Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 21 May 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 24 hours. The Mission heard small-arms fire 100m from its position near Kriakivka. Small-arms fire hit an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle which fell to the ground near Vesela Hora.* The SMM observed fresh damage caused by shelling in Avdiivka. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations inside the Petrivske disengagement area and explosions assessed as rounds of multiple launch rocket system near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line near Buhaivka, Novoamvrosiivske and Khlibodarivka. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including near Izvaryne at the border with the Russian Federation, at a heavy weapons holding area in a non-government-controlled area of Donetsk region, at a checkpoint in Verkhnoshyrokivske, as well as at two compounds near Pavlopil and Myrne.* It continued to facilitate the access of Voda Donbassa water company employees and others to the Donetsk Filtration Station to assess damage and facilitate repair works; it heard ceasefire violations in the area, despite security guarantees. The SMM also continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema and high-voltage power lines near Yuzhna-Lomuvatka. The SMM monitored gatherings in Chernivtsi, Dnipro and Odessa.

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations[1], including more explosions (about 580 explosions), compared with the previous 24 hours (about 280 explosions).

On the evening of 20 May, while in Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard six explosions assessed as outgoing rounds of undetermined weapons and about ten shots and bursts of small-arms fire, all 2-4km south-west. In the early hours of 21 May, while at the same location, the SMM heard about 230 undetermined explosions and about 310 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 4-10km at directions ranging from south-west to north. During the day, it heard 19 explosions assessed as outgoing rounds (four 2-4km south-west and the remainder 1-4km south-east), as well as 110 undetermined explosions and five bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 4-8km west-north-west and north-west.

On the evening of 20 May, while in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard nine undetermined explosions 4-6km south-west. The following day, while at the same location, the SMM heard about 220 undetermined explosions 4-7km south and south-west.

On the evening of 20 May, positioned 2km north-west of Donetsk city centre (non-government-controlled), the SMM heard 14 explosions (seven assessed as outgoing rounds and the reminder as impacts) and bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 4-8km north-west.

During the day on 21 May, positioned on the western edge of Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk) for about four hours, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion and about ten shots of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, all 1-3km west and north-west. The same day, positioned at the railway station in Yasynuvata for about two hours, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion and about 20 shots and bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, all 1-5km south-south-west and west.

Positioned on the north-western edge of Vuhlehirsk (non-government-controlled, 49km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard nine undetermined explosions 8-12km west and north.

Positioned 2km south-east of Lebedynske (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard 14 undetermined explosions at undetermined distances north.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including 15 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours (38 explosions).

During the day on 21 May, positioned on the western edge of Kriakivka (government-controlled, 38km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard four shots of small-arms fire about 100m south. The SMM immediately left the area. (See SMM Spot Report 21 May 2018.)

On the morning of 21 May, positioned on the southern edge of Vesela Hora (non-government-controlled, 16km north of Luhansk), the SMM heard about five shots of small-arms fire 0.8-1km north, assessed as directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flying 1.2km north. Following the second shot, the Mission saw the UAV lose altitude and fall to the ground 1.2km north. The SMM immediately left the area.*

The SMM followed up on reports of damage caused by recent shelling in a residential area of Avdiivka (government-controlled, 17km north of Donetsk). At 4 Vesniana Street, the SMM saw a fresh crater in soft soil 6m south of a one-storey house, assessed as caused by an 82mm mortar round fired from an east-south-easterly direction. The owner of the house told the SMM that she had heard a loud sound at around 05:00 on the morning of 20 May and seen the abovementioned crater outside her house.

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 9 May, the SMM camera in Petrivske recorded 73 tracer rounds in flight from west to east 1-2km south-south-west (assessed as inside the disengagement area). On the evening and night of 19-20 May, the same camera recorded, in sequence, an undetermined explosion 400-500m west-south-west (assessed as inside the disengagement area), six undetermined explosions 1-3km west (unable to assess whether inside or outside the disengagement area), 36 tracer rounds in flight from south to north 0.5-3km west (assessed as inside the disengagement area), four tracer rounds from west to east 2-3km south-south-west (assessed as inside the disengagement area) and two undetermined explosions 2-4km west-north-west (assessed as outside the disengagement area).

On 19 May, an SMM long-range UAV again spotted an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1) near a treeline inside the Petrivske disengagement area about 2km east from its western edge and 1.2km south from its northern edge. (See SMM Daily Report 21 May 2018.)

On the evening of 20 May, the SMM camera near Prince Ihor Monument south-east of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (15km north-east of Luhansk) recorded three explosions assessed as rounds of multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) (probable BM-21 Grad, 122mm) 3-5km south-east, six explosions assessed as impacts of MLRS (probable BM-21) rounds 0.5-2km east and an undetermined explosion 4-8km north-west (all assessed as outside the disengagement area). On the evening and night of 20-21 May, the SMM camera in Stanytsia Luhanska recorded five undetermined explosions 2-8km south-east, south-south-east and south (assessed as outside the disengagement area).

On the evening of 20 May, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded three undetermined explosions 5-12km at directions ranging from east-south-east to south (all assessed as outside the disengagement area).

During the day on 21 May, positioned near all three disengagement areas, the SMM observed calm situations.

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Memorandum and the Package of Measures and its Addendum.

In violation of withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas, on 20 May, an SMM mini-UAV spotted 15 self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) and an anti-tank gun (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) south-east of Buhaivka (37km south-west of Luhansk) (in the same area the UAV spotted about 60 armoured combat vehicles and other hardware). The following day, the SMM saw four MLRS (BM-21) near Novoamvrosiivske (56km east of Donetsk).

In a government-controlled area, the SMM saw four stationary MLRS (BM-21) in a compound near Khlibodarivka (65km south-west of Donetsk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside of designated storage sites in non-government-controlled areas, on 20 May, an SMM mini-UAV spotted 21 tanks (T-64), four surface-to-air missile systems (9K35 Strela-10) and seven mortars (2B11 Sani, 120mm) near Buhaivka (at the same location of the abovementioned weapons).

In a government-controlled area, the SMM saw five stationary towed howitzers (2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm) in a compound and an additional four stationary towed howitzers (2A36) in a training area near Khlibodarivka.

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 of Donetsk region, the SMM saw five self-propelled howitzers (2S1) and six towed howitzers (2A65 Msta-B, 122mm), and noted that two self-propelled howitzers (2S1) were again missing. It also noted that two such sites continued to be abandoned with nine self-propelled howitzers (2S1) and two an anti-tank guns (MT-12) missing.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles (ACV) and an anti-aircraft gun[2] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, on 19 May, an SMM long-range UAV spotted an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) near Vodiane (15km north-west of Donetsk), an IFV (BMP variant) near Pervomaiske (17km north-west of Donetsk), an ACV (type undetermined) near Berezove (31km south of Donetsk), two IFVs (one BMP-1 and one BMP-2) near Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk), an ACV (type undetermined) and three IFVs (one BMP-1 and two BMP variants) as well as an artillery reconnaissance vehicle (PRP-3 Val) near Mykolaivka (40km south of Donetsk) and an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (BTR-70) near Krasnohorivka (21km west of Donetsk). The same day, an SMM mini-UAV spotted two armoured reconnaissance vehicles (BRDM-2) and an ACV (BTR variant) in residential areas of Kamianka (20km north of Donetsk). On 20 May, the SMM saw two IFVs (BMP-1) near Popasna (69km west of Luhansk) and an SMM mid-range UAV spotted three armoured reconnaissance vehicles (BRDM-2) near Pervomaiske. On 21 May, the SMM saw an APC (MT-LB) near Myronivskyi (62km north-east of Donetsk) and two IFVs (BMP variants) near Novotroitske (36km south-west of Donetsk).

In non-government-controlled areas, the SMM saw an APC (BTR-80) in Luhansk city, an APC (BTR variant) near Novosvitlivka (16km south-east of Luhansk) and an APC (MT-LB) and an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) near Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk).

The SMM continued to facilitate the access of Voda Donbassa water company employees and others to the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) to assess damage and facilitate repair works. On 21 May, an electric company’s staff member told the SMM that power supply lines leading to the DFS along road M04 on the north-western edge of Yasynuvata were damaged. Positioned in areas near the DFS, the SMM heard explosions and heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire (see ceasefire violation section above and ceasefire violation table below), despite explicit security guarantees.

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk) and high-voltage power lines near Yuzhna-Lomuvatka (non-government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk), Almazna (non-government-controlled, 55km west of Luhansk) and Veselohorivka (non-government-controlled, 64km 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), the SMM saw 12 cars (licence plates not visible) and a covered cargo truck (with Ukrainian licence plates) exiting Ukraine and two pedestrians entering Ukraine. After 15 minutes, an armed member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.* While at a border crossing point near Verkhnoharasymivka (57km south-east of Luhansk) for half an hour, the SMM saw nine pedestrians exiting Ukraine and two pedestrians entering Ukraine.

In Chernivtsi, the SMM monitored gatherings of activists of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community. On 17 May, the SMM observed a flash mob at the central square in Chernivtsi city entitled “Campaign against homophobia”. The SMM saw seven people (six women and a man, all in their twenties) who identified themselves members of the Chernivtsi regional branch of a non-governmental organization (NGO). The SMM also saw four young people (two men and two women) nearby handing out stickers offensive of the LGBTI community. While present, the SMM noted negative comments made by people passing by. About 30 police officers were around the participants in the gathering and another 30 police officers were present in the area. On 19 May, the SMM monitored another event organized by the same NGO in support of LGBTI rights at a media centre at 2 Kobylianskoi Street. At the entrance to the centre, the Mission saw about 80 protesters (mostly men, aged around 25), some of whom were wearing balaclavas and camouflage clothes and holding flags with the message “Ukraine for family”. About 170 police and National Guard officers were present. Later, the SMM saw the participants of the event leaving the centre under police escort due to what they said was a bomb threat. It also saw minor scuffles between some protesters and the police and that a protestor sprayed police officers with a chemical irritant assessed as tear gas. The SMM did not observe further incidents.

In Dnipro, the SMM monitored a protest by representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The SMM saw about 60 people (men and women aged 30-60) gathered at 2 Oleksandra Polia Street. Some of them said that they were protesting against the recognition of a different canonical, autocephalous Orthodox church in Ukraine. The SMM also saw another group of about 40 people (men and women aged 30-60) nearby chanting “Glory to Ukraine. Glory to heroes.” The SMM noted verbal exchanges between the two groups. About 30 police officers were present. Later, the first group started moving towards the regional state administration building while the second group lined up and were loudly expressing criticism of the first group. The gathering later dispersed without any incidents.

The SMM monitored a protest in Odessa. The SMM saw about 50 people (mostly men, aged 18-35) gathered in front of the office building of a private company on 16/8 Fontanska Street in Odessa, some of them wearing insignia of groups such as the State Initiative of Yarosh (DIYA), National Corps and the Council for Public Security. The SMM saw what seemed to be private security guards in front of the building and about 60 police officers in riot gear cordoning off the area in front of the building. Some of the participants were throwing plastic bottles of water and other objects towards the private security guards and shouting slogans critical of the owner of the company. The SMM saw that one of the vehicles of the company parked nearby had broken windows and later it saw some of the protestors smashing the windows of another vehicle belonging to the company. The SMM saw the police bringing a man out of the office building and putting him inside a police vehicle. Shortly thereafter, the gathering dispersed.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv 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 Izvaryne, an armed member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.
• Three members of the armed formations (two armed) denied the SMM access to parts of a heavy weapons holding area in a non-government-controlled area of Donetsk region.
• At a checkpoint in Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, non-government-controlled, 29km north-east of Mariupol), an armed member of the armed formations denied the SMM passage through the checkpoint.
• At a compound near Pavlopil (government-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol), a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer denied the SMM access to the compound, stating that prior permission from his superior was required.
• At a compound on the northern edge of Myrne (government-controlled, 40km north-east of Mariupol), a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer denied the SMM access to the compound, citing orders from his superior.

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 flying its mini-UAV near Vesela Hora, the SMM heard shots of small-arms fire 0.8-1km north, assessed as directed at the UAV. The SMM saw the UAV fall to the ground and immediately left the area (see above).

[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. The SMM camera at the entry-exit checkpoint in Marinka 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.