Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 5 May 2017

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations. The Mission recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including in an incident in which an armed man sexually harassed a female patrol member. The SMM assessed impact sites and damage to residential areas caused by shelling. The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in non-government controlled areas. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to a gas pipeline in Zhovte, and power lines in Krasni Partizan and between Mykhailivka and Kadiivka. The SMM monitored one border area currently not under government control.

The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, among them 132 explosions, slightly fewer than in the previous reporting period (150).[1]

Whilst in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) on the night of 4-5 May the SMM heard and saw 21 airbursts, saw 70 tracers in flight from south-west to north-east and heard 42 undetermined explosions, bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 5-12km north-west and south-west.

While in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city centre on the night of 4-5 May the SMM heard 16 undetermined explosions 6-8km north-west.

On the night of 4 May the SMM camera at Oktiabr mine (9km north-west of Donetsk city centre) recorded a total of 16 projectiles in flight from east to west, nine from west to east and six undetermined explosions, all at distances 4-6km north-east.

While in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk) on the evening of 4 May the SMM heard a total of three explosions assessed as impacts of mortar rounds (82mm), four as outgoing rounds of infantry fighting vehicle (BMP-1) cannon fire (73mm) and bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 3-4km south-east.

While in Mariupol on the evening of 4 May, the SMM heard ten undetermined explosions assessed as artillery rounds at an unknown distance north-east.

On the night of 4-5 May the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded a total of two airbursts, 196 tracers in flight, one rocket-assisted projectile in flight and one undetermined explosion.

On the night of 4-5 May the SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north-west of Donetsk) recorded a total of nine projectiles from south to north and two undetermined explosions 3-5km east-south-east. During the daytime on 5 May the SMM recorded 13 undetermined explosions and small-arms fire 1-4km south-east.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period, including 22 explosions (compared with five). Positioned just south of the Zolote (60km west of Luhansk) disengagement area, the SMM heard 22 undetermined explosions 10km east-north-east.

The SMM assessed impact sites and damage to residential areas caused by shelling. In “LPR”-controlled Sentianivka (formerly Frunze, 44km west of Luhansk) the SMM observed a freshly filled-in crater in the yard south of a house at 35 Sovietov Street. The SMM saw fragments of shrapnel near the crater but was told by residents that much of the shrapnel had been removed by “LPR” members and others prior to the SMM’s arrival. It assessed that the crater had been caused by a mortar round (120mm) fired from a north-north-westerly direction. The SMM assessed that the round had struck a tree, then the western corner of the house before exploding in the yard. Shrapnel damage was visible on the gate of the house. The SMM observed broken windows and damage to roof tiles. A female resident (about 50 years old) said that at about 05:00 on 5 May she had heard an exchange of fire and an explosion. Residents said no one had been injured.

The SMM also observed damage caused by shelling in government-controlled areas. In Hranitne (60km south of Donetsk) the Mission observed severely damaged west- and south-facing walls of a house at 40 Shevchenka Street and traces of shrapnel damage on the roof of 38 Shevchenka Street and trees nearby. The Mission assessed that the house had been struck by an artillery (122mm) or tank shell (125mm) fired from the south-south-west. A group of residents (three women and a man, all in their sixties) said the shelling happened early on 1 May and that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had removed remnants of the round.

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 2016. The SMM’s access remained restricted but the Mission was able to partially monitor them.*

On the night of 3 May the SMM camera in government-controlled Zolote recorded one burst (three shots) of small-arms fire 1.5km east-north-east (assessed as outside the disengagement area).

Positioned 100m south-east of government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk) the SMM heard one undetermined explosion 3km north-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.

In violation of the respective withdrawal lines the SMM continued to observe seven multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm), seven self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm), ten towed howitzers (five D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm; and five 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm), and seven tanks (T-72) at an aerodrome on the south-eastern outskirts of Luhansk city. Also in violation of withdrawal lines, the SMM observed a tank (T-64) near “DPR”-controlled Obilne (20km south-east of Donetsk) being carried on a flatbed lorry heading north.

Near “DPR”-controlled Sidove (106km south of Donetsk) the SMM observed two convoys: one of two buses (carrying about 80 individuals in camouflage attire, some armed), a covered military-type truck, a jeep and a civilian car travelling north-west and another convoy of two buses carrying about 60 individuals in camouflage attire heading for Sidove. The SMM was denied access to Sidove by armed “DPR” members.*

The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire, co-ordinated by the JCCC, to enable repairs to a gas pipeline in “LPR”-controlled Zhovte (17km north-west of Luhansk). A repair worker told the SMM that the road leading to the gas distribution station had been completed. Positioned between “LPR”-controlled Pervomaisk (58km west of Luhansk) and “LPR”-controlled Kalynove-Borshchuvate (61km west of Luhansk) the SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair works to the Mykhailivka-Kadiivka power line. The SMM facilitated repair of power lines in “DPR”-controlled Krasni Partizan (23km north-east of Donetsk).

The SMM visited one border area currently not under control of the government. At the pedestrian border crossing point in “LPR”-controlled Sievernyi (50km south-east of Luhansk) the SMM observed, over a period of 50 minutes, five pedestrians exit Ukraine and nine enter. Many of those entering Ukraine carried bags of groceries.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, 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 JCCC should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance.

Denial of access:

• Armed “LPR” members told the SMM that that they could not guarantee the safety of the Mission in fields and side roads in the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC.
• A Ukrainian officer of the JCCC told the SMM that no demining activities had taken place during the previous 24 hours in the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area and that, with the exception of the main road, the SMM’s safety could not be guaranteed in the surrounding areas due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC.
• A man armed with an assault rifle (AK-47) sexually harassed a female patrol member and threatened to stop the patrol from moving east from Petrivske towards Rozdolne until his demands were met. The SMM left the area via a different road and 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 no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours and that the road south of the bridge remained mined. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• Armed “DPR” members denied the SMM access to Sidove. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• Armed “DPR” members denied the SMM access to Staromykhailivka (15km west of Donetsk). The SMM informed the JCCC.

Conditional access:

• On two occasions on 4 May, “DPR” members at the entry-exit checkpoint in Olenivka (23km south-west of Donetsk) insisted on checking the interior of SMM trailers. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• “DPR” members stopped the SMM at a checkpoint in Oleksandrivka (20km south-west of Donetsk) and checked the interior of both patrol vehicles, following which the SMM was allowed to proceed.

Delayed access:

• An armed man delayed the SMM for 16 minutes while it attempted to reach the camera site in Petrivske.

[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.