Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 8 February 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 reporting period. In Svitlodarsk, the SMM recorded widespread use of multiple launch rocket systems. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it observed a calm situation in all three. The Mission’s access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including near Kreminets.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Topolyne and near Oleksandropil. In Novooleksandrivka, the SMM saw a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint for the first time. The Mission saw large numbers of anti-tank mines for the first time near Shyrokyne. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs and maintenance works on essential infrastructure near Artema and Krasnyi Lyman. The Mission visited three border areas not under government control. In Kyiv, the SMM followed up on reports of a raid and seizure of assets of a media company, and in Kherson, the SMM monitored a gathering.

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations[1], including about 740 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 420 explosions).

On the evening and night of 7-8 February, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (15km north of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, two undetermined explosions, two projectiles in flight from west to east, six undetermined explosions and nine projectiles from east to west, followed by totals of 16 undetermined explosions and 89 projectiles (54 from west to east, 33 from east to west and two from north to south), all 0.5-1.5km south. During the day on 8 February, the camera recorded, in sequence, an undetermined explosion, an illumination flare (trajectory undetermined) and six projectiles in flight from east to west, all 0.5-1.5km south.

On the evening of 7 February, the SMM camera 1km south-west of Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded an undetermined explosion 5-8km north.

On the evening of 7 February, the SMM camera at the Oktiabr mine (non-government-controlled, 9km north-west of Donetsk city centre) recorded three undetermined explosions at unknown distances north.

On the evening of 7 February, while in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard and saw 60 explosions assessed as outgoing rounds of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) 5-7km north-east, 180 explosions assessed as impacts of MLRS (BM-21) 5-7km south-east, about 180 explosions (150 assessed as impacts of artillery rounds, five as outgoing artillery rounds, 17 as outgoing mortar rounds and eight as outgoing rounds of infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1) cannon (73mm) fire), all 4-8km at directions ranging from east to south, as well as about 200 shots and bursts of anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm), heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire 2-5km at directions ranging from south-east to south-west.

During the day on 8 February, while at the same location, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion 3-4km south, six explosions assessed as outgoing rounds of IFV (BMP-1) cannon fire 2-3km south and south-east, 20 explosions assessed as impacts of artillery rounds 6-7km east, an explosion assessed as an impact 2-3km south-east and at least 55 bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 3-7km south.

While in Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 42 undetermined explosions 5-7km south-west, 24 explosions assessed as impacts of artillery rounds 5-6km south-west, nine explosions assessed as outgoing artillery rounds 8-10km south-west and at least 100 bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire 5-6km south-west.

Positioned at the railway station in Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk) for over five hours, the SMM heard 18 undetermined explosions and at least 360 shots and bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 2-5km at directions ranging from south-west and west.

Positioned in Oleksandropil (government-controlled, 43km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard at least 160 explosions assessed as tank rounds and IFV (BMP-1) cannon fire as well as at least 80 shots of IFV (BMP-2) cannon (30mm) fire, all assessed as live-fire training 5km south.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations and no explosions compared with the previous reporting period (about 1,740 explosions).

During the day on 8 February, positioned in Hannivka (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard about 150 shots of small-arms fire 2km north-north-east, assessed as a live-fire training inside the security zone, in violation of the decision of the Trilateral Contact Group as 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.*

During the day on 8 February, positioned near all three disengagement areas, 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 withdrawal lines, in government-controlled areas, the SMM saw eight stationary MLRS (BM-21) in Topolyne (19km north-west of Mariupol) and 13 self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) near Oleksandropil.

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in government-controlled areas, the SMM saw a stationary surface-to-air missile system (9K37) 900m from a house near Berestove (90km north-east of Donetsk), two stationary tanks (T-64) near Pidhorodne (73km north of Donetsk) and four tanks (probable T-64) travelling south near Smolianynove (61km north-west of Luhansk).

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 six anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) and noted that 12 anti-tank guns (MT-12) and four towed howitzers (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm) continued to be missing.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles, an anti-aircraft gun[2] and other indications of military presence in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, an SMM mid-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on 7 February spotted four IFVs (BMP-2) near Toretsk (formerly Dzerzhynsk, 43km north of Donetsk), an IFV (BMP-2) near Zalizne (42km north-east of Donetsk) and three IFVs (two BMP-2 and a BMP-1) near Pivnichne (44km north-east of Donetsk). On 8 February, the SMM saw two reconnaissance vehicles (BRDM-2) near Muratove (51km north-west of Luhansk) and an IFV (BMP-2) near a checkpoint on the northern edge of the Zolote disengagement area.

In areas outside government control, the SMM saw an IFV (BMP-2) near Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, non-government-controlled, 50km west of Luhansk) and an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) mounted on an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (MT-LB) near Dovhe (non-government-controlled, 22km north-west of Luhansk).  

On 8 February, the SMM saw a newly established checkpoint south-west of Dovhe. The Mission saw at least seven armed “LPR” members, some of whom were checking identification documents of bus passengers travelling in the direction of Luhansk city and two additional armed “LPR” members in trenches and dugouts next to the checkpoint. On the previous day, the SMM had seen at least ten armed “LPR” members digging trenches with two cranes in the same area.

After repeated attempts, the SMM reached Novooleksandrivka (65km west of Luhansk) on 8 February. (For previous observations, see SMM Daily Report 7 December 2017.) On 8 February, the SMM saw a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint for the first time on the north-western edge of Novooleksandrivka and six armed Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers nearby, as well as two soldiers inside the village. Two village residents (both men, aged 50 and 70) told the SMM that residents of Novooleksandrivka were no longer allowed to travel to Pervomaisk (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk) and residents from Pervomaisk were no longer allowed to travel to Novooleksandrivka. On 6 February, a 60-year-old male resident of Pervomaisk told the SMM that at a checkpoint north-east of Novooleksandrivka, armed “LPR” members had stopped him from travelling to Novooleksandrivka. He told the SMM that he had visited Novooleksandrivka at the beginning of February and that it was the first time he had been denied access.

The SMM observed mines near Shyrokyne for the first time. An SMM mid-range UAV on 7 February spotted about 85 anti-tank mines (type undetermined) in two rows in a field along the eastern side of a road on the eastern edge of Vodiane (government-controlled, 94km south of Donetsk). About 3km north of Shyrokyne, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted at least 300 anti-tank mines in a field near Ukrainian Armed Forces positions and, just north of road E58 near Shyrokyne, a further 300 anti-tank mines (type undetermined) were spotted in another field. East of Shyrokyne, close to positions of the armed formations, the SMM mid-range UAV spotted two rows of 20 anti-tank mines (type undetermined) across road E58 (not present in imagery from 5 August 2017).

On 8 February, the SMM saw, for the first time, two anti-tank mines on the western side of road T0509 about 1.5km north of Zernove (non-government-controlled, 33km south of Donetsk).

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs and maintenance works to a pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk) and water wells in Krasnyi Lyman (non-government-controlled, 30km north-west of Luhansk).

The SMM visited three border areas not under government control. At a border crossing point near Izvaryne (52km south-east of Luhansk) for about one hour, the SMM saw ten cars (eight with Ukrainian and one with Russian Federation licence plates, and one with “LPR” plates), two covered cargo trucks (with Ukrainian licence plates) and about 110 pedestrians (85 men and 25 women) exiting Ukraine, and eight cars (five with Ukrainian, two with Russian Federation and one with Lithuanian licence plates), two covered cargo trucks (with Ukrainian licence plates), two buses (with Ukrainian licence plates) and 50 pedestrians (27 women and 23 men) entering Ukraine.

At a border crossing point near Dovzhanske (84km south-east of Luhansk) for about one hour, the SMM saw 12 cars (seven with Ukrainian, four with Russian Federation and one with Lithuanian licence plates) and two buses (with Ukrainian licence plates) exiting Ukraine and 12 cars (seven with Ukrainian, three with Russian Federation and one with Georgian licence plates, and one with “LPR” plates), two covered cargo trucks (with Ukrainian licence plates) and two pedestrians (one man and one woman) entering Ukraine.

At a border crossing point near Verkhnoharasymivka (57km south-east of Luhansk) for about half an hour, the SMM saw five pedestrians (four men and one woman) entering Ukraine.

On 8 February, the SMM followed up on reports of a raid and seizure of assets in Kyiv at the offices of Media Holding Vesti Ukraine at 1A Sportyvna Square. Nearby, the SMM saw a police car and a police bus on Baseina Street and noted a calm situation.

The SMM monitored a gathering in Kherson. On 7 February, the SMM observed about 250 people (mostly men, aged 60-65) gathered in front of the regional state administration building at Svobody square. Participants told the SMM that they were retired police and military servicemen and were demanding an increase in their pensions. The SMM saw six police officers present. The gathering ended peacefully.

The SMM continued monitoring in 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, 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 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.[4] 
• 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 (government-controlled, 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.[4]

Conditional access:

• At a checkpoint on road H15 east of Kreminets (non-government-controlled, 16km south-west of Donetsk), on two occasions, an unarmed person in military-type clothing stopped the SMM and demanded to check an SMM trailer. The SMM was allowed to proceed only after he inspected the trailer. (The Mission faced a similar restriction at the same checkpoint on 5 February; see SMM Daily Report 6 February).

Other impediments:

• The directors of three schools in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region separately told the SMM that it could not visit the schools without written permission from “LPR” members.
• Medical staff at a hospital in Luhansk city refused to speak to the SMM until permission had been granted from “LPR” members.

[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 February 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.