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

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission observed a fresh impact site on the eastern edge of Popasna. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including near Voznesenivka in Luhansk region, at the border with the Russian Federation*. The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Roty, Pobeda and near Zhelanne. The Mission continued to facilitate access to the Donetsk Filtration Station for Voda Donbassa water company employees and heard ceasefire violations in the area, despite explicit security guarantees. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to high-voltage power lines near Almazna. The Mission observed trucks marked with “Humanitarian Aid from the Russian Federation” in Luhansk city. The SMM followed up on reports of vandalism to the office of a non-governmental organization in Kharkiv.

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations[1], including about 80 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 220 explosions).

On the evening and night of 7-8 May, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) (15km north of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, ten projectiles in flight from north to south, a projectile from south to north and three projectiles from north to south, followed by totals of two undetermined explosions, 13 projectiles (seven from north to south and six from south to north) and two illumination flares in vertical flight, all 0.5-3km south.

During the day on 8 May, positioned 4km west of Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk), about 2km east of the DFS, the SMM heard three undetermined explosions 1km west. Positioned 2km west of Yasynuvata, the SMM heard six undetermined explosions and small-arms fire, all 0.5-4km at directions ranging from south-west to north. Positioned on the south-eastern edge of Avdiivka (government-controlled, 17km north of Donetsk), about 3km west of the DFS, the SMM heard seven undetermined explosions and small-arms fire, all 2-4km east and south-east.

On the evening and night of 7-8 May, while in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 23 explosions (one assessed as a mortar round and the remainder undetermined), and about 315 shots and bursts of automatic grenade launcher, heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 3-5km south and south-east. The following day, while at the same location, the SMM heard seven undetermined explosions 3-5km south-east.

On the evening of 7 May, while in Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 12 undetermined explosions 4-7km west and north-west.

During the day on 8 May, positioned about 3km south-south-east of Lomakyne (government-controlled, 15km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard an explosion assessed as a mortar (120mm) round 3km east.

Positioned 2km south-east of Lebedynske (government-controlled, 16km east of Mariupol), the SMM heard ten explosions assessed as outgoing mortar (120mm) rounds at undetermined distances north-east.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including, however, more explosions (about 90), compared with the previous reporting period (50 explosions).

On the night of 7-8 May, while in Sievierodonetsk (government-controlled, 74km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 24 undetermined explosions 15-20km south-west.

During the day on 8 May, positioned 3km south-west of Muratove (government-controlled, 51km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 31 undetermined explosions 7km south-west.

Positioned in Orikhove-Donetske (government-controlled, 44km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 14 undetermined explosions 8-10km south-east.

Positioned 1.5km north of Bokovo-Platove (non-government-controlled, 54km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 12 explosions assessed as outgoing artillery rounds and their subsequent impacts 7-10km south-south-west, assessed as live-fire training outside the security zone.

The SMM observed a fresh impact site on the eastern edge of Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk). On Pershotravneva Street, the SMM saw two pieces of shrapnel protruding from a fresh crater in the asphalt road as well as about 20 broken tree branches 3-6m north-east of the crater. The SMM assessed the impact to have been caused by a mortar round (at least 82mm) fired from a north-easterly direction. The impact site is about 2km west of the nearest residential area and 550m east of the nearest Ukrainian Armed Forces position.

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 evening of 7 May, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded two projectiles in flight from north-west to south-east 5-7km east-north-east (assessed as outside the disengagement area).

On 8 May, the SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, where it 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.

In violation of withdrawal lines, in government-controlled areas, on 7 May the SMM saw a stationary surface-to-air missile system (9K35 Strela-10) in Roty (66km north-east of Donetsk) and on 8 May the SMM saw a stationary surface-to-air missile system (9K35) parked between two civilian houses in Pobeda (27km south-west of Donetsk) and eight stationary anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) near Zhelanne (36km north-west 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 government-controlled areas of Donetsk region, the SMM observed eight towed howitzers (2A65 Msta-B, 152mm) and four surface-to-air missile systems (9K33 Osa) and noted that 44 towed howitzers (32 2A65 and 12 2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm), four multiple launch rocket systems (BM-21 Grad, 122mm), four surface-to-air missile systems (9K33), ten mortars (four 2B9 Vasilek, 82mm and six 2B11 Sani, 120mm) and 53 anti-tank guns (52 MT-12 and one T-12, 100mm) continued to be missing.

The SMM revisited a permanent storage site whose location was beyond the respective withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas of Donetsk region and noted that 20 tanks (T-72) continued to be missing. The SMM also observed additional weapons present.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles, an anti-aircraft gun[2] and other indications of military-type presence in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted three armoured personnel carriers (APC) (BTR variants) near Novoselivka Druha (23km north of Donetsk) and three APCs (BTR-80) parked in a residential area of Novoselivka Druha. The SMM also saw an APC (MT-LB) parked between two civilian houses in Pobeda, a convoy consisting of 13 APCs (12 BTR-70 and one BTR-60) and nine military trucks near Panteleimonivka (34km north of Donetsk) and an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) mounted on a military truck near Hirske (63km west of Luhansk).

In areas outside government control, an SMM mini-UAV spotted a probable infantry fighting vehicle (type undetermined) near Obozne (18km north of Luhansk).

On 6 May, aerial imagery revealed recently extended trenches east of Novotroitske (government-controlled, 36km south-west of Donetsk) (not previously seen in imagery from 6 March 2018).

The SMM continued to observe mines. On road H-21, between an armed formations checkpoint at the junction with the road towards Obozne and the bridge near Shchastia (government-controlled, 20km north of Luhansk), an SMM mini-UAV again spotted eight anti-tank mines (TM-62) laid across the western lane of the dual-carriageway. (For previous observations, see SMM Daily Report 26 April 2018.)

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to high-voltage power lines near Almazna (non-government-controlled, 55km west of Luhansk). In Luhansk region, the Mission monitored and facilitated a transfer of funds from non-government- to government-controlled areas; the funds were reportedly in relation to a water utility debt.

The SMM continued to facilitate the access of Voda Donbassa water company employees to the DFS in order to keep the station operational. Despite security guarantees having been provided by all sides, positioned in several locations close to the DFS, the SMM recorded ceasefire violations in the area (see above).

The SMM visited two border areas not under government control. While at a border crossing near Marynivka (78km east of Donetsk) for about an hour, the SMM saw ten cars (six with Russian Federation licence plates and four with “DPR” plates), a bus (with “DPR plates) and two pedestrians entering Ukraine, and 22 cars (ten with Russian Federation, seven with Ukrainian and two with Belarusian licence plates, and three with “DPR” plates) and a covered cargo truck (with Ukrainian licence plates) exiting Ukraine.

At a border crossing point near Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, 65km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw four cars (including one with Russian Federation licence plates) and four pedestrians entering Ukraine, and 12 cars (eight with Ukrainian and two with Russian Federation licence plates, and two with “LPR” plates) and a covered cargo truck exiting Ukraine. After about 20 minutes, a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.*

The SMM monitored the security situation at railway stations in non-government-controlled areas. At the Chervona Mohyla railway station near Voznesenivka, the SMM saw ten stationary tanker wagons and 30 cargo wagons (contents not visible). After about ten minutes, two members of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.*

At a railway station near Rovenky (54km south of Luhansk), the SMM saw three stationary tanker wagons and about 100 empty open cargo wagons.

The SMM observed four trucks with “Humanitarian Aid from the Russian Federation” written on the side in Russian at a compound at 2a Rudneva Street in Luhansk city. The SMM saw two men in military-type clothes securing the area and 20 people in civilian clothes (15 men and five women, mixed ages) unloading boxes from the trucks.

The SMM followed up on reports of vandalism to the office of a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Kharkiv. The SMM visited the office of the NGO Trudova Kharkivshchyna on the 7th floor of the Work Palace on Constitution Square in Kharkiv. The SMM saw five broken chairs as well as torn portraits of soviet leaders and a broken World War II poster backdrop. The head of the NGO told the SMM that at 15:15 on 7 May, 20 people had entered and ransacked the NGO’s office. A leader of a local branch of National Corps told the SMM that it had organized the incident at the NGO’s office. The police informed the SMM that the incident was under investigation.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, 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 (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 Voznesenivka, a member of the armed formations demanded that the SMM leave the area, stating that “restrictions were still in place”.
• At the Chervona Mohyla railway station near Voznesenivka, two members of the armed formations demanded that the SMM leave the area, stating that “restrictions were still in place”.
• At a checkpoint near Petrivske, a member of the armed formations prevented the SMM from proceeding due to ongoing “celebrations” in the area and an expected convoy. The SMM noted that other cars were allowed to pass.

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 no demining had taken place during 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 no demining had taken place 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 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. The SMM cameras at the entry-exit checkpoints in Marinka, Maiorsk and Pyshchevyk were 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.