Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 21 February 2018

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. Small arms were again fired near an SMM patrol and towards an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle near Kostiantynivka. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including at the Chervona Mohyla railway station near Voznesenivka and, as has been the case in previous days, at three crossing points at the border with the Russian Federation in areas outside government control out of five visited by the SMM.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Zoria. The Mission continued to facilitate and monitor repairs and maintenance of essential infrastructure near Berezove, Orlivske, Artema, Novotoshkivske and Yashchykove. The SMM monitored gatherings in Odessa and Ivano-Frankivsk on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of events at Maidan.

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations[1], including 134 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 100 explosions).

On the evening and night of 20 February, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (15km north of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, two projectiles in flight from east to west, three projectiles from west to east and an undetermined explosion, followed by totals of 12 undetermined explosions, 34 projectiles from west to east and 29 projectiles from east to west, all 0.5-1.5km south. On the evening of 21 February, the same camera recorded, in sequence, a projectile from west to east, an undetermined explosion and a projectile from east to west, all 0.5-1.5km south.

On the evening of 20 February, while in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 19 undetermined explosions 3-6km south-east. On 21 February, from the same location, the SMM heard 67 undetermined explosions, and about 30 shots and bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, all 3-8km north-east and south-east.

Positioned 1km north-east of Pavlopil (government-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol) for about five hours, the SMM heard 28 undetermined explosions and about 60 shots and bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, all 1-4km at directions ranging from north to east.

Positioned 1km north-north-west of Pyshchevyk (government-controlled, 25km north-east of Mariupol) for about five hours, the SMM heard six undetermined explosions (one 2-3km south, and the remainder at undetermined distances south-south-east, north-east and west), at least 200 shots and bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, as well as 11 shots of undetermined weapons cannon (either 23mm or 30mm) fire, all at undetermined distances at directions ranging from north-north-east to east-north-east.

Positioned 2km south-east of Lebedynske (government-controlled, 16km east of Mariupol) for about one hour, the SMM heard 80 shots of infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-2) cannon (30mm) fire and eight bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire at undetermined distances east. From the same location, the SMM also heard and saw an explosion assessed as the impact of a mortar round 1-2km north-east.

While conducting a mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight over the north-western edge of Kostiantynivka (government-controlled, 60km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard about six bursts of small-arms fire approximately 400m east of the patrol’s position. The SMM assessed that the shots had likely been aimed at the UAV. The SMM landed the UAV, which was undamaged, and departed the area.*

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including 150 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (48 explosions).

On the evening of 20 February, while in Kadiivka (non-government-controlled, formerly Stakhanov, 50km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 44 undetermined explosions (five assessed as 10km south-west, and 39 as 15-16km south-west, west and north-west).

On 21 February, positioned on the eastern edge of Kalynove-Borshchuvate (non-government-controlled, 61km west of Luhansk) for about 25 minutes, the SMM heard 37 undetermined explosions 20-25km south-west.

Positioned on the north-eastern outskirts of Kalynove (non-government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) for about one hour, the SMM heard 22 undetermined explosions 6-8km south-west.

Positioned in Vrubivskyi (non-government-controlled, 22km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 22 undetermined explosions 25-30km west and north-west.

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.*

In the early hours of 21 February, while on the eastern edge of government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM heard two shots of small-arms fire 5km west-south-west (assessed as outside the disengagement area). During the day on 21 February, while at the same location, the SMM heard 12 undetermined explosions and six bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 8-10km south-west (assessed as outside the disengagement area).

During the day on 21 February, positioned near the Zolote disengagement area, and in Bohdanivka (government-controlled, 41km south-west of Donetsk) west of the Petrivske disengagement area, the SMM noted 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 a government-controlled area, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted on 20 February a probable self-propelled howitzer (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) about 3km north-north-west of Zoria (40km north-west of Donetsk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites, in government-controlled areas, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted on 20 February nine stationary tanks (T-64) about 3km north-north-west of Zoria. On 21 February, the SMM saw three tanks (T-80) loaded on military trucks in Mariupol, and two tanks (T-64) loaded on stationary heavy equipment transporters 3km north-east of Bakhmut (formerly Artemivsk, 67km north of Donetsk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites, in areas outside government control, on 21 February the SMM saw six towed howitzers (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm), six self-propelled howitzers (2S1) and five tanks (T-64) near Myrne (28km south-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 saw a surface-to-air missile system (9K35 Strela-10) and eight multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) as present, and noted that a surface-to-air missile system (9K35), 11 MLRS (BM-21) and a self-propelled howitzer (2S1) continued to be missing.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles and anti-aircraft weapons[2] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, the SMM saw two IFVs (BMP-2) in Bohdanivka, two IFVs (BMP-2) 3km east of Vershyna (63km north-east of Donetsk), an IFV (BMP-2) on the northern edge of the Zolote disengagement area (outside the disengagement area), an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) mounted on a military truck on the southern edge of Novotoshkivske (53km west of Luhansk), an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) fitted on a military truck on the western outskirts of Kriakivka (38km north-west of Luhansk), and an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) in Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk).

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs and maintenance works to the water pipeline between Berezove (government controlled, 31km south-west of Donetsk) and Dokuchaievsk (non-government-controlled, 30km south-west of Donetsk), to the power station near Orlivske (government-controlled, 23km north-east of Mariupol), to the Petrivske pumping station in Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk), to the water pipe system in Novotoshkivske, and to the water wells near Yashchykove (non-government-controlled, 46km west of Luhansk).

The SMM visited five border areas not under government control.* At a border crossing point near Uspenka (non-government-controlled 73km south-east of Donetsk) for about 35 minutes, the SMM saw 31 cars (15 with Ukrainian, and 13 with Russian Federation licence plates, and three with “DPR” plates), a bus (with Ukrainian licence plates) and a covered cargo truck (with Belarusian licence plates) exiting Ukraine. The SMM also observed seven cars (three with Ukrainian and two with Russian Federation licence plates, and two with “DPR” plates) and three pedestrians (one woman and one man in their fifties, and one man in his twenties) entering Ukraine.

At a border crossing point near Ulianivske (non-government-controlled, 61km south-east of Donetsk) for about one hour, the SMM saw a man (in his fifties) entering Ukraine.

At a border crossing point near Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, 65km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed two cars (with Ukrainian licence plates) waiting to exit Ukraine and no cars entering. After ten minutes, an unarmed “LPR” member, citing orders from his “superiors”, told the SMM to leave the area.*

At a border crossing point near Izvaryne (52km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed a bus (licence plates not visible) entering Ukraine. After 15 minutes, an unarmed “LPR” member, citing orders from his “superiors”, told the SMM to leave the area.*

At a border crossing point near Verkhnoharasymivka (57km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw a pedestrian (man, around 35 years old) entering Ukraine. After 45 minutes, an unarmed “LPR” member, citing orders from his “superiors”, asked the SMM to move 200m away from the border crossing point.*

On 20 February, the SMM monitored gatherings in Odessa and Ivano-Frankivsk on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of events at Maidan. (For observations in other parts of Ukraine, see SMM Daily Report 20 February 2018 and SMM Daily Report 21 February 2018.) In Odessa, the SMM saw about 250 people (men and women, mixed ages), including the Head of Regional State Administration and the Mayor of the Odessa city, gathered in front of the regional state administration building at 4 Shevchenko Avenue. There were 50 police and National Guard officers present. In Ivano-Frankivsk, the SMM saw about 150 people (men and women, mixed ages) gathered at Vichevyi Square, some of whom were carrying Svoboda and Sokil flags. There were 25 police officers present. The gatherings ended without incidents.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Lviv, 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. 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 below). 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 border crossing point near Izvaryne, an armed “LPR” member, citing orders from his “superiors”, told the SMM that it had to leave the area.
• At a border crossing point near Voznesenivka, an armed “LPR” member told the SMM that it had to leave the area.
• At the Chervona Mohyla railway station near Voznesenivka, an armed “LPR” member told the SMM that it had to leave the area.
• At a border crossing point near Verkhnoharasymivka, an unarmed “LPR” member, citing orders from his “superiors”, asked the SMM to move 200m away from the crossing point.

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 demining 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 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

Other impediments:

• While flying a mini-UAV over the north-western edge of Kostiantynivka, the SMM heard about six bursts of small-arms fire approximately 400m east of the patrol’s position. The SMM assessed that the shots had likely been aimed at the UAV.

[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. The SMM camera at the entry-exit checkpoint in Marinka and the SMM camera at the entry-exit checkpoint in Pyshchevyk were not operational during the 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.