Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 7 February 2018

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 SMM followed up on reports of three children injured by the explosion of unexploded ordnance in Krasnohorivka. The SMM observed damage caused by gunfire to civilian properties in a residential area of Dokuchaievsk. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote disengagement areas. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs and maintenance works to essential infrastructure near Artema, Kadiivka and Maiorsk. The SMM monitored a transfer of pre-conflict detainees from non-government- to government-controlled areas in Donetsk region; it also monitored the transport of mortal remains from government- to non-government-controlled areas in Luhansk region. The Mission visited a border area not under government control. In Kyiv, in front of the Parliament building the SMM saw about 500 people carrying flags and banners demanding higher pensions.

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations[1], including about 420 explosions compared with the previous reporting period (about 220 explosions).

On the evening and night of 6-7 February, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (15km north of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, 38 projectiles in flight from east to west, a projectile from west to east and two undetermined explosions, followed by totals of 23 undetermined explosions and 84 projectiles (55 from east to west, 25 west to east, two from north-west to south-east and two from south-east to north-west), all 0.5-1km south. During the day on 7 February, positioned at the Donetsk Filtration Station for about three hours, the SMM heard ten undetermined explosions 1-2km west, nine undetermined explosions 1-3km north and about 30 undetermined explosions 1-2km south and south-west.

On the evening and night of 6-7 February, while in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard two explosions assessed as impacts of mortar (82mm) rounds 4-5km south-west as well as five bursts of anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) and about 140 shots and bursts of small-arms, heavy-machine-gun and infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-2) cannon (30mm) fire 3-4km south-east. During the day on 7 February, while at the same location, the SMM heard 23 explosions assessed as outgoing rocket-propelled-grenade rounds 4-7km east and south-east, 83 explosions assessed as outgoing artillery (152mm) rounds 5-7km north-west and 73 subsequent impacts 5-7km south-east as well as about 100 shots and bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire 4-6km east and south-east.   

On the evening of 6 February, while in Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard an undetermined explosion 7-9km west as well as about 60 undetermined explosions and about 20 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 5-15km south. During the day on 7 February, while at the same location, the SMM heard four undetermined explosions 3-6km north-west and a burst of small-arms fire 0.5-1km south-south-east.

On the evening of 6 February, the SMM camera at the Oktiabr mine (non-government-controlled, 9km north-west of Donetsk city centre) recorded a projectile in flight from west to east at an undetermined distance north. During the day on 7 February, the camera recorded four projectiles in flight from west to east at an undetermined distance north.

On the evening and night of 6-7 February, the SMM camera at the entry-exit checkpoint in Maiorsk (government-controlled, 45km north-east of Donetsk) recorded four undetermined explosions, seven projectiles in flight from east to west and one projectile from south to north, all 2-4km south-east. During the day on 7 February, positioned in Maiorsk for almost five hours, the SMM heard three undetermined explosions 6-7km south and three bursts of small-arms fire 4-5km north-north-east.

During the day on 7 February, positioned at the railway station in Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk) for over six hours, the SMM heard about 40 undetermined explosions and ten shots of small-arms fire, all 1-5km at directions ranging from west-south-west to north-west.

Positioned on the south-western edge of Avdiivka (government-controlled, 17km north of Donetsk) for almost five hours, the SMM heard about 30 explosions (one of which was assessed as outgoing, another as its subsequent impact and the remainder undetermined) and about 290 shots and bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 1-5km at directions ranging from east to south-west.

Positioned 2km north-west of the central railway station in Donetsk city (non-government-controlled, 6km north-west of the city centre) for about 20 minutes, the SMM heard three explosions (one of which was assessed as an outgoing mortar round, another as a subsequent impact and one undetermined), all 2-5km north-west.

Positioned on the north-western edge of Vuhlehirsk (non-government-controlled, 49km north-east of Donetsk) for about one hour, the SMM heard about 20 undetermined explosions and about 60 shots of small-arms fire, all 3-10km at directions ranging from north-north-east to north-north-west.

Positioned at a checkpoint near Berezove (government-controlled, 31km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM heard 14 undetermined explosions and about 20 shots and bursts of small-arms fire, all at undetermined distances south-east.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 1740 explosions compared with the previous reporting period (about 80 explosions).

During the evening of 6 February, while in Kadiivka (non-government-controlled, formerly Stakhanov, 50km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard about 70 undetermined explosions and about 30 shots and bursts of small-arms fire, all 3-18km at directions ranging from south-west to north-west. During the day on 7 February, while at the same location, the SMM heard about 300 undetermined explosions and about 100 shots of small-arms fire and IFV (BMP-2) cannon fire, all 3-20km at directions ranging from south-west to north-west.

During the day on 7 February, positioned 3.5km north-west of Almazna (non-government-controlled, 55km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard two undetermined explosions 8-10km south as well as about 540 explosions (120 of which were assessed impacts of as multiple launch rocket system rounds) and about 900 shots and bursts of small-arms and IFV (BMP-2) cannon fire 3-10km west.

Positioned 6.5km south of Myrne (non-government-controlled, 28km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 40 explosions assessed as outgoing artillery (122mm) rounds and 50 shots of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 5-8km north-north-east assessed as part of a live-fire exercise.

Positioned 2km east of Vesela Hora (non-government-controlled, 16km north of Luhansk), the SMM heard 20 explosions assessed as impacts of artillery rounds 10km west.

Positioned on the southern edge of Berezivske (non-government-controlled, 53km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard about 490 undetermined explosions and 240 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 4-12km north and south-west as well as three undetermined explosions 3-5km east-south-east.

Positioned in Trokhizbenka (government-controlled, 32km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 45 undetermined explosions 15km south-west.

The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties. On 7 February, medical staff at a hospital in Kurakhove (government-controlled, 40km west of Donetsk) told the SMM that three children (a boy aged 10, his sister aged 14 and their female cousin aged 3) had sustained shrapnel injuries due to the explosion of unexploded ordnance (UXO) while at their house in Krasnohorivka (government-controlled, 21km west of Donetsk) on 6 February. Medical staff told the SMM that all three had been admitted to the hospital on the same evening. They added that the three-year-old girl was in critical condition after having sustained shrapnel injuries and had been transferred to a hospital in Dnipro on 7 February. According to the medical staff, the boy had sustained shrapnel injuries to his abdomen, lost four fingers on his left hand and had been transferred to another hospital; the 14-year-old girl had been treated for shrapnel injuries and had been released on the morning of 7 February. The deputy head of police in Kurakhove told the SMM that three children had sustained injuries on the evening of 6 February in Krasnohorivka and added that police had launched an investigation into the incident.

The SMM followed up on reports of damage caused by gunfire to civilian properties in a residential area. On 7 February, the SMM observed an impact site in Dokuchaievsk (non-government-controlled, 30km south-west of Donetsk). At 91/113 Tsentralna Street, the SMM saw a fresh hole in outer south-west facing wall on the ground floor of a five-storey apartment building. The SMM assessed the hole as caused by a round of an IFV (BMP-2) fired from a south-westerly direction.

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 6 February, the SMM camera at the Prince Ihor Monument south-east of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (15km north-east of Luhansk) recorded an undetermined explosion 7-10km west-north-west (assessed as outside the disengagement area). On the night of 6-7 February, while on the eastern edge of Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion 5-7km south-west (assessed as outside the disengagement area). During the day on 7 February, positioned 1km south-east of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge the SMM heard 30 undetermined explosions about 15km east-north-east. Positioned inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area on its northern edge, the SMM heard three undetermined explosions 10-12km west and three shots of small-arms fire 1km west (all assessed as outside the disengagement area). Positioned on the southern edge of Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM heard five undetermined explosions 13km west (assessed as outside the disengagement area).

During the day on 7 February, positioned in Zolote, the SMM heard 35 undetermined explosions 5-7km south-west and about 20 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 10-12km south (all assessed as outside the disengagement area). Positioned in Katerynivka (government-controlled, 64km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 30 undetermined explosions and about ten bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 5-6km south-south-west (all assessed as outside the Zolote disengagement area). Positioned inside the Zolote disengagement area on its northern edge, the SMM saw two light armoured vehicles (KrAZ Cougar) with a heavy machine-gun mounted on each.   

During the day on 7 February, positioned near the Petrivske disengagement area, 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, the SMM saw a surface-to-air missile system (9K33 Osa) 1km south of Teple (31km north of Luhansk) heading north-west on road T1309 as well as five stationary towed howitzers (2A65 Msta-B, 152mm) and nine self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) near Vodiane (42km south-west of Donetsk). A mid-range SMM unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted on 5 February an anti-tank gun (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) near Oleksandro-Kalynove (47km north of Donetsk) and on 6 February four self-propelled howitzers (2S1) in a residential area of Bila Hora (54km north of Donetsk).

In violation of withdrawal lines in an area outside government control, the SMM saw an anti-tank gun (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) being towed by a military-type truck heading west in Luhansk.   

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in government-controlled areas, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted on 6 February eight self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) and a surface-to-air missile system (9K35 Strela-10) on the north-western edge of Novoolenivka (48km north-west of Donetsk). In areas outside government-control, the SMM saw three stationary tanks (type undetermined) near Myrne.  

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, the SMM observed eight towed howitzers (D-20, 152mm) for the first time. It also noted that five towed howitzers (D-20) were absent for the first time and that 86 towed howitzers (23 D20; 44 2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm; 13 2A65; six D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm), 21 self-propelled howitzers (three 2S1 and 18 2S3), 28 mortars (12 M-120 Molot, 120mm; 15 2B11 Sani, 120mm; one BM-37, 82mm) and 21 anti-tank guns (9 MT-12 and 12 D-48, 85mm) continued to be missing.

The SMM revisited a permanent storage site in a government-controlled area, whose location was beyond the respective withdrawal lines, and noted that 14 mortars (2B11) continued to be missing. The SMM revisited a permanent storage site in an area outside government control in Donetsk region, whose location was beyond the respective withdrawal lines, and noted that three tanks (one T-64 and two T-72) were missing for the first time and that seven tanks (five T-64 and two T-72) continued to be missing.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles and anti-aircraft guns[2] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, the SMM saw two IFVs (one BMP-1and one BMP-variant) and three armoured reconnaissance vehicles (two BRM-1K and one BRDM-2) in Popasna (69km west of Luhansk). An SMM mid-range UAV spotted on 6 February an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (MT-LB) and two anti-aircraft guns (ZU-23) in Bila Hora.

In areas outside government control, the SMM saw three APCs (MT-LB) in Metalist (7km north-west of Luhansk), an APC (BTR-60) in Petrivske, two APCs (BTR-variant) on the southern outskirts of Donetsk city, an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) mounted on a truck 10km north-east of Donetsk city centre, two APCs (BTR-80) in Donetsk city, an IFV (BMP-1) close to residential areas in Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, 23km north-east of Mariupol), an IFV (BMP-1) in the yard of a house in Uzhivka (formerly Leninske, 24km north-east of Mariupol), an APC (BTR-70) near Zaichenko (26km north-east of Mariupol) and an IFV (BMP-2) in Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, 29km north-east of Mariupol).

Positioned in Petrivske, the SMM saw a UAV flying from west towards the SMM. (See SMM Daily Report 6 February 2018.) Positioned 2km south of Styla (non-government-controlled, 34km south of Donetsk), the SMM saw an unarmed man in military-type clothes with a UAV on the ground by his feet.

Footage of an SMM mini-UAV, which the SMM assessed as having been fired at on 6 February (see SMM Daily Report of 7 February 2018) in Mykhailivka (government-controlled, 82km north-west of Luhansk), showed a Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier firing his weapon twice at the UAV. The imagery also showed two muzzle flashes and two puffs of smoke from the weapon discharged.  

The SMM observed demining activities. Near Yasynuvata, the SMM facilitated and monitored clearing of mines and UXO, conducted by a “DPR” demining team, from a section of road (including 1-3m from the edge of the tarmac into the fields) leading from the junction of roads M04 and H20 to the Donetsk Filtration Station. The clearance of the road allowed the SMM access to its camera site at the Donetsk Filtration Station (see below).

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs and maintenance works at a pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk), to high voltage power lines near Kadiivka and to a water pumping station near Maiorsk. Positioned at the Donetsk Filtration Station for about three hours in order to conduct maintenance works to its camera, the SMM heard about 50 undetermined explosions 1-3km at directions ranging from east to north (see ceasefire violations section above) despite security guarantees having been given for the maintenance works.

The SMM monitored the transfer of 20 pre-conflict detainees from non-government-controlled areas to government-controlled areas of Donetsk region through a checkpoint near Olenivka (non-government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk) and a checkpoint near Novotroitske (government-controlled, 36km south-west of Donetsk). The SMM observed that a member of the Committee on Human Rights of the Ukrainian Parliament was co-ordinating the transfer.

The SMM monitored the transport of mortal remains from government-controlled areas to non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region through the bridge in Shchastia (government-controlled, 20km north of Luhansk).

The SMM visited a border area not under government control. At a border crossing point near Novoazovsk (102km south-east of Donetsk) for about 20 minutes, the SMM saw six cars (three with Ukrainian and three with Russian Federation licence plates) exiting Ukraine and five cars (three with Ukrainian and two with Russian Federation licence plates) entering Ukraine.

The SMM monitored a gathering in Kyiv. On 7 February, the SMM observed about 500 people (all men, aged 50-70 years old) gathered in front of the Parliament building at 5 Hrushevskoho Street. The SMM saw that some of the participants were carrying flags with insignias of military pensioners’ associations as well as banners with messages demanding higher pensions. The SMM saw a total of about 200 National Guard and police officers present at the location. The Mission did not observe any incidents during its presence.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro 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, 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. 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 2 February 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:

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 by phone 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.
• 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 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:

• The director of a school in a non-government-controlled area of Luhansk region refused to speak with the SMM citing orders from her superiors.

An “LPR” member in Slovianoserbsk (non-government-controlled, 28km north-west of Luhansk) refused to speak with the SMM citing orders from his superiors.

 

[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. Two SMM cameras continue to be tested until the end of February 2018. Video stream to the SMM camera at the entry-exit checkpoint in Marinka was not operational during the entire reporting period.

[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.