Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 10 November 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. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas; it heard small-arms fire near the area where it was flying an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near the Petrivske disengagement area, assessed as aimed at the UAV*, and spotted military presence inside the Petrivske disengagement area, as well as previously seen mines. Its access remained restricted in the disengagement areas and elsewhere, including near Horlivka and at five heavy weapons holding areas.* The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Dovhe, Marianivka and Novooleksandrivka. The SMM facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance of essential infrastructure near Shchastia, Novozvanivka, Stanytsia Luhanska and Zalizne. It visited a border area not under government control.

In Donetsk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations,[1] including about 340 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 100 explosions).

On the evening of 9 November, while in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 40 undetermined explosions and almost 300 shots and bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, all 4-6km at directions ranging from south-east to south.

On the evening and night of 9-10 November, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (15km north of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, a projectile in flight from west to east, two tracer rounds in flight from west to east, an explosion assessed as an outgoing round, a projectile from south-east to north-west, an explosion assessed as an impact, and 11 projectiles from east to west, followed by aggregated totals of 107 explosions (31 explosions assessed as impacts, an explosion assessed as an outgoing round and 75 undetermined) and 36 projectiles (30 from east to west, four from west to east and two from north-west to south-east), all 0.5-1.5km south.

During the day on 10 November, positioned on the south-western edge of government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) for about five hours, the SMM heard about 120 undetermined explosions and about 220 bursts and shots of infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-2) cannon (30mm), automatic-grenade-launcher, small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, all 2-6km at directions ranging from south-east to south-west.

Positioned at the railway station in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) for about four hours, the SMM heard 22 undetermined explosions and small-arms fire, all 2-8km at directions ranging from west-south-west to north-north-west. Positioned on the south-western edge of Yasynuvata for about an hour, the SMM heard 35 undetermined explosions and a minute of uncountable overlapping bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 4-8km west-south-west, and ten undetermined explosions and small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, all 1-3km north-west.

Positioned in the Trudivski area of “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city’s Petrovskyi district (15km south-west of city centre) for 40 minutes, the SMM heard 16 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 3-5km south-west and heard and saw an explosion assessed as the impact of a mortar round 1km south.

Positioned on the north-western edge of “LPR”-controlled Dovhe (22km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard three explosions assessed as mortar rounds 1-1.5km west-north-west.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including, however, fewer explosions (16), compared with the previous reporting period (about 60 explosions).

On the evening and night of 9-10 November, while on the northern edge of government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard ten undetermined explosions and small-arms fire 4-12km at directions ranging from east to south-west. During the day on 10 November, positioned on the southern edge of Popasna, the SMM heard about 225 bursts and shots of small-arms fire 2-3km east.

On the morning of 10 November, while in “LPR”-controlled Luhansk city centre, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion 3-4km south.

During the day on 10 November, positioned in “LPR”-controlled Almazna (55km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard two explosions 10-15km south-west and about 90 shots of small-arms fire 2-3km east, assessed as live-fire training inside the security zone, in violation of the decision of the Trilateral Contact Group of 3 March 2016 that prohibits the conduct of live-fire training (exercises) in the security zone. 

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 morning of 10 November, positioned 1.5km east of government-controlled Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM conducted three mini UAV flights near and over the Petrivske disengagement area, an area where the SMM’s freedom of movement was restricted on 9 November 2017 (see SMM Daily Report 9 November 2017). The first flight was conducted over the road between Bohdanivka and Viktorivka (42km south-west of Donetsk) without incident. During the second flight, over Viktorivka, the SMM heard three shots of small-arms fire 2km east of its position, in the area of the UAV. The SMM interrupted the flight and landed the UAV safely. Shortly afterwards, the SMM conducted a third flight, over Petrivske disengagement area, during which it heard three shots of small-arms fire at an undetermined distance south-east, and again interrupted the flight. The SMM assessed both instances of small-arms fire as aimed at the UAV* and left the area. Both flights were conducted in the presence of Ukrainian Armed Forces officers of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), and the JCCC had been notified in advance of the flights.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles and military positions inside and near the Petrivske disengagement area, as well as previously observed mines. On 10 November, an SMM mini UAV (see above) spotted two stationary IFVs (BMP-1), one of which had markings recognisable as belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, along with several small tents and above-ground wooden and canvas structures, at least three dugouts, and five heavy-machine-gun and two mortar firing positions, all connected by trenches and located 1.2km into the disengagement area from its western edge. The UAV also spotted over 200 previously seen anti-tank mines (TM-62), 41 of which were laid in two rows across Pashi Anhelinoi Street, between Viktorivka and “DPR”-controlled Petrivske. The mines extended along the road and into the fields on both sides of the road, about 20m north of the northern edge of the disengagement area. (See SMM Daily Report 31 October 2017.)

Positioned in and around the disengagement areas near government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote, the SMM observed calm situations.

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 outside of government control, on 9 November, an SMM mini UAV spotted a probable surface-to-air-missile system (9K35 Strela-10) near Dovhe and, on 10 November, the SMM saw two tanks (T-72) on stationary flat-bed trucks about 3km south-east of Marianivka (13km south of Donetsk) and 13 towed howitzers (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm) near Novooleksandrivka (75km south-east 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. In government-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM saw 25 tanks (T-64) and four self-propelled howitzers (2S3), and noted that 16 self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm), 18 towed howitzers (D-30), 30 tanks (T-64), two surface-to-air missile systems (9K33 Osa), six anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) and 29 mortars (nine PM-38, 120mm, two 2B9 Vasilek, 82mm, six PM-42, 120mm and 12 2B11 Sani, 120mm) were again missing. In non-government-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM noted that 15 towed howitzers (D-30) were again missing.

The SMM revisited Ukrainian Armed Forces weapons permanent storage sites whose locations were beyond withdrawal lines and observed that 45 tanks (T-64) and seven mortars (four 2B9 and three PM-38) were missing and that one site continued to be abandoned, with 13 anti-tank guns (MT-12) missing.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles and anti-aircraft guns[2] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, on 10 November, the SMM saw an IFV (BMP-2) near Karlivka (25km north-west of Donetsk), three IFVs (BMP-2) and two APCs (BTR-70) near Toretsk (formerly Dzerzhynsk, 43km north-west of Donetsk), an IFV (BTR-4) near Prokhorivka (53km south of Donetsk) and an APC (BTR-80) near Makiivka (12km north-east of Donetsk). In non-government-controlled areas, on 9 November, an SMM mini UAV spotted six IFVs (BMP-1) and two APCs (MT-LB), one of which was mounted with an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm), near Dovhe and, on 10 November, the SMM saw an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) mounted on a military-type truck near Lypske (formerly Krasnyi Oktiabr, 27km north-east of Donetsk), an APC (BTR-80) near Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk) and an APC (BTR-variant) in Donetsk city.

The SMM saw demining activities – eight people wearing demining suits and four vehicles of an international demining organization – beside a road about 1.5km east of government-controlled Myrna Dolyna (67km north-west of Luhansk).

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs and maintenance work, co-ordinated by the JCCC, to the power plant in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk), high-voltage lines between government-controlled Troitske (69km west of Luhansk) and Novozvanivka (70km west of Luhansk), power lines between Dovhe and “LPR”-controlled Slovianoserbsk (28km north-west of Luhansk), water wells near Stanytsia Luhanska, and the phenol sludge reservoir near government-controlled Zalizne (formerly Artemove, 42km north-east of Donetsk).

The SMM continued to monitor the situation at schools and kindergartens near the contact line and noted the presence of armed persons at the entrance of a kindergarten in “DPR”-controlled Olkhovatka (52km north-east of Donetsk). A resident from Olkhovatka told the SMM that pupils have been attending a new kindergarten at a school in Olkhovatka, about 1km away from the abovementioned kindergarten, for about a year.

The SMM visited a border area not under government control. While at the border crossing point near Novoazovsk (102km south-east of Donetsk), in about an hour, the SMM saw a car with Ukrainian licence plates exit Ukraine.

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. Nonetheless, the armed formations in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions frequently deny the SMM access to areas adjacent to Ukraine’s border outside control of the Government, citing orders to do so. (See, for example, SMM Daily Report 23 October 2017.) 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:

• While the SMM was positioned on the north-western outskirts of “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), a Russian Federation Armed Forces officer of the JCCC told the Mission that armed persons had requested that the SMM leave the area due to the presence of mines and UXO. The SMM moved 1km south and continued monitoring. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• The SMM did not visit five heavy weapons holding areas in government-controlled areas after having seen a sign in the Ukrainian language which read “Restricted area, no passage”.

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. An “LPR” member 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. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer 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.
• 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 did not travel across the bridge in 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 impediment:

• On the morning of 10 November, positioned 1.5km east of government-controlled Bohdanivka, on two occasions the SMM heard shots of small-arms fire in the area where the SMM was flying a mini UAV, assessed as aimed at the UAV.

 

[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. Nine SMM cameras are in a testing phase, to last until 30 November 2017.

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