Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 10 April 2018

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it observed a ceasefire violation inside the Petrivske disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, as well as, again, in areas near Izvaryne and Sievernyi (near the border with the Russian Federation).* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line near Pidhorodne, Druzhba, and Lobacheve. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema and a water pipeline in Obozne. The Mission observed some anti-tank mines for the first time near Avdiivka, Zaichenko and in the Zolote disengagement area. The SMM continued to monitor a church in Ptycha, Rivne region, following reports of an incident on 2 April. The SMM saw three commemoration events related to World War II in Odessa.

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations[1] including about 70 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours (about 230 explosions).

During the evening and night of 9-10 April, while in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard two undetermined explosions, 78 bursts of heavy-machine-gun and 40 bursts and 26 shots of small-arms fire, all 3-5km at directions ranging from east to south.

On the evening and night of 9-10 April, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (15km north of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, one projectile in flight from west to east, one projectile from east to west, and two projectiles from west to east, all 1-3km south.

During the day on 10 April, positioned on the south-western edge of Avdiivka (government-controlled, 17km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard 48 undetermined explosions 3-5km east-south-east, south-east, and south.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations (one explosion), compared with the previous 24 hours (five explosions).

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.*

On the morning of 7 April, the SMM camera in Petrivske recorded an undetermined explosion 1-1.5km west-south-west (assessed as inside the disengagement area) and four undetermined explosions, all 1.5-2km west (unable to assess whether they were inside or outside of the disengagement area).

Positioned in Petrivske on 10 April, the SMM heard four undetermined explosions 4-5km south-west and four shots of small-arms fire 2-3km south, all assessed as outside the disengagement area.

At Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, the SMM observed a white flare fired from non-controlled areas. Later the same day, positioned near Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion 3-5km south-south-east, assessed as outside the disengagement area.

On 7 April, an SMM mid-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) mounted on a truck inside the Zolote disengagement area on the southern edge and at least 400 anti-tank mines laid in four sets of three rows each (on its south-western edge).

On 10 April, positioned near the Zolote disengagement area, 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 18 self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) near Pidhorodne (73km north of Donetsk). On 9 April, an SMM mini-UAV spotted three self-propelled howitzers (2S1) near Druzhba (45km north-east of Donetsk).

In non-government-controlled areas, an SMM mini-UAV spotted three tanks (T-64) about 1.5km north-west of Lobacheve (13km east of Luhansk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in government-controlled areas the SMM saw a surface-to-air missile system (9K33 Osa) near Vyshneve (44km north-west of Donetsk) and another surface-to-air missile system (9K33) approximately 300m west of road M-03 near Pryvillia (81km north of Donetsk). On 7 April, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted a surface-to-air missile system (9K35 Strela-10) about 1.5km north of Kalynove (31km north-west of Donetsk).  

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in areas outside government control, on 4 April aerial imagery revealed the presence of 11 tanks (type undetermined) and three multiple launch rocket systems (type undetermined) near Buhaivka (37km south-west of Luhansk) (for previous observations, see SMM Daily Report 8 March 2018) and 29 tanks (type undetermined) near Kruhlyk (31km south-west of Luhansk) (for previous observations, see SMM Daily Report 6 April 2018).

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 of Donetsk region, the SMM noted that 20 self-propelled howitzers (18 2S1 and two 2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) were still missing.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles[2], anti-aircraft weapons, and trenches in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, the SMM saw an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (BTR-70) south-east of Lebedynske (16km north-east of Mariupol) and three infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) (BMP variant) near Novotroitske (36km south-west of Donetsk). On 7 April, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted an IFV near Orikhove (57km north-west of Luhansk), five IFVs (one BMP-variant and four BMP-2) near Hranitne (60km south of Donetsk), two IFVs (BMP-1) in Novoselivka Druha (69km south of Donetsk) and an IFV (BMP-1) in Novoselivka (66km south of Donetsk), as well as two APCs (BTR-80) in Stanytsia Luhanska (outside the disengagement area).    

In non-government-controlled areas, the SMM observed an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) mounted on a vehicle chassis in the north-western corner of Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, non-government-controlled, 23km north-east of Mariupol) and on 1 April aerial imagery revealed the presence of an APC (MT-LB) and two armoured combat vehicles (type undetermined) in Kalmiuske (formerly Komsomolske, 42km south-east of Donetsk), in a zone within which deployment of heavy armaments and military equipment is proscribed according to Point 5 of the Memorandum of 19 September 2014. The SMM also saw an excavator extending trenches at least two months old at a position about 1km north of Berezivske (non-government-controlled, 53km north-west of Luhansk) and two armed men in military-type clothing nearby.

The SMM continued to observe mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). On the south-western edge of Avdiivka, the SMM observed a red-and-white mine hazard sign with “Mines” written in English in the area. Near the intersection of road T-0509 and the access road to Zernove (non-government-controlled, 33km south of Donetsk), the SMM saw two anti-tank mines 5m south-west of the road in a treeline near a field that appeared to be recently ploughed. A man present told the SMM that the fields would be ploughed despite the presence of mines. Positioned about 1.2km north-east of Zaichenko (non-government-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol) the SMM saw at least 14 anti-tank mines in a field about 800m to the north. On 7 April, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted about 140 anti-tank mines in a field approximately 5km south of Hranitne.

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk) and a water pipeline in Obozne (non-government-controlled, 18km north of Luhansk) (see SMM Daily Report 6 April 2018). While in Obozne, the SMM observed that a metal front-end loader of an excavator had been twisted and there were large holes in it and all the windows had been blown out around the driver’s cabin. An “LPR” member present told the SMM that the damage was due to an explosion. The SMM could not confirm that the damage was fresh.

The SMM visited two border areas not under government control. While at a border crossing point near Izvaryne (52km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed three cars (all with Ukrainian licence plates) and one passenger bus (with Russian Federation licence plates and about 15 passengers) entering Ukraine. After three minutes, a man dressed in military-type clothing told the SMM to leave the area.* While at a border crossing point near Sievernyi (50km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed three pedestrians (one woman and two men) exit Ukraine and five pedestrians (two women and three men) entering Ukraine.  The SMM also observed an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM) parked by a building at the crossing point. After five minutes, a man dressed in military-type clothing told the SMM to leave the area.*

In Odessa, the SMM monitored three gatherings to commemorate the liberation of the city from Nazi occupation on 10 April 1944. In the morning, the SMM observed two commemoration events, each attended by 250-300 people (mixed gender and ages), where flowers were laid at the Monument to the Unknown Sailor and later at the Wings of Victory Monument. The SMM saw at least 120 law enforcement officers at both locations and observed calm situations. Later in the day the SMM observed two groups of activists; one group laid flowers at the base of the Monument to the Unknown Sailor and the other group (about 50 young men, some of whom are known to the SMM as members of Right Sector and Vulychnyi Front) shouted at the first group. The SMM observed 150 law enforcement officials on-site. The SMM did not see any direct confrontations and the groups departed after 30 minutes.

In Rivne region, the SMM followed up on reports of an incident at a church building in Ptycha (148km north-east of Lviv) on 2 April. (See SMM Daily Report 4 April 2018.) The SMM observed five police cars parked in front of the church and 20 police officers onsite. Local police onsite told the SMM that no parishioners were inside the building and that all had been calm at the church over the Orthodox Easter weekend. While present, the SMM observed a calm situation.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Ivano-Frankivsk, 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, 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 (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, a man in military-type clothing told the SMM to leave the area. He told the SMM that its presence was still “restricted” in the area.
• At a border crossing point near Sievernyi, a man in military-type clothing told the SMM 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 on all three occasions.[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 demining in the area during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC on all three occasions.4
• 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] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.

* 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.