Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 9 May 2018

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded a sharp increase in ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer ceasefire violations in Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission observed damage as a result of shelling in Loskutivka. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote and inside the Petrivske disengagement areas. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including in Dovhe and near Izvaryne in Luhansk region, at the border with the Russian Federation.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Donetsk city, Luhansk city and Kostiantynivka. 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 military-type parades in Donetsk and Luhansk cities. In other regions of Ukraine, the Mission observed commemorations marking 9 May that largely passed off peacefully.

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations[1], including about 900 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 80 explosions).

On the evening and night of 8-9 May, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) (15km north of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, a projectile in flight from south to north, 12 projectiles from north to south, a projectile from south to north and an undetermined explosion, followed by totals of 13 projectiles from south to north and 11 projectiles from north to south, all 1-3km west.

On the evening and night of 8-9 May, while in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard about 630 undetermined explosions, about 110 explosions assessed as outgoing rounds (four as 82mm mortar rounds and the rest assessed as artillery rounds) and about 135 explosions assessed as impacts (78 assessed as artillery rounds, 12 assessed as 82mm mortar rounds, eight as automatic-grenade-launcher rounds and the remainder undetermined); heard and saw about 60 bursts of heavy-machine-gun tracer fire and heard about 500 bursts and 150 shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 2-8km at directions from east-north-east to south-south-west.

During the day on 9 May, positioned about 3km south-east of Lomakyne (government-controlled, 15km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard nine outgoing explosions of undetermined weapons and their subsequent impacts, five more explosions of undetermined weapons (two assessed as impacts and three assessed as outgoing), as well as small-arms fire, all at undetermined distances east.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 26 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (90 explosions).

During the night of 8 May, while in Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, non-government-controlled, 50km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 11 undetermined explosions 7-10km north-west.

The SMM observed fresh damage as the result of shelling. On 8 May, in Loskutivka (government-controlled, 72km west of Luhansk), a representative of Ukrainian State Emergency Services showed the SMM damaged houses on Pervomaiska Street. At 29A Pervomaiska Street, the SMM saw a hole about 1.5m in both length and width in the roof and east-facing side of a single-storey house. An inner wall of the house had collapsed completely. All eight external windows of the house had been shattered, and the SMM observed debris inside and outside of the house. Wooden fences on the northern and southern sides of the house were partially destroyed and multiple trees about 2-3m south-east of the house had branches broken and had no leaves. About 5m of a gas pipeline running along the east-facing side of the house had been blown away. A resident of the house (man, around 60 years old) told the SMM that he had been sleeping when it had been hit by a round and that bricks from the wall had fallen on him as a result of the explosion, around 00:50 on 8 May. He said a doctor had assessed the following day that he had a concussion as a result of the bricks hitting his head. The SMM assessed that the house had been directly hit by an artillery round (152mm) fired from a southerly direction.

At 56 Pervomaiska Street (about 30m north-east of 29A Pervomaiska Street), the SMM observed eight shattered windows on the south- and west-facing side of a single-storey house and damage on the south and west-facing sides of the roof and chimney, which the SMM assessed as caused by shrapnel. The SMM saw a fresh impact about 50m north of the house, which it assessed as caused by an artillery round (152mm) fired from a southerly direction. Residents of the house (a woman and two men, 50-65 years old) told the SMM that they had been at home when the shelling had occurred around 00:50 on 8 May.

At 29 Pervomaiska Street, the SMM saw that 12 windows on the south-facing side of a single-storey house had been shattered and many of the roof tiles were missing. Fences on the southern and northern sides of the house had pockmarks and holes, which the SMM assessed as caused by shrapnel. Three residents of the house (a man and two women, 40-65 years old) said they had not been home at the time of shelling but that their dog had sustained shrapnel injuries from the explosion, which the SMM could see. The SMM assessed the damage as caused by an explosion of an artillery round (152mm) fired from a southerly direction.

At 54 Pervomaiska Street (about 20m north of 29 Pervomaiska Street), the SMM saw that the glass in all of the external south-facing windows of the house had been shattered and that the facade was marked by 3cm holes, assessed as caused by shrapnel. There were at least three larger holes in the south-south-western side of the roof. The gates on the southern and northern sides of the house had holes, assessed as caused by shrapnel. Residents (two men, 50 and 60 years old) of the house told the SMM that shelling had occurred around 00:50 on 8 May. The SMM assessed the damage as caused by an explosion of an artillery round (152mm) fired from a southerly direction.

The SMM saw four fresh craters (three 15-50m south and one 50m north) near the damaged houses but was unable to assess them due to security restrictions.

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 and night of 8-9 May, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded 15 undetermined explosions and three illumination flares in vertical flight, all 0.5-12km at directions ranging from east-north-east to south-south-west, all assessed as outside the disengagement area.

On 9 May, positioned in Zolote and Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM observed calm situations.

The same day, positioned in Petrivske, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion, four bursts and 24 shots of small-arms fire, all 1km south, all assessed as inside 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 non-government-controlled areas, in Donetsk city the SMM saw six tanks (three T-64 and three T-72), three surface-to-air missile systems (9K35 Strela-10), three self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm), six towed howitzers (three 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm and three D-30 Lyagushka,122mm), three multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm), three anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) and three mortars (2B11 Sani, 120mm).

In Luhansk city, the SMM saw six self-propelled howitzers (2S1), 12 towed howitzers (six 2A65 and six D-30), six tanks (T-72), six MLRS (BM-21) and six surface-to-air missile systems (9K35).

In violation of withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas, the SMM saw 15 self-propelled howitzers (2S1) at the train station in Kostiantynivka (60km north of Donetsk).

The SMM observed armoured vehicles and an anti-aircraft gun[2] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, on 6 May, aerial imagery revealed the presence of ten armoured vehicles near Svitlodarsk. In non-government-controlled areas, the SMM observed an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) in Luhansk city.

The SMM continued to observe mines. On 8 May an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted about 40 anti-tank mines laid out in three rows across road H-21 near Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk). (See SMM Daily Report 19 March 2018).

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, positioned on the south-west edge of Avdiivka about 5km west of the DFS, the SMM heard about 20 shots and 20 bursts of small-arms fire 3-4km south-east.

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to high-voltage power lines near Almazna (non-government-controlled, 55km west of Luhansk).

The SMM visited two border areas not under government control.* While at a border crossing point near Izvaryne (52km south-east of Luhansk) for about 15 minutes, the SMM saw three pedestrians (women, 35-40 years old) entering Ukraine. An armed man in military-type clothing told the SMM to leave the area.* At a border crossing point near Sievernyi (50km south-east of Luhansk) for about 20 minutes, the SMM saw five pedestrians (women, 40-50 years old) entering Ukraine and three pedestrians (women, 40-50 years old) exiting Ukraine.

The SMM observed military-style parades in Donetsk and Luhansk cities. In Luhansk, the SMM saw a parade of about 1,000 armed members of the armed formations organized in ten formations and about 140 unarmed children (12-15 year olds) organized in two formations watched by a crowd of about 25,000-30,000 people, which was followed by speeches from senior members of the armed formations. Heavy weapons were on display in the city centre throughout the day (see weapons in violation above). At Teatralnyi Square in the centre of the city, the SMM observed a group of about 20 Spanish-speaking people who were accompanied by people holding a banner identifying them as representatives of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation. The parade concluded with an “Immortal Regiment March” consisting of people holding pictures of those who had lost their lives in various conflicts, primarily during the Soviet era, including World War II.

In Donetsk city, the SMM observed a parade of about 5,000-6,000 armed members of the armed formations organized in about 50 formations (two formations made up of women and the remainder made up of mostly men) and a formation of 70 armed men, which was presented as a formation from South Ossetia. The parade continued with an “Immortal Regiment March” consisting of people holding pictures of those who had lost their lives in various conflicts, primarily during the Soviet era, including World War II, and speeches from senior members of the armed formations were given. Heavy weapons were on display in the city centre throughout the day (see weapons in violation above). The SMM additionally observed two modified military-type trucks, which senior members of the armed formations claimed were MLRS manufactured in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region.

The SMM observed a number of gatherings on 9 May commemorating Victory Day across the rest of Ukraine. In Kyiv, the SMM monitored a commemoration event with up to 10,000 people marching from Arsenalna Metro Station to lay flowers near the Monument to the Unknown Soldier in the Park of Eternal Glory. The SMM observed dozens of counter-demonstrators around the metro station, including from the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), C14 (Sich’) and Monolit (mainly young men, some of whom wore insignia and several of whom carried red-and-black flags). The SMM saw one man handing over his St. George Ribbon to police as well as one man holding a sign for the “Immortal Regiment” campaign. The SMM saw a scuffle and anti-riot police surrounding a group of seven young people (six men, one woman). The SMM observed at least 5,000 police and National Guard officers present around the march and noted a generally calm situation.

In Odessa the SMM monitored commemoration events with over 3,000 participants at the Alley of Glory in Shevchenko Park, many of whom laid flowers at the Monument of the Unknown Sailor. Nearby in the same park, the SMM monitored an “Immortal Regiment March” organized by people known to the SMM as anti-Maidan activists and saw up to 1,500 of them march toward the Alley of Glory. The SMM could hear verbal exchanges between the participants of the “Immortal Regiment March” and a group of about 20 pro-Maidan activists (young men) known to the SMM as members of Right Sector and Street Front. The SMM saw at least 400 law enforcement officers present in and near the park, including at least 100 riot police. The SMM saw police mediating between the groups.

On 9 May in Mykolaiv (71km north-west of Kherson), the SMM observed about 20 World War II veterans and another 30 supporters who laid flowers at the Mykolaiv Central Prospect monument in the city centre, commemorating the victory of World War II. Around noon, the SMM monitored an “Immortal Regiment March” which started at the beginning of Saborna Street and proceeded to the Fallen Heroes Monument in the city centre. The SMM observed about 450 participants (men and women, all ages) organized in formations, including about 150 of whom holding portraits of deceased soldiers and chanting slogans about the glory of the deceased. About 50 police officers and security agents in civilian clothing were present during the commemoration. A group of about 30 teenagers (boys, 15-17 years old), including four members wearing Right Sector armbands, gathered in front of the procession and chanted anti-communist slogans and some obscenities. The SMM saw police apprehend three teenagers from the group of 30 who accosted participants of the march. The SMM saw about 500 police officers and 200 National Guard present.

On 9 May in Kherson, the SMM monitored a commemoration march with more than 3,000 participants walking from Heroes Square to the Park of Glory. About 30 participants (elderly, both genders) were cordoned off by law enforcement and wearing uniforms from the Soviet Union, singing songs and some carrying red flags. At the Park of Glory, public officials addressed the crowd, highlighting the lives lost during World War II and promoting unity and remembrance. The SMM observed more than 350 police and 80 National Guard officers present and noted a calm situation.

On 9 May, the SMM also observed commemorations in Kharkiv (about 5,000 participants), Poltava (about 4,000 participants), Chuhuiv (36km south-east of Kharkiv) (about 1,000 participants), Solonytsivka (14km west of Kharkiv) (about 3,000 participants), Izium (116km south-east of Kharkiv) (about 1,500 participants), Dnipro (about 2,000 participants), Zaporizhia (69km south of Dnipro) (up to 1,000 participants), Chernivtsi (up to 300 participants), Ivano Frankivsk (about 250 participants) and Lviv (about 150 participants) during which people laid wreaths and flowers at monuments dedicated to World War II and fallen soldiers and gave speeches. The SMM observed police officers and National Guard present at each gathering and noted generally calm situations.

*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 the border crossing point near Izvaryne, a man in military-type clothing told the SMM to leave the area, stating that the “restrictions” on the SMM’s presence were still in place. 
• In Dovhe (non-government-controlled, 22km north-west of Luhansk), an armed man in military-type clothing told the SMM that his “superior” would not authorize the SMM to conduct a UAV flight in the area. The SMM left 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 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.

Other impediments:

• While the SMM was conducting UAV flights 2.5km north-east of Vesele (government-controlled, 21km north of Donetsk), a medium-range UAV experienced signal interruption assessed as probable jamming for 25 minutes, and a mini-UAV experienced signal interruption assessed as probable jamming for one minute.

 

[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.