Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 8 October 2017

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region between the evenings of 6 and 7 October compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 7 and 8 October the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous 24 hours. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations between the evenings of 6 and 7 October compared with the previous reporting period and more between 7 and 8 October compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission saw damage from gunfire to a residential building in Dokuchaievsk. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and recorded ceasefire violations inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including in Siedove near the border with the Russian Federation.* The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Zaichenko and Uzhivka. It visited two border areas not under government control. The SMM monitored a gathering in Lviv where a concert was cancelled.

In Donetsk region between the evenings of 6 and 7 October the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations[1], including, however, fewer explosions (about 120), compared with the previous reporting period (over 150 explosions). Between the evenings of 7 and 8 October, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 65 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours.

On the evening of 6 October, while in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city centre, in about 45 minutes the SMM heard 17 undetermined explosions 8-10km north-west. On the evening of 7 October, while in the same location, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion 1-3km south-south-east.

On the evening of 6 October, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (15km north of Donetsk) recorded seven tracer rounds in flight from east to west and a tracer round from west to east, all 1-3km south. During the day on 7 October, the same camera recorded an undetermined explosion and two airbursts, all 2-3km south-south-west and, in the evening, the same camera recorded, in sequence, a projectile in flight from north to south, four undetermined explosions, two projectiles from north to south and three undetermined explosions, all 2-3km south-south-west. During the day on 8 October, the same camera recorded three undetermined explosions 1-2km south.

During the day on 7 October, positioned at the central railway station in Donetsk (6km north-west of Donetsk city centre), in about one and a half hours, the SMM heard eight undetermined explosions and four bursts of small-arms fire, all 2-5km at directions ranging from north and north-west.

On the evening of 6 October, the SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, three projectiles in flight from south-east to north-west, one airburst, an undetermined explosion and four projectiles from south-east to north-west, all 3-5km east-south-east. During the day on 7 October, the same camera recorded an undetermined explosion 4-5km east-south-east, and, on the evening and night of 7-8 October, the same camera recorded, in sequence, a projectile from west to east, an undetermined explosion, three projectiles from west to east and two undetermined explosions, all 3-6km east-south-east and east.

On 7 October, positioned on the south-western edge of Avdiivka for about four and a half hours, the SMM heard nine undetermined explosions, six explosions assessed as outgoing, and eight bursts and shots of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, all 1-5km at directions ranging from east to south-south-west. On 8 October, positioned at the same location for about five and a half hours, the SMM heard about 30 undetermined explosions and about ten bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 2-6km at directions ranging from east to south.

On the evening of 6 October, while in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 13 undetermined explosions 5-7km west-south-west, as well as eight bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 3-5km west.

On the night of 6-7 October, the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded, in sequence, 53 tracer rounds in flight from west to east, six tracer rounds from east to west, and three tracer rounds from west to east, all at unknown distances north. On 7 October, the same camera recorded, in sequence, one undetermined explosion, 11 tracer rounds in flight from east to west, an undetermined explosion and two rocket-assisted projectiles in flight from south-west to north-east, all at unknown distances north. On the afternoon on 7 October, positioned in Shyrokyne, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion 3-4km north-east.

During the day on 7 October, positioned at the railway station in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) for about three and a half hours, the SMM heard 18 undetermined explosions 2-6km at westerly directions. On the same day, positioned on the south-western edge of Yasynuvata, in about half an hour, the SMM heard two undetermined explosions and ten bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 3-4km at south-westerly directions. During the afternoon on 8 October, positioned in the same location for about two hours, the SMM heard three undetermined explosions 2-5km west-south-west.

On the morning of 7 October, positioned about 2km west of “DPR”-controlled Khreshchatytske (formerly Krasnoarmiiske, 33km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard five undetermined explosions and 12 shots of small-arms fire, all 2-7km south and south-west.

On the afternoon of 7 October, while in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard an undetermined explosion and seven bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 4-5km south-east. On the morning of 8 October, while in the same location, the SMM heard six undetermined explosions 4-6km at directions ranging from south-east to south-west.

On the morning of 7 October, positioned in government-controlled Hnutove (20km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard 15 outgoing explosions, an explosion assessed as an impact and two bursts of small-arms fire, all at unknown distances east-north-east and east.                    

On the afternoon of 7 October, positioned about 2km south-east of government-controlled Lebedynske (16km north-east of Mariupol), in about ten minutes, the SMM heard 12 explosions assessed as impacts, all at unknown distances north-east.

On the afternoon of 7 October, positioned about 1km north of “DPR”-controlled Zaichenko (26km north-east of Mariupol), in about half an hour, the SMM heard ten undetermined explosions 3-5km south-south-west and south-west.

On the morning of 8 October, positioned in government-controlled Talakivka (17km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard one undetermined explosion at an unknown distance east.

On the morning of 8 October, positioned about 2km south-west of government-controlled Pyshchevyk (25km north-east of Mariupol) the SMM heard three undetermined explosions and 15 shots of small-arms fire at unknown distances south-east.

On the afternoon of 8 October, positioned on the north-western edge of DPR”-controlled Sakhanka (24km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard nine explosions assessed as outgoing mortar rounds at unknown distances south and heard and saw nine explosions assessed as the subsequent impacts 3km west.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations between the evenings of 6 and 7 October, including, however, fewer explosions (one), compared with the previous reporting period (two explosions). It recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 45 explosions, between the evenings of 7 and 8 October compared with the previous 24 hours.

In the early evening of 7 October, while on the northern edge of government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard about ten bursts and shots of infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-2) cannon (30mm), recoilless gun (SPG-9, 73mm) and heavy-machine-gun fire, all 3-6km south-east. Later in the evening of 7 October, while in the same location, the SMM heard about 40 undetermined explosions and eight bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 4-10km south-south-east.

On the morning of 8 October, positioned in “LPR”-controlled Sentianivka (formerly Frunze, 44km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard two undetermined explosions assessed as mortar (120mm) rounds and four bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 3-4km east-north-east.

The SMM observed damage from gunfire to a residential building on the northern edge of “DPR”-controlled Dokuchaievsk (30km south-west of Donetsk). At 29 Ordzhonikidze Street, the SMM saw a hole (about 5-10cm in diameter) in the outside layer of a double-glazed south-facing ground floor window and a scratch on the inside layer of the same window. The Mission assessed that it had been caused by a 7.62mm round fired from a south-westerly direction. The owners of the house (a man and a woman in their fifties) told the SMM that they had heard “sharp sounds” on 6 October at around 18:00 while they were at home.

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 of 4 October, the SMM camera in government-controlled Zolote recorded an undetermined explosion 4-5km east, assessed as outside the disengagement area.

On the evening of 7 October, the SMM camera in a non-government-controlled area south of Stanytsia Luhanska near the Prince Ihor monument recorded two projectiles in flight from east to west 1.3-1.5km north-west and north, assessed as rocket-propelled grenades, inside the disengagement area. On the night of 7-8 October, the same camera recorded three outgoing explosions about 3km north, assessed as outside the disengagement area. 

On the night of 7-8 October, the SMM camera in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska recorded one explosion assessed as an impact 8km west, assessed as outside the disengagement area.

On the night of 7-8 October, while on the eastern edge of government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM heard about 50 bursts and shots of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire 2-3km south; the Mission was unable to assess whether these had occurred inside or outside the disengagement area. In the early hours of 8 October, while in the same location, the SMM heard one undetermined explosion 8-10km south-south-east, 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 in areas not controlled by the Government, on 8 October the SMM saw two stationary self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) 2.5km north-east of Zaichenko and an anti-tank guided missile system (9K111 Fagot, 120mm) near Uzhivka (formerly Leninske, 24km north-east of Mariupol).

Beyond the respective withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites, in a government-controlled area, on 8 October, the SMM saw two stationary anti-aircraft artillery systems (2S6M Tunguska) near Kalynove (31km north-west of Donetsk).

The SMM observed weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage did not comply with the criteria set out in the 16 October 2015 notification from the SMM to the signatories of the Package of Measures on effective monitoring and verification of the withdrawal of heavy weapons. On 7 and 8 October in government-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM observed 12 self-propelled howitzers (2S19 Msta-S, 152mm), 12 towed howitzers (2A65 Msta-B, 152mm) and a surface-to-air missile system (9K33 Osa), and noted that 12 anti-tank guns (D48, 85mm), 22 self-propelled howitzers (18 2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm and four 2S19), 72 towed howitzers (28 D20, 152mm and 44 2A36, Giatsint, 152mm) and six mortars (2B11 Sani, 120mm) were again missing and a surface-to-air missile system (9K33) was missing for the first time.

The SMM revisited three government permanent storage sites, whose locations were beyond the respective withdrawal lines, and noted that 17 mortars (14 2B11 and three 2B9M Vasilek, 82mm), 39 tanks (nine T-80, nine T-64 and 21 T-72) were still missing.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles (ACVs) and an anti-aircraft gun[2], and fresh tracks assessed as those of a tank in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, on 6 October, the SMM saw a stationary IFV (BMP-variant) near Zolote. On 7 October, in government-controlled areas, the SMM saw an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) mounted on a stationary truck near Avdiivka, a stationary armoured personnel carrier APC (BRDM), a stationary automatic grenade launcher (AGS-type) and a stationary IFV (BTR-4) near Makarove (19km north-east of Luhansk), and a stationary IFV (BMP-2) and a stationary ACV mounted with a heavy-machine-gun near Zolote. On 7 and 8 October, in government-controlled areas, the SMM saw seven stationary IFVs (five BMP-1, one BMP-2 and one BMP-variant) and two stationary armoured personnel carriers (APC) (BRDM-2) near Popasna. On 8 October, the SMM again saw a stationary IFV (BTR-4), as well as a stationary APC (BRDM-2) near Makarove.

In an area not controlled by the Government, on 8 October, the SMM saw fresh tracks assessed as those of a tank (T-80) near a compound in Yasynuvata.

The SMM visited two border areas not under government control. On 7 October, at a border crossing point near Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, 65km south-east of Luhansk), in about one hour, the SMM saw 19 cars (13 with Ukrainian and six with Russian Federation licence plates), a passenger bus (marked “Sverdlovsk-Gukovo”, with Russian Federation licence plates) and 20 pedestrians (12 women and eight men) in a queue to exit Ukraine and 25 cars (12 with Ukrainian and 13 with Russian Federation licence plates) and 16 pedestrians (11 men and five women) enter Ukraine.

On 8 October at a border crossing point near Novoazovsk (102km south-east of Donetsk), in about half an hour, the SMM saw nine cars (four with Ukrainian and two with Russian Federation licence plates, and three with “DPR” plates) in a queue to exit Ukraine and ten cars (one with Russian Federation and six with Ukrainian licence plates, and three with “DPR” plates) enter Ukraine.

On 7 October, the SMM monitored a gathering at the venue of a planned concert of a Ukrainian singer, Serhii Babkin, at Malevych concert hall on Chornovola Street in Lviv. On 6 October, the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) had used social media to call people to gather outside the concert hall to protest the Ukrainian singer’s performances in the Russian Federation. At 17:00, the SMM saw about 40 people surrounding the entrance to the concert hall (mostly men, aged 20-30), some of whom were wearing insignias of organizations such as OUN and Right Sector. There were around 20 police officers on site, including 15 who were wearing riot gear and had formed a line to protect the entrance to the concert hall. The SMM saw protesters turn people away as they tried to enter the concert and heard one of the protesters over a loudspeaker say, in Ukrainian language, that the concert had been cancelled. By 19:00, the SMM saw around 300 people waiting to attend the concert, the group began singing Serhii Babkin songs, while, in response, the protesters chanted patriotic Ukrainian songs. At 20:40, the SMM heard employees of the concert hall announce that the concert had been cancelled. No incidents were observed.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, 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 Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (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:

• On 8 October, four armed persons stopped the SMM at a checkpoint on the north-western edge of “DPR”-controlled Siedove (106km south of Donetsk) and requested to see national passports of SMM members and a patrol plan. The SMM did not share the information and was denied entry to Siedove. The SMM informed the JCCC.

Related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

• On 7 and 8 October, 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.
• On 7 and 8 October, 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.
• On 7 and 8 October, 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.
• On 7 and 8 October, the SMM could not travel across the bridge in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) 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.

[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.