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

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. It followed up on reports of civilian casualties near Betmanove. The Mission facilitated the handover of possible human remains and debris from Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote and observed ceasefire violations near but outside both, except for one shot which could not be assessed as in- or outside these areas. Its access remained restricted in the disengagement areas and elsewhere, including Shchastia, and its camera near the Prince Ihor monument south of Stanytsia Luhanska was intentionally temporarily disabled.* The SMM heard two explosions about 400m from the entry-exit checkpoint in Novotroitske. The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Pavlopil, Zaichenko, and Verkhnoshyrokivske. It facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance to essential infrastructure in Shchastia, Zolote, Artema, Novozvanivka, and Mykolaivka. In Kyiv, the SMM observed a protest in relation to legislation concerning local governance and reintegration of areas outside of government control in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

In Donetsk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations[1], including about 60 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 40 explosions).

On the evening of 4 October, while in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city centre, the SMM heard eight undetermined explosions and 19 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 3-10km west and north-west.

On the night of 4-5 October, while in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57k north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard seven undetermined explosions, 41 bursts and five shots of heavy-machine-gun fire, as well as ten bursts and five shots of small-arms fire, all 3-12km south-east, west, and north.

On the night of 4-5 October, the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded, in sequence, a tracer round in flight from east to west, six tracer rounds from west to east, 15 tracer rounds from east to west, an undetermined explosion, a tracer round from east to west, five illumination flares in vertical flight, three tracer rounds from east to west, an illumination flare in vertical flight, a tracer round from east to west, a tracer round from west to east, 59 tracer rounds from east to west, and two tracer rounds from west to east, all at undetermined distances north.

On 5 October, while queuing at the entry-exit checkpoint near government-controlled Novotroitske (36km south-west of Donetsk) along with hundreds of civilians, the SMM heard two explosions assessed as outgoing mortar rounds 400m east of its position.

Positioned in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) for five and a half hours, the SMM heard ten undetermined explosions as well as eight bursts and 34 shots of small-arms fire, all 2-4km south-east.

On 5 October, positioned at the railway station in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) for about four hours, the SMM heard 18 undetermined explosions, 40 bursts and more than 50 shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 1-3km west and west-south-west.

On 5 October, positioned on the south-western edge of Yasynuvata for less than two hours, the SMM heard seven undetermined explosions, an outgoing explosion, an explosion assessed as an impact and more than 50 shots of small-arms fire, all 1-7km west and west-south-west.

On 5 October, while in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard five undetermined explosions, a shot of heavy-machine-gun fire and 40 shots of small-arms fire, all 2-6km west.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including 39 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (three explosions).

On 5 October, positioned in “LPR”-controlled Vrubivskyi (22km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard and saw ten explosions assessed as outgoing artillery (122mm) rounds followed by ten explosions assessed as impacts of artillery (122mm) rounds, saw an airburst and an illumination flare in flight, heard six explosions assessed as outgoing rounds and heard three bursts of small-arms fire, all assessed as part of a live-fire exercise 5km south-east and outside the security zone.

On 5 October, positioned near “LPR”-controlled Obozne (18km north of Luhansk), the SMM heard one explosion assessed as an impact of automatic-grenade-launcher fire, 70-80 shots of heavy-machine-gun fire and six shots of small-arms fire, all 1-2km west.

In “LPR”-controlled Krasnyi Lyman (30km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard two sounds assessed as rocket propellant igniting 700-800m north-west, followed immediately by eight explosions assessed as the impacts of rocket-propelled grenades (RPG-7), 500m north-west.

The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties near “DPR”-controlled Betmanove (formerly Krasnyi Partizan, 23km north-east of Donetsk). In Yasynuvata, a Russian Federation Armed Forces officer of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) told the SMM that an employee of the local power company and two “DPR” sappers were killed when one of them tripped a bounding anti-personnel mine (OZM-72) near the powerline on the outskirts of Betmanove at about 10:00 on 4 October. At a hospital in Yasynuvata, medical staff told the SMM that the men died as a result of a mine explosion. 

The SMM facilitated the handover of possible human remains and debris of flight MH17 (see SMM Spot Report 22 July 2014) by “DPR” members to a delegation from the Netherlands. The event took place without incident.

The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process and to pursue full access to the disengagement areas near 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 evening and night of 4 October, while on the eastern edge of government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion 8km south-east and nearly 40 shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire 5-8km east and south-south-west, all assessed as outside the disengagement area, as well as one shot of small arms fire 2-4km south-south-west; the Mission was unable to assess whether this shot had occurred inside or outside the disengagement area.

Positioned near government-controlled Zolote-4/Rodina (60km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard one undetermined explosion 6-15km west-south-west, assessed as outside the disengagement area.                                    

Positioned in the north-western outskirts of Zolote (60km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard one undetermined explosion 8-15km south-east. The Mission was unable to assess whether this shot had occurred inside or 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 in government-controlled areas, an SMM mid‑range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted two mortars (120mm) near Pavlopil (84km south of Donetsk) on 4 October. The same day, in non-government-controlled areas, an SMM mid-range UAV again spotted three towed howitzers (D-20, 152mm) near Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, 85km south of Donetsk). (See SMM Daily Report 22 September 2017.) On 5 October, the SMM observed two stationary self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) near non-government-controlled Zaichenko (26km north-east of Mariupol).

Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in government-controlled areas, the SMM saw two stationary surface-to-air missile systems (9K33 Osa): one near Malynivka (82km north of Donetsk), and another near Dibrova (85km north of Donetsk). In non-government-controlled areas, the SMM observed ten stationary towed howitzers (122mm), as well as several tanks and about ten armoured personnel carriers (APCs) heading northwest near a training area by Uspenka (23km south-west of Luhansk).

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles, an anti-aircraft gun,[2] and armoured vehicle tracks in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, an SMM mid-range UAV on 4 October spotted an APC (BRDM-2) near Pavlopil and an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-variant) near Shyroka Balka (109km south of Donetsk). On 5 October, the SMM observed fresh tracks of at least two APCs (MT-LB) and multiple IFVs (BMP-variants) near Lebedynske (16km north-east of Mariupol). Near Kalynivka (11km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM observed a stationary tracked armoured vehicle in a treeline south of the road as well as tracks assessed as those of T-64 and T-72 tank chassis heading north. Near Popasna (69km west of Luhansk), the SMM observed an IFV (BMP‑1) heading south.

In non-government-controlled areas, an SMM mid-range UAV on 4 October spotted three IFVs (BMP-1) near Naberezhne (77km south of Donetsk). On 5 October, the SMM observed an APC (MT-LB) with an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) mounted atop as well as multiple fresh IFV (BMP) tracks near Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, 23km north-east of Mariupol).

The SMM observed mine hazard signs and demining activities on 5 October near “LPR”-controlled Mykolaivka (15km east of Luhansk), where it was monitoring repairs to a power substation. According to an “LPR” demining team, six anti-tank mines (TM-62) had been found and secured that morning between the roadway and the transformer station. The SMM observed several red mine signs with the words “STOP MINES” in yellow Russian language on fences in the area.

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs and maintenance, co-ordinated by the JCCC, to the thermal power plant in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk), water pipelines in Zolote, the Petrivske water pumping station near government-controlled Artema (26km north of Luhansk), a power transmission line near government-controlled Novozvanivka (70km west of Luhansk), and a power substation near Mykolaivka.

In Odessa, a member of the Batkivshchyna political party confirmed media reports that the regional head of the party, who is also the first deputy head of the Odessa regional council, had been wounded in a shooting. The shooting was also confirmed by a member of the national police, who added that the preliminary investigation indicated the victim had sustained four wounds from a small-calibre firearm to the lower part of his body.

In Kyiv, the SMM observed over 100 men (young to middle aged), some concealing their faces with masks and scarves, flying flags indicating Right Sector, National Corps, and Svoboda, some carrying placards and banners protesting legislation concerning local governance and reintegration of areas outside of government control in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Some 200 National Guard officers and police officers, most in full riot gear, stood in front of the parliament.

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

*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. 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.

Denial of access:

Related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

• The SMM was prevented from accessing secondary roads south of the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. Armed “LPR” members positioned on the southern side of the Zolote disengagement area told the SMM that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC. 
• The SMM was prevented from accessing secondary roads in the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. Ukrainian Armed Forces officers of the JCCC at a checkpoint on the northern side of the Zolote disengagement area told the SMM that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC.
• The SMM was prevented from accessing parts of the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, with the exception of the main road, due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC told the SMM that no de-mining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC.
• The SMM could not travel across the bridge in government-controlled Shchastia due to the presence of mines. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC said there were mines on the road south of the bridge. The SMM informed the JCCC.

Other impediments

• For almost five hours on the evening of 4 October, the SMM camera in a non-government-controlled area south of Stanytsia Luhanska near the Prince Ihor monument was disabled by a laser that the SMM assessed as emanating from a concrete “LPR” position 70m north of the camera. Before that, the camera had recorded what appeared to be an armed “LPR” member installing the laser and adjusting it. After the laser was turned off, it recorded an “LPR” member walking away from the guard post. 

[1] Please see the annexed report for a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations as well as a map of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions marked with locations featured in this report. During this reporting period the SMM camera at the Oktiabr mine (Donetsk) remained non-operational.

[2] This hardware is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.