Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 13 July 2018

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, compared with the previous reporting period, and no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. Small-arms fire was directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near Lozove and at an SMM long-range UAV near Sakhanka. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it again observed military presence inside the Zolote disengagement area and saw a white signal flare fired near a checkpoint south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas.* It was also restricted in areas of Donetsk region outside government control near Lozove, Zaichenko and Bezimenne.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. An SMM long-range UAV recorded outgoing explosions and impacts close to a position of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Sakhanka, while a position of the armed formations was only about 260m away. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station, including through monitoring the security situation around the station, as well as repairs and maintenance works to other essential civilian infrastructure near Zalizne, Zaitseve, Novotoshkivske, Zhovte and Stanytsia Luhanska.

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations,[1] including about 20 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 300 explosions).

On the evening and night of 12-13 July, while in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard three undetermined explosions and 24 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 3-5km south-east and south-south-east. During the day on 13 July, while at the same location, the SMM heard four undetermined explosions 2-8km at directions ranging from south-south-east to west.

During the day on 13 July, positioned on the south-eastern edge of Avdiivka (government-controlled, 17km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard ten undetermined explosions and four bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 2-4km south-east and south, as well as ten bursts of small-arms fire at undetermined distances east-south-east.

Positioned on the north-western outskirts of Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard about 60 shots and bursts of small-arms fire 300-400m north-west.

On the evening and night of 12-13 July, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) (15km north of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, an undetermined explosion, two projectiles in flight from north-north-west to south-south-east and a muzzle flash, followed by totals of an undetermined explosion, 44 projectiles (20 from north-north-west to south-south-east, 13 from east-north-east to west-south-west, eight from north-east to south-west, two from east to west and one from north-west to south-east), four muzzle flashes and five illumination flares (three in vertical flight and two from north-east to south-west), all 0.1-3km at directions ranging from south to south-west.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded no ceasefire violations.[2] In the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded ceasefire violations in the region, including about 15 explosions.

The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process and to pursue full access to the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk), Zolote (60km west of Luhansk) and Petrivske (41km south of Donetsk)[3], 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 12 July, inside the Zolote disengagement area, an SMM mini-UAV again spotted a 20m-long trench (assessed as a firing position) emerging from a tree line on the southern side of the railway line (see SMM Daily Report of 9 June 2018). The same UAV also spotted fresh vehicle tracks and footpaths leading from the southern edge of Katerynivka (government-controlled, 64km west of Luhansk) – where the SMM had previously observed infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) and a member of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (see SMM Daily Report 14 June 2018) – to the aforementioned trench. 

During the day on 13 July, positioned on the north-eastern edge of Katerynivka, inside the Zolote disengagement area, the SMM saw a green van with military licence plates and two people in military clothing on board; the van exited the disengagement area and headed north towards a government checkpoint north of the disengagement area. About three minutes later, the SMM saw the same vehicle with only one person in military clothing on board travelling back along the same route (entering the disengagement area and heading toward Katerynivka). Approximately two hours later, positioned at the same location on the north-eastern edge of Katerynivka, the SMM saw a blue car with military licence plates with a man in military clothing and a woman on board exiting Katerynivka and heading north towards the government checkpoint north of the disengagement area.

Positioned on both ends of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (15km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed a white signal flare fired by members of the armed formations near a checkpoint south of the bridge. They told the SMM that the flare had been launched to indicate readiness to disengage.

Positioned near the Petrivske disengagement area, the SMM observed a calm situation.

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 government-controlled areas, on 13 July, the SMM saw 12 stationary multiple launch rocket systems (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) near Poltavka (54km north-west of Donetsk). On 12 July, an SMM long-range UAV spotted two self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) travelling south-west near Illinka (38km west of Donetsk). In a non-government-controlled area, on 13 July, an SMM mini-UAV spotted four stationary tanks (T-64) in Novohryhorivka (33km west of Luhansk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in a government-controlled area, on 13 July, the SMM saw a tank (T-64) loaded on a tank transporter on road H-20 near Oleksandro-Kalynove (47km north of Donetsk) heading north.

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 a government-controlled area, beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM noted that four towed howitzers (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm) were missing for the first time. It also noted that four towed howitzers (D-30) and 20 self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) continued to be missing.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles (ACV), an anti-aircraft gun[4] and military presence in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, the SMM saw an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (MT-LB) near Popasna (69km west of Luhansk), as well as two armoured reconnaissance vehicles (BRDM-2) and two APCs (BTR-70) near Voitove (33km north-west of Luhansk). On 12 July, an SMM long-range UAV spotted three ACVs near Nevelske (18km north-west of Donetsk), an ACV near Taramchuk (29km south-west of Donetsk), two IFVs (BMP variants) near Berezove (31km south-west of Donetsk), an ACV near Starohnativka (51km south of Donetsk), two ACVs near Novohryhorivka (55km south of Donetsk), three ACVs near Talakivka (90km south of Donetsk), an IFV (BMP variant) and an ACV near Pyshchevyk (84km south of Donetsk), as well as four IFVs (BMP-2) near Mykolaivka (40km south of Donetsk). On the same day, an SMM mini-UAV spotted an IFV (BMP-1) near Vrubivka (72km west of Luhansk) and a fire control vehicle (1VXX variant) near Druzhba (76km west of Luhansk).

In non-government-controlled areas, on 12 July, an SMM long-range UAV spotted six ACVs near Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk). On 13 July, an SMM mini-UAV spotted an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) mounted on an APC (MT-LB) and an APC (BTR-80) near Dovhe (22km north-west of Luhansk).

On the evening of 12 July, an SMM long-range UAV spotted a military position, assessed as an Ukrainian Armed Forces position, in a field about 1km north-west of Sakhanka (non-government-controlled, 24km north-east of Mariupol). About 260m north-east of the aforementioned position, the UAV spotted another position, assessed as belonging to the armed formations. At the Ukrainian Armed Forces position, the UAV recorded, in sequence: an explosion assessed as an outgoing round of a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) fired in a north-easterly direction; an explosion assessed as an impact of automatic grenade launcher (AGS-17) round fired from a north-easterly direction (from the position of the armed formations); an explosion assessed as an outgoing RPG round fired in a north-easterly direction; three explosions assessed as impacts of AGS-17 rounds fired from a north-easterly direction (from the armed formations position). Near the Ukrainian Armed Forces position, the UAV also spotted eight Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers along a treeline; three of them fired bursts of small-arms and machine-gun fire in a north-easterly direction. While the UAV was flying away from the location, it recorded a Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier aiming a weapon and shooting in the direction of the UAV. (The SMM landed the UAV safely.)* The same UAV also spotted a burning house in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol).

The SMM continued to facilitate the operation of the DFS, including through monitoring adherence to the ceasefire. Positioned in areas near the DFS, the SMM heard ceasefire violations, despite explicit security guarantees (see above and table below for details).

The SMM also continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to the phenol sludge reservoir near Zalizne (formerly Artemove, government-controlled, 42km north-east of Donetsk), to a water pipeline near the non-government-controlled part of Zaitseve (50km north-east of Donetsk), to a water pipeline in Novotoshkivske (government-controlled, 53km west of Luhansk), to a power line near Zhovte (non-government-controlled, 17km north-west of Luhansk) and to a water pipeline near Stanytsia Luhanska. The SMM also monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable the exhumation of human remains near Pankivka (non-government-controlled, 16km north of Luhansk).

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, 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, 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 SMM Daily Report of 13 July 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 a street in a residential area of Molochny, 3km south of Lozove (nongovernment-controlled, 52km north-east of Donetsk), two armed members of the armed formations stopped the SMM and denied it passage further into the village. Thereafter, the SMM launched a mini-UAV flight over the area. While it was flying the UAV, it heard small-arms fire, assessed as directed at its UAV (see below).
• On two occasions, at a checkpoint north of Zaichenko (nongovernment-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol), two armed members of the armed formations stopped the SMM and denied it passage westward to Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, non-government-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol), and southward to Sakhanka. 
• At a checkpoint on road E58 north-west of Bezimenne (non-government-controlled, 30km east of Mariupol), two armed members of the armed formations stopped the SMM and denied it passage. The SMM noted cars passing through the checkpoint.

Regular restrictions 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.[5]
• 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.
• The SMM was prevented from accessing secondary roads south of the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. An unarmed 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.
• The SMM did not travel across the bridge in governmentcontrolled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) due to the presence of mines. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC said there were mines on the road south of the bridge. The SMM informed the JCCC.

Conditional access:

• At a checkpoint on road H15 east of Kreminets (nongovernment-controlled, 16km south-west of Donetsk), an unarmed member of the armed formations allowed the SMM to proceed only after checking its trailer.

Other impediments:

• Positioned about 3km south of Lozove, the SMM heard ten bursts of smallarms fire in an area where it was flying a mini-UAV, assessed as directed at the UAV. The SMM landed the mini-UAV and left the area (see above).
• While an SMM longrange UAV was flying over a position of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Sakhanka, it spotted a soldier shooting at the SMM UAV (see above). The SMM landed the UAV safely.
• The SMM temporarily lost communication with its longrange UAV flying over an area close to Lebedynske (governmentcontrolled, 30km east of Mariupol), assessed as due to jamming.[6] The SMM landed the UAV safely.

[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] Due to presence of mines, including those on a road between Bohdanivka and Petrivske, the SMM’s access to its camera in Petrivske remained limited; therefore, the review of the camera footage may take place days later.

[3] This hardware is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.

[4] 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.

[]5 The interference could have originated from anywhere in a radius of several kilometres of the UAV’s position.