Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 27 March 2017

The SMM recorded on 27 March more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, and fewer ceasefire violations in Luhansk region, compared with 26 March. The Mission observed damage caused by recent shelling to houses and civilian infrastructure in Avdiivka, Popasna and Vesela Hora. The Mission monitored the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access there and elsewhere remained restricted.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM visited one border area currently not controlled by the Government. 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 more ceasefire violations,[1] including about 750 explosions, compared with 26 March (about 660 explosions).

On the evening and night of 26 March the SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) recorded 59 explosions (37 undetermined and 22 assessed as impacts of rounds of undetermined weapons) and 45 projectiles in flight (in sequence: 20 from north to south, two from south to north and 23 from north to south) all 3-8km east-south-east and south-east of the camera.

On the evening of 27 March, the SMM camera at the “DPR”-controlled Oktiabr mine (9km north-west of Donetsk city centre) recorded 27 undetermined explosions, five airbursts, and a total of 16 projectiles in flight (five from north to south, 11 from north-west to south-east and one from south-east to north-west), all 4-10km north-east of the camera.

While in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city centre on the evening and night of 26-27 March, the SMM heard about 90 undetermined explosions 7-9km north-west.

On 27 March, positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 39 undetermined explosions, about 40 bursts and 65 shots of heavy-machine-gun fire 2-5km at points ranging from south-west to north-east. In the afternoon of the same day, the SMM camera in Avdiivka recorded 63 undetermined explosions and eight projectiles in flight north to south all 2-4km east-south-east and south-east.

On the evening and night of 26-27 March while in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM heard 15 explosions, of which 12 were assessed as outgoing rounds and three as impacts, 8-12km north, 45 shots of automatic grenade launcher 4-6km north-west and 30 bursts of anti-aircraft cannon (ZU-23, 23mm) fire 4-6 km north-west. The same evening, while in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard about 215 undetermined explosions 10-15km east-south-east and south-east, and 67 undetermined explosions assessed as of unknown calibre artillery rounds, 7-10km north-north-east. On the evening and night of 26-27 March, while in “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 100 undetermined explosions. On the afternoon of 27 March, while in Horlivka, the SMM heard about 20 undetermined explosions 3-5km west-south-west.

On the evening and night of 26-27 March the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded nine airbursts and one explosion assessed as the impact of a round from an undetermined weapon 2km north-east of the camera, 19 undetermined explosions at unknown distance to the north-east, and a three-hour long exchange beginning with, in sequence, 97 tracer rounds in flight from east to west, 16 from west to east, 61 east to west and three west to east, and followed by a total of 153 tracer rounds in flight from east to west and 125 from west to east, all at undetermined distances to the north-east.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer explosions (33) on 27 March compared with 26 March (56). On the evening of 26 March, while in Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, “LPR”-controlled, 50km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard three explosions assessed as caused by artillery rounds and four undetermined explosions 5-10km west of its position. In the afternoon of 27 March, while in Kadiivka, the SMM heard 15 undetermined explosions 10-15 km south-west and west-north-west. On the same day, around noon, positioned near government-controlled Oleksandropillia (71km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard five explosions assessed as outgoing mortar rounds (120mm) 3-5km west-south-west.

The SMM followed up on reports of damage to houses by shelling. The SMM, accompanied by Ukrainian officers of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), observed two impact sites in government-controlled Avdiivka. At 13 Bielinskoho Street, the SMM observed damage from a direct hit on the south-south-east facing portion of the roof. The SMM assessed that the shell had penetrated the roof and exploded inside the house, causing structural damage to the ceiling and the walls of one room. The SMM assessed the impact as having been caused by a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS; BM-21 Grad, 122mm) round fired from a south-south-easterly direction. The SMM saw three metal fragments assessed as from MLRS BM-21 rocket casing. The SMM also observed damage to neighbouring houses: on walls and windows of houses on numbers 24 and 26 of the same streets, and on roof and windows of a house on number 11. Two residents separately said the shelling had occurred around noon on 26 March. A second impact site was assessed at a garbage dump on Ostrovskoho Street. The SMM saw one impact on soft ground and assessed it as having been caused by a MLRS (BM-21) round fired from a south-south-easterly direction. The SMM also saw shrapnel damage to windows, walls and roofs of six houses on the south side of the street, about 50m north of the impact site.

In government-controlled Zaitseve (62km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM saw impact sites on a hill north of the village, where a civilian aviation radar dome is located. The SMM observed a large hole on the south-eastern side of the dome, two craters inside the compound,  and about 20 craters on the on the southern and eastern slopes. The SMM assessed the craters as having been caused by artillery rounds (122mm) fired from southerly directions. The SMM saw Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers loading trucks and also noted abandoned trenches for positioning anti-aircraft equipment.

In government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk), at 294 Bakhmutska Street, the SMM observed a large hole and broken windows on the south-east facing wall of a one-storey house. At the house number 302 of the same street, the SMM observed one fresh crater 15m from the house, whose windows had been broken.  At number 265, the SMM observed a third crater in a garden and broken windows on the north-west facing wall of the neighbouring house (no. 263) The SMM assessed all three impacts as caused by mortar rounds (82mm) fired from southerly directions.

In “LPR”-controlled Vesela Hora (16km north of Luhansk), the SMM saw what it assessed had been a direct hit causing damage to the north-north-west facing wall of a storage building of a farm in the southern edge of the village, a fresh crater on soft ground about 5m north-west of the building, a second fresh crater on a ravine 40m north-west from the building, a third one, also fresh, on soft ground 70m east of the building, and also a direct impact on the roof and on the north-facing wall of another building of the farm, a warehouse about 200m south-east from the first one. The SMM assessed that all the impacts were caused by mortar rounds (120mm) fired from a north-westerly or northerly direction. The SMM observed damage to electrical wires between pylons inside the farm compound, which were being repaired by a crew of an electrical company.

In “LPR”-controlled Molodizhne (63km north-west of Luhansk) the SMM observed two fresh impacts on soft soil, one around 20m north-west of an inhabited house on Kurska Street 1 and the other about 20m south-west of an inhabited house on Lisna Street. No damage to the houses was observed. The SMM assessed the impacts as having being cause by either anti-aircraft cannon (ZU-23, 23mm) or infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-2) cannon (30mm) fired from a north-westerly direction. Residents told the SMM that the firing had occurred on 26 March. The Mission noticed a compound occupied by armed “LPR” members about 400m north-east from the impact sites.

The SMM observed a mortar tail fin struck in the ground 100m north-west of an “LPR” checkpoint north-east of Novooleksandrivka (65km west of Luhansk) The Mission assessed the impact as fresh and that it had been caused by a mortar round (120mm) fired from a westerly direction.  The SMM observed “LPR” members marking the UXO with rocks and a red mine sign.

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 evening of 25 March, in sequence, three projectiles, three signal flares, and one projectile – all in flight from north-west to south-east – followed by two projectiles in flight from south-east to north-west and their subsequent impacts. All were 2-3.6km east and east-south-east of the camera, assessed as outside the disengagement area.

On 27 March, near the “LPR” checkpoint south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, inside the disengagement area, the SMM observed a newly constructed bunker and previously observed trenches that had been reinforced with empty ammunition boxes and tyres filled with sand.

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:

three self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) in Anadol (39km north of Mariupol); six anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) in Novoaidar (49km north-east of Luhansk); two IFVs (BMP-2) with two anti-tank guided missile systems (9M113 Konkurs, 135mm) 2km east of Novotoshkivske (53km west of Luhansk).

In violation of the respective withdrawal lines, an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), spotted three self-propelled howitzers (2S1) in “DPR”-controlled Mytkovo-Kachkari (32km north-east of Mariupol).

Beyond the respective withdrawal lines, but outside designated storage sites, the SMM saw in government-controlled areas four MLRS (BM-21, Grad, 122mm) near Rivnopil (65km south-west of Donetsk).  

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 31 tanks (T64). The SMM also observed that three sites continue to be abandoned, with 27 self-propelled howitzers (eight 2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm and 19 2S1) and one surface-to-air missile systems (9K35 Strela-10, 120mm) missing.

In non-government controlled areas, the Mission saw five MLRS (BM-21), six towed howitzers (2A18, D-30, 122mm), six self-propelled howitzers (2S1) and four anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm). The SMM noted that 12 mortars (RM-38, 50mm) continued to be missing. The SMM also observed, for the first time, that one site was abandoned with 11 MLRS (BM-21) missing.

The SMM revisited a Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent storage site whose location corresponded with the withdrawal line. The SMM noted, as previously observed, that 20 tanks (T-64) and nine mortars (seven 2B9, two BM-37, one 2B14, all 82mm) were missing.

The SMM also observed armoured combat vehicles[3] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, on 27 March, the SMM saw: four static IFVs (BMP 2) near Staryi Aidar (20km north-west of Luhansk); one armoured personal carrier (APC; BTR -60) driving south in Muratove (51km north-west of Luhansk); and five stationary IFVs (BMP 2) in and near Popasna. An SMM mid-range UAV spotted two IFVs (BMP-1) near Svitlodarsk.

In non-government-controlled areas, the SMM saw a static IFV (BMP-2) in Pionerske (19km east of Luhansk). An SMM mid-range UAV spotted one IFV (BMP-2) in Khriashchivka (22km east of Luhansk).

At a water treatment facility near “DPR”-controlled  Yasne (30km south-west of Donetsk) an SMM mid-range UAV spotted one military truck, a second smaller truck (or minivan) and a trench.

On the M04 highway between “LPR”-controlled Sorokyne (formerly Krasnodon, 43km south-east of Luhansk) and Luhansk city, the SMM observed armed “LPR” members positioned 100-200m apart along the road’s entire length, some of whom were stopping and checking civilian vehicles. Near “LPR”-controlled Prydorozhne (28km south-east of Luhansk) the SMM saw a “police” car and three black Land Cruisers heading south-east.

The SMM visited one border area currently not controlled by the Government. In an hour at the Voznesenivka border crossing point (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, 65km south-east of Luhansk) the SMM saw 17 civilian cars (seven with Ukrainian licence plates, including one towing a small covered trailer, nine with Russian Federation licence plates, one with “LPR” plates) and one passenger bus (with Russian Federation licence plates, marked “Sverdlovsk-Gukovo”) carrying about 20 passengers, and one covered cargo truck (with Ukrainian licence plates) and an unmarked covered green trailer exit Ukraine. The SMM noted the truck passed in three minutes. The SMM saw the following vehicles enter Ukraine: seven civilian cars (with Ukrainian licence plates), seven civilian cars (with Russian Federation licence plates), one camper van (with Ukrainian licence plates, but the SMM could not observe the content of the rest of the camper van) and one unmarked white minivan (with Ukrainian licence plates, with about 15 people on board). There were no markings on the minivan. The SMM also seven pedestrians (two women, five men) exit Ukraine and 11 pedestrians (three men, six women and two children). The SMM noted two civilian cars (with Ukrainian licence plates) waiting in a queue to exit Ukraine. The Mission saw 14 civilian cars in the parking lot (11 with Ukrainian licence plates and three with Russian Federation ones) and four taxis (with Ukrainian licence plates).

The SMM monitored the continuation of the blockade of railway routes across the contact line. On both 27 March, the SMM noted no changes and a calm situation in government-controlled Buhas (44km south-west of Donetsk), Hirske (63km west of Luhansk) and Bakhmut (formerly Artemivsk, 67km north of Donetsk).

At the railway station in “LPR”-controlled Fashchivka (61km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM observed about several dozen carriages loaded with coal. Four employees (two men aged about 55 and two women aged about 35) told the SMM that the wagons have been stopped since 4 March due to the blockade. At a coal mine south of “LPR”-controlled Timiriazieve (56km south-west of Luhansk), a guard (man, aged about 50) told the SMM that the mine was not operational, due to the blockade.

The SMM continued monitoring the situation following a fire and a series of explosions at an ammunition storage depot on 23 March in Balakliia (74km south-east of Kharkiv). (See SMM Daily Report 25 March 2017.) On 27 March, positioned near the depot’s entrance, the SMM heard a loud explosion inside it. The Mission noted that about 30 residential buildings had been damaged by what it assessed to be blast waves, with broken windows and damage to roofs, balconies and fences, in a radius of 4km from the facility. It also noted 10-15 pieces of unexploded ordnance in fields around the depot. A male resident of the town told the SMM that he had had to evacuate his family, including his two-month-old grandchild, on the night of 23 March. An elderly couple said that they had been evacuated on 23 March but had returned the next day. A young woman said she, her mother and her daughter had been evacuated the same night but had also returned the next day.

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

*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.

• < > 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 government-controlled Katerynivka (64km west of Luhansk) and government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk). Ukrainian military personnel present told the SMM that the road was mined and permission from higher-level authorities was needed.

• The SMM could not proceed eastward on the road to Viktorivka (42km south-west of Donetsk) from government-controlled Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk) as Ukrainian officers of the JCCC said that they could not assist in ensuring the security of the SMM as they did not control the road.

• Armed “LPR” members at the checkpoint on the entrance of a polygon near “LPR”-controlled Buhaivka (37km south-west of Luhansk) denied access to the SMM, citing ongoing training. The SMM informed the JCCC.

• An unarmed Ukrainian Armed Forces officer denied the SMM access to a military compound near Rivnopil (65km south-west of Donetsk), stating the SMM needed permission to enter. The Mission informed the JCCC.

• A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer denied the SMM access to a military compound in Novoselivka (37km north-east of Mariupol), citing orders not to let the SMM in. The Mission informed the JCCC.

Conditional access:

• In “DPR” controlled Petrivske, after eight minutes delay at a “DPR” checkpoint at the northern entrance to the town, the SMM was allowed to proceed to the camera site on the condition that an armed “DPR” member escorted it. The armed man stayed until the SMM left the town. 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.