Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 8 March 2018

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period and no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. The SMM followed up on reports of a civilian casualty in Zolote-5. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including at two border crossing points in Luhansk region near the border with the Russian Federation.* The SMM visited three border areas not under government control. The Mission continued to facilitate and monitor repairs and maintenance works to essential civilian infrastructure near Artema and Krasnyi Lyman. In Kyiv, the SMM followed up on reports of an incident involving a grenade launcher round fired at a restaurant. The Mission monitored gatherings on the occasion of International Women’s Day in Kyiv, Uzhhorod, Kharkiv, Kherson and Lviv; in Uzhhorod, it saw youths throw red liquid at speakers addressing a crowd. The SMM also monitored a protest in Lviv.

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations[1], including three explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (19 explosions).

On the night of 7-8 March, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (15km north of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, two projectiles in flight from east to west, one undetermined explosion, and two projectiles from west to east, all 0.5-3km south.

Positioned 1km north-north-west of Pyshchevyk (government-controlled, 25km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard two undetermined explosions at undetermined distances south-south-east.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded no ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period the SMM had recorded two explosions.

The SMM followed up on reports of a civilian casualty in Zolote-5 (Mykhailivika, non-government-controlled, 61km north-west of Luhansk). At the hospital in Pervomaisk (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), a nurse (woman, 65-70 years old) told the SMM that according to the hospital’s logbook on 4 March an ambulance crew was sent to provide assistance to a woman (around 50 years old) who had been injured by the explosion of a mine or some other type of explosive device in Zolote-5. The three members of the ambulance crew (a woman and two men, all 45-48 years old) told the SMM that the woman walked from the place where the incident occurred to the Mariivka railway station in Zolote-5 where they picked her up. They subsequently brought her to the hospital where her right wrist, which had been injured by shrapnel in the explosion, was treated. The injury was deemed minor and the woman was released from the hospital on the same day. At a checkpoint on the edge of Zolote-5, an “LPR” member (man, about 20 years old) told the SMM that he was on duty at the same checkpoint on 4 March around 09:00 when the injured woman came to the checkpoint on foot and that he had called the hospital to have an ambulance dispatched to treat her.

The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process and to pursue full access to the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) and Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 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.* Positioned near the Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote disengagement areas during the day, 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.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles[2] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, the SMM saw a stationary armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) and three stationary infantry fighting vehicles (BMP-1) near Popasna (69km west of Luhansk).

In non-government-controlled areas, the SMM saw two stationary armoured personal carriers (APC) (a BTR-80 and a BTR-60) near Donetsk city centre in a fenced car park on the north side of the H-21 road. The SMM also observed two APCs (BTR-80) travelling near Sofiivka (formerly Karlo-Marksove, 40km north-east of Donetsk), and a stationary APC (MT-LB) in Vesela Hora (16km north of Luhansk).

On 7 March, the SMM observed new mine hazard signs (red rectangular metal boards with “STOP MINES” written in Russian and Ukrainian languages) near the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (15km north-east of Luhansk) along both sides of the road affixed every 15m to the wired barrier railing between a forward defensive position of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the government entry-exit checkpoint.

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

The SMM visited three border areas not under government control.* While at a border crossing point near Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk) for about 45 minutes, the SMM saw 24 cars (16 with Russian and six with Ukrainian licence plates; two with “DPR” plates) entering Ukraine. The SMM also observed ten cars (one with Ukrainian and one with Russian Federation licence plates, and eight with “DPR” plates) and a bus (with Ukrainian licence plates) exiting Ukraine.

While at a border crossing point near Izvaryne (52km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw 12 pedestrians (six men, six women, all 40-60 years old) exiting Ukraine. The SMM also observed a bus (with Ukrainian licence plates) entering Ukraine. After about five minutes, an “LPR” member, citing orders from his “superiors”, told the SMM to leave the area.*

While at a border crossing point near Sievernyi (50km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw three pedestrians (one man and two women, all around 40 years old) entering Ukraine. After about ten minutes, an “LPR” member, citing orders from his “superiors”, told the SMM to leave the area.*

In Kyiv, the SMM followed up on media and police reports of an incident involving a grenade launcher round fired at a restaurant. At 4 Volodymyrska Street, the Mission saw that part of the park-facing terrace of the restaurant was covered with blue plastic sheets, with its edges charred and window glass scattered. The SMM noted a strong smell of burned wood emanating from the terrace. Local police announced on its official website that at around 02:40 on 8 March, an unidentified individual fired a grenade launcher round at the restaurant, which caused an explosion and a fire at the restaurant. The police also noted that they had found a rocket launcher tube near the restaurant and that no injuries had been reported.

In Kyiv, Uzhhorod, Kharkiv, Kherson and Lviv, the SMM monitored gatherings on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

In Kyiv, the SMM saw about 1,000 people (mostly women, aged 20-30) march from Mykhailivska Square to Bohdana Khmelnytskoho Street, escorted by about 20-30 police officers in riot gear. The Mission observed some of the participants carrying banners with messages “Women’s rights, human rights” written in Ukrainian. At Mykhailivska Square, it saw about 15-20 people (men and women, aged 20-30), some of them holding banners with signs “Get out feminism” and “Women should return to the tradition” written in Ukrainian. The SMM saw, on two occasions, minor scuffles between the two abovementioned groups and about ten men (aged 20-30) attempting to take banners from the former group’s participants, which was subsequently prevented by the police. During its presence, the SMM did not see further incidents.

In Uzhhorod (182km west of Ivano-Frankivsk), Zakarpattia region, at 13:00, the SMM saw ten women and two men (aged 20-55) addressing a crowd of around 80 people on the topic of equal rights for women at Teatralna Square. There were about ten police officers present. At 13:20, the Mission saw five youths (three women and two men) rush up to the speakers and throw red liquid at the protesters’ bodies and faces. The SMM, positioned a few metres from the speakers, noted smell of thinner. The youths also tossed around flyers depicting a family (man, woman, two children) under an umbrella holding the term “nationalism” written in Ukrainian and ran away. Immediately thereafter, the SMM saw the police officers follow the youths and detain them. The Mission also saw paramedics arrive at the scene and provide medical care to two of the speakers (both women) as, according to some of the speakers, the paint had gone into their eyes. Later the day, local police told the SMM by telephone that the police had detained those responsible for throwing paint at the speakers.

The SMM also observed gatherings in Kherson (30 people, 80 per cent women), Lviv (200 people, 70 per cent women) and Kharkiv (120 people, 85 per cent women). Participants marched with signs calling for gender equality, an end to domestic and gender-based violence, and an end to “the patriarchy.” In Lviv, the SMM observed about 20 young women protesting against the march with signs written in Ukrainian such as “Feminism is destruction” and “Gender quotas are discrimination.” About forty activists of right-wing groups were walking alongside the march. The Mission saw that at one point scuffles broke out between one of these activists and a participant in the women’s march and that the police detain the activist. The SMM observed 40 police officers in full riot gear as well as further police officers.

In Lviv, on 6 March, the SMM observed about 50 protestors (some with the insignia of Sokil, Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and C14) standing outside the main entrance of the Lviv National Opera at 28 Svobody Avenue, preventing approximately 350 ticketholders from entering. The protestors had previously announced via social media that they were demonstrating that evening’s performance because the singer who was to perform had previously performed in the Russian Federation and Crimea. The SMM observed about 12 police officers in riot gear and another five police officers with “preventive communications police” written in Ukrainian on their jackets, as well as four small riot police buses near the opera. The Mission saw the protestors pour red liquid in front of the main entrance of the opera and a representative of the singer being shoved by three of the protestors. After about 90 minutes, the protest ended and the SMM observed ticketholders entering the opera.

The SMM continued monitoring in Odessa, 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 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:

• While at a border crossing point near Izvaryne, an “LPR” member, citing “instructions” from his “superiors”, told the SMM that it had to leave the area.
• At a border crossing point near Sievernyi, an “LPR” member told the SMM that it had to leave the area.

Related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

• 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 was prevented from accessing secondary roads south of the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. An armed formation 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 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.

Conditional access:

• At a checkpoint on road H-15 east of Kreminets (non-government-controlled, 16km south-west of Donetsk), a “DPR” member in military-style attire demanded to check an SMM trailer. He visually inspected the trailer, after which the SMM was allowed to proceed. (The Mission faced a similar restriction at the same checkpoint on 5 February. See SMM Daily Report 6 February 2018).

Other impediments:

• At a checkpoint south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, an armed “LPR” member told another armed “LPR” member who was talking to the SMM not to provide the SMM with information.

[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.  

[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.