Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 16 March 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. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded two ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska and Petrivske disengagement areas. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas and elsewhere, including near Izvaryne, at a border crossing point in Luhansk region near the border with the Russian Federation, in Amvrosiivka, Verkhnoshyrokivske and a heavy weapons holding area in a non-government-controlled area of Donetsk region.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM facilitated and monitored demining activities near the Donetsk Filtration Station and Sartana. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs in Artema, Almazna, Horlivka, and again facilitated access for workers to the Donetsk Filtration Station. In Dnipro, the SMM monitored a gathering in support of Ukrainian volunteers. The SMM observed a gathering in front of the Russian Federation Consulate in Lviv. In Zakarpattia region, the SMM monitored three peaceful gatherings and followed up on reports of an explosion near a house.

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations[1] including, however, fewer explosions (about 52), compared with the previous reporting period (about 140 explosions).

On the evening of 15 March, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (15km north of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, a projectile in flight from west to east, one undetermined explosion, four projectiles from west to east, and one undetermined explosion, followed by totals of two undetermined explosions and 63 projectiles (43 from west to east and 20 from east to west), all 0.5-3km south. During the early evening of 16 March, the same camera recorded, in sequence, seven projectiles from west to east, one undetermined explosion, two projectiles from west to east, 15 muzzle flashes, and two projectiles from west to east, all 0.5-3km south.

During the day on 16 March, positioned north-west of the railway station in Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard one undetermined explosion, about 12 bursts and 50 shots of small-arms fire, all 0.3-3km south-west.

During the evening and night of 15-16 March, the SMM camera 1km south-west of Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded, in sequence, two undetermined explosions, 14 projectiles in flight from west to east, three projectiles from east to west, one undetermined explosion, four projectiles from west to east, and three projectiles from east to west, followed by totals of 12 undetermined explosions and 41 projectiles (40 from west to east and one from east to west), all 1-4km north.

During the day on 16 March, positioned on the north-eastern edge of Pavlopil (government-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard 11 undetermined explosions at unknown distances north-east, east, east-south-east and south-east.

Positioned on the south-western edge of Lebedynske (government-controlled, 16km east of Mariupol), the SMM heard four undetermined explosions, 60 shots of small-arms and 15 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire at unknown distances east.

Positioned 2.2km south-east of Lebedynske, the SMM heard 13 undetermined explosions, over 300 bursts of heavy-machine-gun and nearly 500 shots of small-arms fire, at unknown distances north.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, however, including 11 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (seven explosions).

Positioned 1.5km north of Buhaivka (non-government-controlled, 37km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard three explosions assessed as impacts, four bursts and three shots of infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-2) cannon (30mm) fire, as well as three shots of small-arms fire, all 2-4km south-east.

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.*

While in Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM heard a burst of heavy-machine-gun fire 3km west-south-west and an undetermined explosion 5km south-west, both assessed as outside the disengagement area.

Positioned about 3km north of Petrivske, the SMM heard a burst of heavy-machine-gun fire 2-4km west-south-west, and was unable to determine if it was inside the disengagement area.

Positioned in Zolote, 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 six self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) near Anadol (39km north of Mariupol), two self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) parked in the yards of two houses in Vidrodzhennia (66km north-east of Donetsk), and a surface-to-air missile system (9K33 Osa) parked on a residential street near houses in Klynove (68km north-east of Donetsk).

In violation of withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas, the SMM saw four multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) near Novoamvrosiivske (56km east of Donetsk). On 15 March, an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle spotted six tanks (three T-64 and three T-72), two self-propelled howitzers (2S1), and three pieces of towed artillery (D-20, 152mm) near Novoselivka (37km north-east of Donetsk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside of designated storage sites, the SMM saw three military trucks (URAL) transporting three MLRS travelling north near Kramatorsk (government-controlled, 83km north of Donetsk).

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 non-government-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM saw six towed howitzers (2A65 Msta-B, 152mm) and five self-propelled howitzers (2S1). The SMM noted that 13 self-propelled howitzers (2S1), two anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) and a towed howitzer (2A65) were again missing. Armed “DPR” members denied the SMM access to parts of a heavy weapons holding area.*

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles[2] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, the SMM saw three armoured reconnaissance vehicles (two BRDM and one BRM-1K) and one armoured personnel carrier (APC) (type unknown) 30-40m away from residential houses, which the SMM assessed as occupied by Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel, in Orikhove-Donetske (44km north-west of Luhansk), and two IFVs (BMP-variant) near Hranitne (60km south of Donetsk).

In Zolote, outside the disengagement area, the SMM saw five Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel carrying 12 green crates closed with metal bands from a transport lorry to a military truck, which the SMM assessed as ammunition crates. 

The SMM observed a newly established checkpoint near Metalist (non-government-controlled, 7km north-west of Luhansk) as well as two newly established checkpoints on the western and the southern outskirts of Luhansk city, respectively.

The SMM facilitated and monitored demining activities and observed a mine hazard sign. Near the Donetsk Filtration Station on road H20, a “DPR” demining team told the SMM that they had found unexploded ordnance (UXO). From a safe distance, the SMM observed the demining team destroy the UXO in a controlled explosion. About 1km north of Sartana (government-controlled, 15km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM saw three vehicles and eight men, all bearing the logo of an international demining organization. They had marked off a section of the field on the north-east side of the road with warning signs and appeared to be surveying for mine clearance.

The SMM saw a mine hazard sign outside a compound with a concrete fence and metal gates in the Proletarskyi district of Donetsk city.

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to the Petrivske water pumping station in Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk).The SMM also monitored repairs to a high-voltage power lines near Almazna (non-government-controlled, 55km west of Luhansk). The SMM continued to monitor and facilitate repairs to a water pipeline near Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk). The SMM again facilitated access of Voda Donbassa water company employees to and from the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) to keep the DFS operational and monitored the security situation from the station.

The SMM visited three border areas not under government control. While at a border crossing point near Izvaryne (52km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed vehicles queuing but no traffic crossing the border before being told to leave the area.* While at a border crossing point near Verkhnoharasymivka (57km south-east of Luhansk) for 25 minutes, the SMM saw six people (four women, 30-60 years old and two men, about 50 years old) enter Ukraine and saw no one exit Ukraine. At the pedestrian border crossing point near Ulianivske (61km south-east of Donetsk), the SMM did not see traffic in either direction.

The SMM monitored public gatherings in several cities across Ukraine. On 14 March, the SMM monitored a gathering in Dnipro at 2 Oleksandra Polia Street of around 50 peoples (men and women, 20-50 years old), many of whom were holding Ukrainian national flags as well as flags of Azov battalion, Right Sector and the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists. Activists known to the SMM as volunteers made speeches in support of Ukrainian volunteers. The SMM did not observe police presence and observed a calm situation.

On 15 March the SMM monitored events in Berehove and Uzhhorod (174km south-west and 182km west of Ivano Frankivsk, respectively), Zakarpattia region, marking the 170th anniversary of the Hungarian National Liberation War. In Berehove at Rakotski Square, the SMM observed about 300 participants (mixed gender an age), including local political leaders as well peopled introduced as representatives of the Hungarian diplomatic corps, at a commemoration event consisting of speeches and the recital of poems and folk songs in both Ukrainian and Hungarian languages. The SMM saw 30 police officers securing the areas. In Uzhhorod at the monument of Petofi Sandor, the SMM saw about 250 people (mixed gender and ages) gathered for a commemoration event consisting of songs and the recital of poetry in both Ukrainian and Hungarian languages. About 60 police officers secured the event. Both events ended without incidents. On the same day, the SMM also observed about 200 people (mixed age and gender) in Uzhhorod gather to mark the 79th anniversary of “Karpatska Ukraine”; they laid flowers by the Augustin Voloshin monument across from 9 Nezalezhnosti Embankment Street. The SMM saw about 50 police officers present. The event ended without incidents.

In Lviv, the SMM followed up media reports on a planned protest in front of the Russian Federation Consulate General organized by activists of “All-Ukrainian Movement of Patriots and “Volunteers’ Association”, coinciding with the anniversary of events in Crimea in 2014. The SMM arrived at 12:20 and it observed eight-ten people (three women and five-seven men). One of the protesters informed the SMM that they had not been planning a demonstration and had just come to observe the Russian Federation General Consulate during the election. Around 14:00 a second small group of 18-20 people (20-55 years, 3 women and 15-17 men) arrived. Protesters were holding, among other things, pictures of Crimea. According to the police officer who was in charge of securing the area, the demonstration was peaceful. While present, the SMM observed a calm situation.

The SMM followed up on reports of a hand grenade being detonated near a home in Uzhhorod. At 50 Dzherelna Street, the SMM saw some thirty small holes (1-3cm) on the south-facing façade of the house and 20 similar holes on the west-facing garage door and a hole in a window (about 5cm in diameter), all of which it assessed to be caused from shrapnel. A resident (man, about 40 years old) told the SMM that he had been home at the time of an explosion on 15 March around 3:30 and that police had arrived to the site the same night. An officer with the regional police of Zakarpattia told the SMM that an investigation was ongoing. 

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Kharkiv, 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, 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 heavy weapons holding area in non-government-controlled Donetsk region, a “DPR” member denied the SMM entry to part of the compound.
• At a compound in Amvrosiivka (non-government-controlled, 56km south-east of Donetsk), a “DPR” member denied the SMM access to the compound.
• At a checkpoint 600m west of Verkhnoshyrokivske (non-government-controlled, formerly Oktiabr, 29km north-east of Mariupol), an armed “DPR” member denied the SMM passage through the checkpoint, saying that it was not safe for the SMM to proceed.
• At a border crossing point near Izvaryne, an “LPR” member told the SMM 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 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

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 clothes allowed the SMM to proceed only after visually inspecting an SMM trailer. (The Mission faced a restriction at the same checkpoint on 13 March. See SMM Daily Report 14 March 2018).

[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. The SMM camera in Pyshchevyk was not operational during the reporting period.

* Please see the section at the end of this report entitled “Restrictions of SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate”.

[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.