Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 29 January 2018

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations inside the Petrivske disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including to two compounds in Luhansk city.* The SMM observed weapons in violations of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM facilitated and monitored repair works to a water pumping station near Artema. The Mission visited four border areas not under government control. In Kyiv, the SMM monitored a gathering in the city centre and it continued to monitor the gathering outside the Parliament building. In Ivano-Frankivsk, Odessa, Kharkiv and Dnipro, the SMM observed events commemorating the battle of Kruty.

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations[1], including about 260 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours (about 130 explosions).

In continuation of the sequence of ceasefire violations recorded in the early evening of 28 January (see SMM Daily Report 29 January 2018), on the evening and night of 28-29 January, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (15km north of Donetsk) recorded 16 undetermined explosions, 139 projectiles in flight (42 from east to west, 92 from west to east, one from north to south, four from south to north) and a tracer round in flight from east to west, all 0.5-1.5km south. One of the projectiles recorded in flight from south to north struck the building on which the camera is installed (the impact did not affect the camera, which remained operational). During the early evening of 29 January, the SMM recorded ten projectiles in flight from east to west 0.5-1.5km south.

During the evening of 28 January, while in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 75 undetermined explosions and 310 bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 4-6km south-east.

During the evening of 28 January, while in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard five undetermined explosions and about 30 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 5-10km at directions ranging from south to north-west.

During the evening of 28 January, while in non-government-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 65 undetermined explosions 6-10km at directions ranging from west to north-west.

On 29 January, positioned at the railway station in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) for about 45 minutes, the SMM heard six undetermined explosions and 16 bursts and shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 1-3km west and north-west. The same day, positioned at the south-western edge of Yasynuvata for almost five hours, the SMM heard about 100 undetermined explosions, as well as about 150 bursts and shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 2-5km at directions ranging from west to north.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including four explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours (14 explosions).

During the day on 29 January, positioned on the northern edge of government-controlled Artema (26km north of Luhansk), the SMM heard an undetermined explosion 2km south.

Positioned in government-controlled Trokhizbenka (32km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard three undetermined explosions 3-5km west-south-west. Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Smile (31km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard three undetermined explosions 4-5km west-north-west, assessed to be the same explosions that the SMM heard while positioned in Trokhizbenka (see above).

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 25 January, the SMM camera in “DPR”-controlled Petrivske recorded two shots and five bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 2-2.5km south-south-west (assessed as inside the disengagement area). The camera also recorded an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BTR-variant) 200m west, on the edge of the disengagement area.

During the day on 29 January, positioned near the Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote disengagement areas, the SMM observed a calm situation.

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 withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas, an SMM mid-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted on 28 January four self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) near Oleksandropil (43km north of Donetsk). In non-government-controlled areas, an SMM mini-UAV spotted again on 29 January three tanks (T-72) in an area south of Obozne (18km north of Luhansk) and east of Vesela Hora (16km north of Luhansk) (see SMM Daily Report of 26 January).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites, in government-controlled areas, the SMM saw a stationary tank (T-64) near Kremenivka (27km north-west of Mariupol), a stationary tank (T-64) in Pokrovsk (formerly Krasnoarmiisk, 55km north-west of Donetsk), five stationary tanks (type undetermined) near Bakhmut (formerly Artemivsk, 67km north of Donetsk), 20 tanks (T-64) and four anti-aircraft systems (2K22 Tunguska) loaded on a stationary train at the railway station in Bakhmut, as well as two stationary towed howitzers (2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm) near Azovske (22km south-west of Mariupol). An SMM mid-range UAV spotted again on 28 January a surface-to-air missile system (9K35 Strela-10) in Tarasivka (43km north-west of Donetsk) (see SMM Daily Report of 26 January). In a non-government-controlled area, the SMM saw on 29 January six stationary tanks (two T-72 and the remainder undetermined) in Ternove (57km east of Donetsk).

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles and an anti-aircraft gun[2] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, the SMM saw four armoured reconnaissance vehicles (BRDM-2) in Orikhove-Donetske (44km north-west of Luhansk) and two IFVs (BTR-variant) in Stanytsia Luhanska. In non-government-controlled areas, the SMM saw an IFV (BTR-80) in Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, 50km east of Luhansk). An SMM mini-UAV spotted again on 29 January two IFVs (BMP-variants), an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23-2, 23mm), an armoured personnel carrier (MT-LB) and military-type trucks east of Vesela Hora and south of Obozne (in the same area where a mini-SMM UAV also spotted three tanks (see above and SMM Daily Report of 26 January)).

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repair works to the Petrivske water pumping station near Artema.                                                                                                             

The SMM visited four border areas not under government control. On 29 January, while at a border crossing point near Izvaryne (52km south-east of Luhansk) for 45 minutes, the SMM saw 13 cars (seven with Ukrainian, two with Russian Federation and one with Lithuanian licence plates, as well as three with “LPR” plates), 50 pedestrians (25 men and 25 women) and a covered cargo truck with Ukrainian licence plates exiting Ukraine. The SMM also saw five cars (three with Ukrainian licence plates and two with Russian Federation licence plates) and a bus with Ukrainian licence plates and 12 pedestrians (seven women and five men) entering Ukraine.

While at a border crossing point near Verkhnoharasymivka (57km south-east of Luhansk) for about 30 minutes, the SMM saw no traffic in either direction.

While at a border crossing point near Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, 65km south-east of Luhansk) for about an hour, the SMM saw 15 cars (seven with Ukrainian, six with Russian Federation and one with Georgian licence plates, as well as one with “LPR” plates), two buses (one with Russian Federation licence plates and about 30 passengers on board, and one with Ukrainian licence plates and about 40 passengers on board) exiting Ukraine. The SMM saw 11 cars (four with Ukrainian and seven with Russian Federation licence plates) and four pedestrians (three men and a woman) entering Ukraine.  

While at a border crossing point near Marynivka (78km east of Donetsk) for an hour, the SMM saw 13 cars (four with Ukrainian and five with Russian Federation licence plates, as well as four with “DPR” plates), three minivans with “DPR” plates, three refrigerated trucks with Ukrainian licence plates and a heavy-goods truck with “DPR” plates exiting Ukraine. The SMM saw 14 cars (four with Russian Federation, five with Ukrainian, one with Georgian, one with Polish licence plates, as well as three with “DPR” plates), a minivan with Ukrainian licence plates and two pedestrians (women) with a child entering Ukraine. 

The SMM monitored a gathering in Kyiv. On 28 January, the SMM monitored a gathering of approximately 600-700 people (all men, aged 20-30) on Independence Square. The SMM saw that most of the participants were wearing military-style clothing with Natsionalni Druzhyny written on their back. (Natsionalni Druzhyny is a new movement affiliated with the National Corps movement.) The SMM observed that all participants began to proceed in organized columns on sidewalks along Khreshchatyk, Baseina and Lesi Ukrainky Streets; three police cars and 20 police officers on foot were proceeding behind them. The march ended at Kyiv Fortress on Hospitalna Street, where one of the organizers addressed the participants. The gathering ended without incidents.

On 29 January, the SMM continued to monitor the gathering in front of the Parliament building on Hrushevskoho Street in Kyiv (see SMM Daily Report of 7 December). The SMM saw about 15 people standing outside about 20 tents adjacent to the Parliament building. It also saw about ten National Guard and police officers present in front of the Parliament building. The SMM did not observe any incidents during its presence.

In Ivano-Frankivsk, Odessa, Kharkiv and Dnipro, the SMM observed gatherings to commemorate the battle of Kruty of 1918. On 28 January in Ivano-Frankivsk, the SMM observed about 200 participants and 20 police officers during the commemoration events, which included a staging of the battle. On 29 January, in Odessa, the SMM observed about 150 people and about 20 police officers at events which included laying of flowers at a military memorial. On 29 January, in Dnipro, the SMM saw about 30 people and no police presence attending a ceremony marking the battle of Kruty. In Kharkiv, the SMM observed approximately 1500 people (mostly men, aged 20-35) marching from Liberty Square to Constitution Square and about 100 police officers; many participants were carrying torches and flags with insignias of the Svoboda, National Corps and Right Sector movements. The SMM did not observe any incidents during its presence in all the aforementioned locations.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Lviv and Chernivtsi.

*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-operation (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 12 January 2018.) The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April 2017 near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations.

Denial of access:

• At a compound in “LPR”-controlled Luhansk city, an “LPR” member told the SMM that it could not enter the compound without permission from his superior.
• At another compound in Luhansk city, an “LPR” member told the SMM that it could not enter the compound without permission from his superior. After five minutes, about ten “LPR” members, some of whom were armed, arrived at the site on board of two military-type trucks. One of them told the SMM that it was not allowed to enter the compound and it had to leave the area immediately.

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.
• 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 told the SMM that he had no information regarding de-mining in the area during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC. [3] 
• 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 he had no information regarding demining activities over the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC.[3]
• The SMM did 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. [3]

 

[1] Please see the annexed table 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. Two SMM cameras continue to be tested until the end of January 2018.

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

[3] The SMM informed Ukrainian Armed Forces officers of the JCCC. Russian Federation Armed Forces officers of the JCCC have withdrawn from the JCCC as of 18 December 2017.