Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 18 March 2018

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM monitored the security situation at several locations associated with the Russian Federation presidential election; it observed police presence at these locations and people not being allowed to access some of them by police. The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region between the evenings of 16 and 17 March, compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 17 and 18 March, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous 24 hours and no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas and elsewhere, including near Leonove, Mykolaivka and Staromykhailivka.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Bakhmut, Novopavlivka, and Yablunivka. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs of high-voltage power lines near Almazna and continued to facilitate access for workers to and from the Donetsk Filtration Station. The SMM monitored protests in several regions of Ukraine, and followed up on reports of car windows being damaged in Berehove, Zakarpattia region.

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations[1], including, however, more explosions (about 60), between the evenings of 16 and 17 March, compared with the previous reporting period (52 explosions). Between the evenings of 17 and 18 March, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 30 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours.

On the evening of 16 March, while in Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 21 undetermined explosions and 46 bursts of small-arms fire 2-5km south-west over period of about 30 minutes.

On the evening and night of 16-17 March, while in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM recorded an outgoing explosion 4-7km south-east and six undetermined explosions 10-15km south-west, as well as over 300 bursts and shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire 2-5km at directions ranging from east to south-west. The following evening, the SMM recorded 14 explosions assessed as outgoing infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1) cannon (73mm) rounds, four undetermined explosions and about 100 bursts and shots of automatic grenade launcher, heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 2-4km south.

On the evening and night of 16-17 March, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (15km north of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, a projectile in flight from west to east, five muzzle flashes, and three projectiles in flight from east to west, followed by totals of six undetermined explosions, 11 muzzle flashes, 26 projectiles from east to west and 30 projectiles from west to east. The following evening and night, the camera recorded four explosions, ten muzzle flashes, a projectile from east to west and five projectiles from west to east. All observations were 0.5-3km south.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including, however, fewer explosions (two), between the evenings of 16 and 17 March compared with the previous reporting period (ten explosions). Between the evenings of 17 and 18 March, the SMM recorded no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region.

On 17 March, positioned in Orikhove-Donetske (government-controlled, 44km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 600 shots of small-arms fire 1km east over a period of about 30 minutes, assessed as live-fire training in the security zone, in violation also of the decision of the Trilateral Contact Group of March 2016 that prohibits the conduct of live-fire training (exercises) in the security zone.

The SMM followed up on reports of a civilian killed by a hand grenade. On 17 March, a resident of an apartment building at Block 19 in Soniachnyi neighbourhood, in Dobropillia (government-controlled, 73km north-east of Donetsk) told the SMM that in the early morning on 15 March he had heard an explosion in the building. Police in Dobropillia told the SMM that it had responded to a phone call regarding an explosion at Block 19 in Soniachnyi neighbourhood in Dobropillia on 15 March and found the body of a man (aged 24) killed by an explosion in one of the apartments in the building. Medical staff at a hospital in Dobropillia told the SMM that, on 15 March, the man’s remains were brought to the hospital’s morgue and a woman (aged about 30) was admitted to the hospital for shrapnel wounds to her face and subsequently released.

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 all three disengagement areas on 17 March, the SMM observed calm situations. Positioned near the Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote disengagement areas on 18 March, the SMM observed calm situations.

In the disengagement area near Stanytsia Luhanska on 18 March, the SMM observed a white flare fired from non-government-controlled areas. Senior members of the armed formations told the SMM this was to indicate their readiness to disengage. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) told the SMM that there would be no disengagement in government-controlled areas of the disengagement area.

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 self-propelled howitzer (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) near Bakhmut (formerly Artemivsk, 67km north of Donetsk) and six anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) near Novopavlivka (56km south-west of Donetsk) on 17 March. An SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted six self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) near Yablunivka (49km north of Donetsk) on 16 March.

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 three towed howitzers (2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm) present and noted that twelve multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm), two surface-to-air missile systems (9K35 Strela‑10) and 11 towed howitzers (2A36) were again missing.

On 17 March, the SMM revisited a heavy weapons permanent storage site in a non-government-controlled area of Luhansk region whose location corresponded with the withdrawal lines and noted that four tanks (three T-64 and a T-72) were again missing.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles and an anti-aircraft gun[2] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, on 16 March, the SMM saw two military-type armoured vehicles near Mykolaivka (40km south of Donetsk) while an SMM mid-range UAV spotted an IFV (BMP variant) and an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (MT-LB) near Novotroitske (36km south-west of Donetsk). An SMM mini-UAV spotted an IFV (possible BMP) near Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) on 16 March. The following day, the SMM observed an APC near Zolote and an IFV (BMP-2) near Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk).

In non-government-controlled areas, on 16 March, an SMM mini-UAV spotted an IFV (BMP-1) near Pryvitne (11km north of Luhansk) and three IFVs (BMP-1) and two APCs (an MT-LB and a BTR variant) near Vesela Hora (16km north of Luhansk). The following day, the SMM saw four APCs (MT-LB) in Pervomaisk (58km west of Luhansk) and two APCs (MT-LB) (one towing an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm)) near Molodizhne (63km north-west of Luhansk). On 18 March, the SMM saw four APCs (MT-LB) and an IFV (BMP variant) in Pervomaisk and four IFVs (BMP variants) in Vesela Hora.

The SMM observed the presence of mines. On 16 March, an SMM mini-UAV again spotted about 80 anti-tank mines laid out across road H-21 north of Vesela Hora. About 200m south-east of the Siverskyi Donets river, the SMM mini-UAV spotted at least 36 anti-tank mines laid out in three rows across road H-21. About 1km south-east of these mines, the SMM mini-UAV spotted at least 23 anti-tank mines laid out in two rows about 2m apart across both lanes of the road. About 400m from those mines, the mini-UAV spotted at least 14 anti-tank mines laid in two rows 20m apart across the southbound lane of H-21. Finally, about 700m from the aforementioned mines (and some 2.3km from the Siverskyi Donets river) the SMM mini-UAV spotted at least seven anti-tank mines laid out across the southbound lane of H-21.

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to high-voltage power lines near Almazna (non-government-controlled, 55km west of Luhansk) on 17 and 18 March. The SMM continued to facilitate access of Voda Donbassa water company employees to and from the Donetsk Filtration Station to keep the station operational and monitored the security situation from the station (see SMM Daily Report 17 March 2018).

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 an hour on 17 March, the SMM observed 46 cars (13 with Ukrainian, 16 Russian Federation and two with Georgian licence plates; 15 with “DPR” plates), a bus with Ukrainian licence plates and 17 pedestrians exiting Ukraine, as well as 39 cars (12 with Ukrainian, 13 with Russian Federation and one with Lithuanian licence plates; 13 “DPR” with plates), three covered cargo trucks, three buses and 25 pedestrians entering Ukraine.

While at a border crossing point near Ulianivske (61km south-east of Donetsk) for about 30 minutes on 17 March, the SMM observed no traffic across the border.

While at a border crossing point near Novoazovsk (40km east of Mariupol) for about 20 minutes on 17 March, the SMM observed five cars (with Ukrainian licence plates) two covered cargo trucks (one with Ukrainian licence plates, the other with “DPR” plates) exiting Ukraine, as well as seven cars (three with Ukrainian licence plates and four with “DPR” plates) entering Ukraine. While at the same border crossing point for about an hour on 18 March, the SMM observed six cars (four with Ukrainian and two with Russian Federation licence plates) and four cargo trucks and two tanker trucks (all with “DPR” plates) exiting Ukraine, as well as nine cars (one with Ukrainian, six with Russian Federation licence plates; two with “DPR” plates), a covered cargo truck with Ukrainian licence plates, and four pedestrians entering Ukraine.

In the Trudivski area of Petrovskyi district in Donetsk city, the SMM observed three women with a tablet computer seemingly filming near a checkpoint of the armed formations. Two men in camouflage attire approached the women from a guard post, seized the tablet computer and returned to their post with two of the women. The third woman told the SMM that the two other women were journalists from Moscow and that the men in camouflage attire had seized their tablet computer because they were filming in a “sensitive area.” The two women returned after about 20 minutes and told the SMM their tablet computer had not been damaged but the footage they had filmed had been erased.

The SMM monitored the security situation at several locations associated with the Russian Federation presidential election in several cities in Ukraine; it observed people not being allowed from accessing some of these locations by police. On 17 March, the SMM noted a calm situation around the Russian Federation Embassy at 27 Povitroflotskyi Avenue, the Russian Federation Consulate at 5 Volunteer Battalions Street and the Russian Centre for Science and Culture at 2A Borysohlibska Street in Kyiv.

On the morning of 18 March, the SMM saw that a section of Khreshchatyk Street between Independence Square and European Square had been closed to traffic (in addition to the section of the street that is normally closed to traffic on Sundays) and that a large decorative metal structure had been set up on Independence Square. The SMM saw that the Russian Federation Embassy, and the main road in front of it, had been sealed off by temporary fencing (2.5m-high metal fencing) and that about 500 National Guard personnel were present in the area. The SMM saw about 50-60 protesters (mainly young men aged 20-40) gathering north of the embassy around the intersection of Povitroflotskyi Avenue and Kurska Street. The SMM saw flags and insignia of National Corps, Natsionalni Druzhyny, Svoboda, Sokil and Right Sector, as well as a Svoboda party booth being set up. Later, about 20 more people joined the group. The SMM saw posters critical of voting in the Russian Federation presidential election. In the afternoon, the number of protesters had decreased to about 30. A man approached the SMM and said that his daughter and mother-in-law were both Russian citizens who wanted to vote but had not been allowed to pass through towards the Embassy building. The SMM observed that all protesters had dispersed by 18:00.

The SMM saw similar fencing around the Russian Centre for Science and Culture and at least ten National Guard personnel present, as well as a fence blocking the street leading to the consulate, where another ten National Guard personnel were present. The SMM observed a calm situation in the area throughout the day and a sign posted on the entrance gate announcing that the centre was closed for technical reasons.

At 15:00, the SMM monitored the start of a pre-announced protest march led by the Organization of the Ukrainian Nationalists. The SMM saw 50-60 people (35-55 years old, two-thirds men) marching from Lesi Ukrainky Square towards the Russian Federation Consulate. The SMM saw protesters carrying banners critical of the Russian Federation. A police car was following the people marching. At the barrier fencing near the consulate, the SMM saw about 100 National Guard and police officers present. Some protesters threw eggs over the security fence and in the direction of the consulate (impeded by the barrier) and lit two red flares. The protest dispersed an hour later.

In Odessa, the SMM observed about 75 police and National Guard officers on the street outside the Russian Federation Consulate at Haharinske Plateau and six police buses parked nearby. Police had cordoned off the street leading to the consulate. The SMM observed that pedestrians and cars approaching the police cordon were refused entry. A police officer told the SMM that they were not allowing people to enter the area due to a reported bomb threat. Four people told the SMM that they had come to vote but had been denied entry by the police due to a bomb threat. The SMM saw about 75 people identified as members of Odessa Self-Defence, Auto-Maidan, Svoboda, Right Sector, National Corps and others playing loud music and setting up symbolic objects. The SMM observed no incidents during its presence.

In Kharkiv, the police had blocked the streets around the Russian Federation Consulate at 22 Olminskoho Street. The SMM observed 200-250 police officers patrolling around the consulate during the day. The police were checking identity documents and bags of people entering the building. The SMM saw also six people who tried to enter the building but were sent back by the police officers. The SMM saw 200-300 people (mostly men aged 20-35) present, some of them carrying flags of the National Corps, Svoboda, Right Sector, and Sokil as well as red-and-black flags. Some of them were carrying banners and had set up tents. The protesters dispersed in the evening hours.

At the crossing point in Henichesk (178km south-east of Kherson) the SMM saw about 80 people (men and women, mixed ages), many of whom were carrying flags of the Crimean Tatars and of Ukraine as well as banners protesting critical of the Russian Federation presidential election in Crimea. The SMM saw some of them stopping cars and pedestrians travelling in both directions and handing out leaflets. The SMM did not observe any incidents.

In Lviv, the SMM saw that a crowd control barrier had been placed around the Russian Federation Consulate at 95 Levytskoho Street. The SMM saw about 90 people (mostly men, aged 16-30) arrive in front of the consulate and set up small tents and display flags of political parties and other groups. About 15-20 National Guard officers and a similar number of police officers were present. The number of protesters reduced to about 40 in the afternoon and the situation remained calm during the SMM’s presence.

The SMM observed similar gatherings (about 100 people) in Ivano-Frankivsk and at the central square in Chernivtsi (15 people).

The SMM monitored pre-announced protests led by a political party in several regions of Ukraine on 18 March. The SMM saw about 2,000 people (mostly men, aged 40-60) gathered on Independence Square in Kyiv. Except for some protesters who dismantled part of a large decorative metal structure on Independence Square, claiming that it had been put up to interfere with their protest, the event ended without incident. On the evening of 17 March, the SMM had observed some 200 National Guard and police officers surround a truck on European Square that was carrying equipment for the protest the next day. The SMM saw a police car parked in front of the truck and a police bus behind it.

In Ivano-Frankivsk, the SMM saw about 150 people (mostly middle-aged men) march from Nezalezhnosti Street to Vichevyi Square, where one of the leaders of the march held a short speech. The SMM saw 15 police officers present.

In Kramatorsk (83km north of Donetsk), the SMM observed about 40 people (mostly middle-aged men) gather at the intersection of Parkova and Yaroslava Mudroho Streets and march to Peace Square, where activists made speeches critical of the authorities. The SMM saw about 50 police officers present.

In Kharkiv, the SMM observed about 150 people (men and women, mixed ages) gather at Constitution Square and march to the Taras Shevchenko monument, where the SMM saw 15-20 police officers. Kharkiv’s central Sumska Street was closed for vehicular movement during the march. The SMM observed no incidents during its presence.

At the central square in Chernivtsi, the SMM saw approximately 120 participants (mostly men, aged 20-60), including ten in camouflage clothing. The SMM saw 11 uniformed police officers and at least five in civilian clothing. Speakers criticised the removal of the tent camp in front of the Parliament building in Kyiv and called for fair investigation and accountability of those responsible.

On 18 March, the SMM monitored two protests in Kherson. At the junction of Shevchenko Park and Perekopska Street, the SMM observed 70-100 people (mostly men, mixed ages), some of whom were carrying flags of Ukraine and red-and-black flags marching towards Freedom Square. Some speakers expressed objection to the removal of their tents outside the Parliament building in Kyiv. At Freedom Square, the SMM observed another gathering in protest of the holding of elections in Crimea. The SMM saw about 100 people (mostly men, mixed ages) being addressed by the deputy permanent representative of the Ukrainian President on Crimea. The SMM saw 50-60 police officers present. Except for some verbal exchanges between the two groups, the SMM did not observe any incidents.

On 17 March, in Uzhhorod, Zakarpattia region, the SMM observed a march of 150-170 people (mostly men, aged 20-30). Many of them were wearing black jackets with Karpatska Sich insignias and balaclavas. Some of them were carrying flags of the Right Sector, the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. The SMM saw about 150 police officers present. The SMM did not observe any incidents.

On 17 March the SMM followed up on a media report of damage to nine Hungarian‑registered vehicles at 39a Shevchenko Boulevard in Berehove (172km south-west of Ivano-Frankivsk). Three police officers confirmed the incident to the SMM and said that an investigation was taking place. Several residents, including a man who identified himself as the owner of one of the damaged vehicles, told the SMM that this was the first time such an incident had occurred in their area. They all separately told the SMM that there were no tensions between the different ethnic groups in Berehove. The chief of local police told the SMM that video footage showed four persons damaging the cars. The SMM later saw the same video, which showed people smashing the rear windows of the cars.

*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 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 17 March 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:

• On 17 March, three armed men prevented the SMM from entering Leonove (non-government-controlled, formerly Chervonyi Zhovten, 82km south of Luhansk), citing ongoing demining activities in the area.
• On 17 March, an armed formations member demanded the SMM depart the immediate vicinity of an armed formations position in Mykolaivka (non-government-controlled, 15km east of Luhansk). After the SMM moved 100m from the position, the same individual demanded it to move an additional 400m.
• On 18 March, the SMM was denied passage through a checkpoint in Staromykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 15km west of Donetsk) by a member of the armed formations citing orders from his “superiors.”

Related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

• On 17 and 18 March, 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 both times.[3]
• On 17 and 18 March, 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 both times.
• On 17 and 18 March, 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.

[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.

[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.