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 48 undetermined explosions and 15 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 0.5-4km south-west, west and north-west, and 16 undetermined explosions 1-4km south-east. Positioned in Avdiivka, the SMM heard 69 undetermined explosions and about 50 bursts of heavy-machine gun fire east, south-east and south, as well as ten undetermined explosions west and south-west.

On the afternoon of 24 March, in two hours, the SMM camera in Avdiivka recorded 30 undetermined explosions, three airbursts and 12 projectiles in flight (in sequence, six from west to east, one north to south, one west to east, one north to south, and three from west to east), all 4-5km south-south-east and east-south-east. Over approximately the same span of time, the SMM camera at Oktiabr mine (“DPR”-controlled, 9km north-west of Donetsk) recorded four undetermined explosions, one airburst and two projectiles in flight from east to west, 4-6km north-north-east of the camera location.

On the evening of 23 March, while in “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 28 undetermined explosions 15km north-west. While in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the Mission heard 78 undetermined explosions 4-8km south-west. While in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard about 65 explosions assessed as caused by artillery rounds, of which 31 were assessed as outgoing, 18 as impacts and 16 undetermined, all 5-8km south-west, west-south-west and north-west.

On the afternoon of 24 March, while in Horlivka the SMM heard nine explosions assessed as impacts of mortar rounds (120mm), 24 undetermined explosions, and intense anti-aircraft cannon (ZU-23, 23mm), heavy-machine gun and small-arms fire, all 6-8km south-west.

On the evening and night of 23 March the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded three undetermined explosions and 12 tracer rounds in flight, in sequence, three from west to east, five east to west and four west to east, all at undetermined distances to the north and north-north-east of the camera. On 24 March, the same camera recorded one rocket-assisted projectile in flight east to west and two bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 2-3km east-north-east.

On 24 March, positioned near government-controlled Hnutove (20km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard five undetermined explosions at undetermined distances to the south-east, south-south-east and south, and 12 bursts of infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-2) cannon (30mm ) fire 3-4km south. Positioned near government-controlled Pyshchevyk (25km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard two undetermined explosions at undetermined distances to the west-south-west and one undetermined explosion 300m north-north-east. Positioned near government-controlled Sopyne (16km east of Mariupol), the SMM heard seven explosions assessed as outgoing rounds of unknown weapon systems at undetermined distances to the north-east and four undetermined explosions at unknown distances north-north-east and east-north-east.

Positioned in government-controlled Andriivka (61km south of Donetsk), the SMM heard 11 undetermined explosions 3-6km west and north-west. Positioned in DPR-controlled Novooleksandrivka (75km south-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard ten undetermined explosions and three minutes of  uncountable bursts of heavy machine-gun and small-arms fire, 5-6km south-west. The SMM assessed the ceasefire violations recorded both in Andriivka and Novooleksandrivka as live-fire exercises, outside the security zone. 

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded a sharp decrease in the number of ceasefire violations, with about 50 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (3,600 explosions).

On 24 March, positioned in “LPR”-controlled Kalynove (60km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 13 explosions assessed as outgoing rounds  from either artillery or mortar fire and three undetermined explosions 5-10km south-west, west-south-west and west. Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Malomykolaivka (36km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 12 explosions assessed as tank fire 5-7km west-north-west, and assessed those explosions as live-fire exercise, outside the security zone. Positioned near “LPR”-controlled Kalynove-Borshchuvate (61km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard four undetermined explosions and 20 shots of heavy-machine-gun fire 5km south-west. Positioned in government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard one explosion assessed as outgoing round of an unknown weapon system 1km south-south-east.

On 24 March, in “LPR”-controlled Znamianka (36km north-west of Luhansk) the SMM heard eight single shots of small-arms fire approximately 1km south. Three men wearing camouflage clothes, one of them armed with an assault rifle (AK-47), were within 20m of the vehicles. Less than a minute later the SMM heard the third man, who was about 20m west of the patrol, cock a pistol (type undetermined). He then fired one shot straight into the air. The patrol returned to its vehicles and departed, due to security concerns. (See SMM Spot Report 25 March 2017)

The SMM followed up on reports of a civilian casualty and damage to houses and other infrastructure. At a hospital in “DPR”-controlled Novoazovsk (40km east of Mariupol) medical staff told the SMM that a 51-year-old woman who had suffered shrapnel injuries to the leg and chest was receiving treatment at the hospital. The SMM spoke to the woman, who said that she had sustained injuries when she was outside her house in Naberezhne (77km south of Donetsk) during shelling on 17 March. She showed the SMM some shrapnel fragments.

The SMM assessed two impact sites in northern Horlivka. The SMM saw a fresh crater on the sidewalk about 15 meters west of an eight-story residential building at 20 Marshala Peresypkina Street. The Mission assessed the crater as having been caused by a 122mm artillery round fired from a northerly direction. The Mission observed shattered windows and shrapnel damage to the western facade of the building. On Bohuna Street, the SMM observed an impact site on the asphalt road, assessed as caused by a 122mm artillery round fired from a northerly direction. The SMM saw broken windows and shrapnel damage to the facades of four houses on the same street, namely numbers 7 and 8 on the northern side and 18 and 20 on the southern side, all about 10m from the crater. The Mission also observed damage to gas pipelines, which had already been repaired with metal patches, and a car with a blown out rear windscreen. Two groups of residents separately said the shelling had occurred on the night of 23-24 March.

The SMM observed that a bridge in an area of Zolote-4, between the forward positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and “LPR” armed formations, which had been blown up on the evening of 22 March, (see SMM Daily Report 24 March 2017), had been fully repaired.

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.*

The SMM camera in government-controlled Zolote recorded, on the afternoon and evening of 22 March, one undetermined explosion 3km south-south-east, one explosion assessed as outgoing fire from a rocket-propelled-grenade launcher and one undetermined explosion 2.5-3km north-east, all assessed as outside the disengagement area. 

The SMM camera in Stanytsia Luhanska recorded, on the early morning hours of 23 March, one explosion assessed as outgoing automatic-grenade-launcher fire 1km south-east of the camera, assessed as inside the disengagement area. 

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, in implementation of the Package of Measures, its Addendum, and the Memorandum.[2]

In violation of the respective withdrawal lines the SMM saw in government-controlled areas: nine anti-tank guns (MT-12, Rapira, 100mm) in Vesele (87km north of Donetsk); 11 multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS; BM-21 Grad, 122mm) in Chabanivka (66km north-west of Luhansk); and one stationary surface-to-air missile system (9K33 Osa, 210mm) in Zaitseve (62km north-east of Donetsk). On 23 March, an SMM mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted one self-propelled howitzer (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) near Lebedynske (16km north-east of Mariupol).

In violation of the respective withdrawal line the SMM saw 13 stationary towed howitzers (D-30, 122mm) in “DPR”-controlled Novooleksandrivka.

Beyond the respective withdrawal line, but outside designated storage sites, the SMM saw: in government-controlled areas: a tank (T-64 BV) on a truck heading north-west in Novoaidar (49km north-west of Luhansk), and a convoy of military vehicles including seven MLRS (BM-21) leaving from a heavy weapons storage site, to which Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel denied the SMM access.* 

Beyond the respective withdrawal line, but outside designated storage sites, the SMM saw seven tanks (T64) at a training range near “LPR”-controlled Uspenka (23km south-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 saw four surface-to-air missile systems (9K35 Strela-10, 120mm), two of them noted for the first time, and 25 tanks (T-64, 125mm). Twenty tanks (16 T-72 and four T-64) were again missing, while one tank (T-64) was missing for the first time.

In non-government-controlled areas, the SMM noted one site as abandoned for the first time with 21 mortars (PM-38, 120mm) missing. The SMM also noted that two other sites were again abandoned with six MLRS (BM-21) and six self-propelled howitzers (2S1) missing.

The SMM revisited permanent storage sites whose locations corresponded with the withdrawal lines. In government-controlled areas the SMM noted that 41 tanks (ten T-72 and 31 T-64) and three mortars (2B9 Vasilek, 82mm) were missing, as previously noted. In non-government-controlled areas, the Mission noted that one tank (T-64) was missing for the first time.

In “LPR”-controlled Zhovte (17km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM observed about 25 new mine hazard signs placed in various points of the village. In two separate locations near Popasna, the SMM observed that, in violation of the Memorandum of 19 September 2014, two mobile anti-tank-mine barriers, each consisting of six anti-tank mines, were again present.

The SMM also observed armoured combat vehicles, anti-aircraft guns[3], military positions and one UAV in the security zone. In non-government controlled areas the SMM saw an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23-2) mounted on a military-type truck in Kadyivka (formerly Stakhanov, 50km west of Luhansk) and a static armoured personnel carrier (APC) (MT-LB) in Stare (formerly Chervonyi Prapor , 58km west of Luhansk); and one anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) mounted on a military-type truck south of Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) bridge. In Yasynuvata on two separate occasions, the SMM saw an unidentified UAV (a fixed wing-combustion engine powered) flying from north-west to south-east, in a zone where, according to the Memorandum of 19 September 2014, the flight of combat aviation and foreign UAVs, except UAVs used by the SMM, is forbidden.

In government-controlled areas the SMM saw: six static IFVs (BMP-2) in Popasna; one anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23-2, 23mm) in Kurakhove (40km west of Donetsk); two IFVs (BMP-1) and one anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23-2, 23mm) in Zolote; three APCs (two MT-LBs and one BTR-D), near Zaitseve. An SMM mid-range UAV spotted: six IFVs (BMP-2), one APC (BTR-80) and three mortar firing positions, as well as trenches and bunkers, near Lebedynske (16km north-east of Mariupol); and one APC (BRDM) and one IFV (BMP-1kSh) near Stepne (29km south-west of Donetsk).

The SMM monitored the continuation of the blockade of railway routes across the contact line. In government-controlled Buhas (44km south-west of Donetsk), Hirske (63km west of Luhansk) and Bakhmut (67km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM noted no changes and a calm situation. In Zaporizhzhia (70km south of Dnipro) a representative of a trade union for the mine and metallurgical industry told the SMM that all metallurgical plants in Zaporizhzhia region were affected by the blockade and that the “Ukrhrafit” metallurgical company had informed the unions of a planned 70 per cent reduction of its 2,200 employees staff.

In Kharkiv the SMM continued to follow up on reports of a fire at an ammunition storage depot located in Baakliia (74km south-east of Kharkiv). (See SMM Daily Report 24 March 2017). A representative of the State Emergency Services (SES) told the SMM that explosions of ordnances at the depot were continuing with a reduced intensity, adding that 1,300 officials (SES, national police, Ukrainian Armed Forces, National Guard/Ministry of Interior) were mobilized, and that demining operations had started within a 10km radius around the depot. A representative of the social protection department stated that 20,000 people had been evacuated at this stage with a priority given to the most vulnerable groups (people with disabilities and the elderly). He added that one woman had been found dead in her house in Balakliia, damaged by the explosions, and that ten persons had suffered injuries.

In Kyiv the Mission monitored the continuation of a protest outside a branch of Sberbank and noted a similar situation as on the previous day (see SMM Daily Report 24 March 2017).

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv 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 (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 Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (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 still 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 on the edge of the Zolote disengagement area, armed men told the SMM that its safety could still 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 again unable to travel west from “DPR”-controlled Petrivske due to a lack of security guarantees and the possible presence of mines. The Mission again informed the JCCC.
• The SMM still could not travel south of 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 again informed the JCCC.
• The presence of anti-tank obstacles and mine hazard signs on the road prevented the SMM from traveling between Katerynivka (64km west of Luhansk) and government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk). Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel present told the SMM that the road was mined and permission from higher-level authorities was needed. The Mission again informed the JCCC.
• A man in civilian clothes again denied the SMM access to a compound in “LPR”-controlled Khrustalnyi (formerly Krasnyi Luch, 56km south-west of Luhansk) (See SMM Daily Report 21 March 2017). The SMM could see at least seven infantry fighting vehicles in the premises. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• At 12:45, on a road 1km west of “LPR”-controlled Yuzhna-Lomuvatka (60km west of Luhansk), two armed men stopped the SMM and prevented it from proceeding further towards an abandoned mine. The Mission informed the JCCC.
• Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel denied the SMM access to a heavy weapons site. The Mission informed the JCCC.

Delay

• Armed men initially denied the SMM access to a weapons permanent storage site. The SMM was granted access after about one hour. The SMM informed the JCCC.

 

[1] Please see the annexed table for 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.