Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 5 August 2018

This report is for the media and the general public.

Between the evenings of 3 and 4 August, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, compared with the previous reporting period,and no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. Between the evenings of 4 and 5 August, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous 24 hours, and for the third consecutive day, no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, where it observed no ceasefire violations. Its access remained restricted in all three areas, as well as near Bezimenne, Zaichenko, Novoazovsk and Yasynuvata, and in Donetsk.* The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station, including through monitoring the security situation around the station.

In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 3 and 4 August, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations[1], including 87 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (88 explosions). Between the evenings of 4 and 5 August, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including 93 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours.

On the evening and night of 3-4 August, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) (15km north of Donetsk) recorded 69 projectiles in flight (including 16 from north-east to south-west and 38 in vertical flight, all assessed as multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) salvos) 1-5km south and south-south-west. The following evening and night, the camera recorded, in sequence, an undetermined explosion, 30 projectiles in flight from west to east and 41 projectiles from east to west (assessed as MLRS salvos), followed by a total of five undetermined explosions, 36 projectiles (the majority from east to west) and two illumination flares, all 0.5-5km at directions ranging from south to west. Two additional undetermined explosions were recorded 10m-50m south-west.

On the evening and night of 3-4 August, the SMM camera at the entry-exit checkpoint in Maiorsk (government-controlled, 45km north-east of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, an undetermined explosion, six projectiles in flight from south to north, an explosion assessed as an impact of an artillery round, two projectiles from south to north and two projectiles from north to south, followed by a total of two explosions assessed as impacts artillery rounds, six undetermined explosions, 53 projectiles (the majority from south to north) and seven illumination flares, all 0.7-4km east and east-south-east.

On the evening and night of 3-4 August, the SMM camera at the entry-exit checkpoint in Pyshchevyk (government-controlled, 25km north-east of Mariupol) recorded, in sequence, two projectiles in flight from west-south-west to east-north-east and 45 projectiles from west to east, all assessed as MLRS salvos, an undetermined explosion and two projectiles from north-east to south-west, followed by a total of 13 undetermined explosions and 97 projectiles (three from west-north-west to east-south-east and ten from west to east assessed as MLRS salvos; the remainder mostly from east to west) and two muzzle flashes, all 2-4km at directions ranging from south-east to south. The following evening and night, the camera recorded, in sequence, a projectile in flight from west to east, three projectiles from east to west and three projectiles from west to east, followed by a total of ten undetermined explosions, 201 projectiles (the majority from east to west) and eight muzzle flashes, all 2-4km at directions ranging from south-east to south. 

On the evening and night of 3-4 August, the SMM camera 1km south-west of Pyshchevyk (government-controlled, 25km north-east of Mariupol) recorded, in sequence, a projectile in flight from north-east to south-west, an undetermined explosion and three projectiles from west-north-west to east-south-east, all 2-4km east-north-east, east and east-south-east. This was followed by a total of nine explosions assessed as impacts of artillery rounds and MLRS salvos, 21 undetermined explosions and 59 projectiles (including 14 from north-east to south-west and ten from east to west, all assessed as MLRS salvos, and the remainder mostly from north to south), all 2-3km east-north-east, east and east-south-east. The following evening and night, the camera recorded, in sequence, a projectile in flight from east-south-east to west-north-west, eight projectiles from west-north-west to east-south-east and two undetermined explosions, followed by a total of 15 undetermined explosions, 56 projectiles (the majority from north to south) and two illumination flares, all 1-2km at directions ranging from north-east to south-east.

On the evening and night of 4-5 August, the SMM camera at the entry-exit checkpoint in Marinka (government- controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, 37 projectiles in flight from west to east, three projectiles from east to west and 17 projectiles from west to east, followed by a total of three undetermined explosions and 153 projectiles (the majority from west to east), all 1-4km north-east.

On the evening and night of 3-4 August, while in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard two undetermined explosions and about 140 shots and bursts of infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-2) cannon (30mm), heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 3-5km south-east, south and south-west. During the day on 4 August, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion and five bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 2-5km south-east and south-south-east. The following evening and night, the SMM heard about 40 undetermined explosions and about 210 shots and bursts of IFV (BMP-2) cannon (30mm), heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 3-5km south-east and south. On the morning of 5 August, the SMM heard four bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 3-5km south.

In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 3 and 4 August, the SMM recorded no ceasefire violations, as in the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 4 and 5 August, the SMM also recorded no ceasefire violations.

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)[2], 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.*

Positioned near the Stanytsia Luhanska and in the Zolote disengagement areas on 4 and 5 August, the SMM observed calm situations. On 5 August, 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 a non-government-controlled area, on 27 July, the SMM saw seven self-propelled artillery pieces (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) at a training area south-east of Ternove (57km east of Donetsk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in government-controlled areas, on 3 August, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted at least eight MLRS (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) near Peredove (68km south-west of Donetsk). On 4 August, the SMM saw eight howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) near Kalynove (formerly Kalinine, 65km south-west of Donetsk). In a non-government-controlled area, on 27 July, the SMM saw three tanks (type undetermined) at a training area south-east of Ternove.

On 4 August, the SMM revisited a heavy weapons permanent storage site in an area of Luhansk region outside government control whose location corresponded with the withdrawal lines and noted that two MLRS (BM-21) were again missing.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles[3] in the security zone. In non-government-controlled areas, on 3 August, an SMM long-range UAV spotted three armoured personnel carriers (one BTR-80 and two MT-LB) near Bezimenne (100km south of Donetsk).

On 5 August, the SMM saw that the anti-tank mine spotted on 1 August in Novotroitske (government-controlled, 36km south-west of Donetsk) had been removed (see SMM Daily Report 2 August 2018).

The SMM continued to facilitate the operation of the DFS, including through monitoring adherence to the ceasefire, on 4 and 5 August. Positioned in areas near the DFS on both days, the SMM heard ceasefire violations, despite explicit security guarantees (see above and the table below).

On 4 August, the SMM visited a border area outside government control. While at a border crossing point near Uspenka (non-government-controlled, 73km south-east of Donetsk) for about 70 minutes, the SMM saw 80 cars (31 with Russian Federation, 17 with Ukrainian, one with Polish and one with Georgian licence plates, and 30 with “DPR” plates), 11 covered cargo trucks (seven with Ukrainian, one with a Russian Federation and one with a Belarussian licence plates, and two with “DPR” plates) and two buses (one with Ukrainian and one with Russian Federation licence plates) exiting Ukraine. It also saw 12 cars (eight with Russian Federation and two with Ukrainian licence plates, and two with “DPR” plates), six covered cargo trucks (two with Ukrainian and one with Russian Federation licence plates, and three with “DPR” plates) and a bus (with Russian Federation licence plates) entering Ukraine.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Chernivtsi and Kyiv.

*Restrictions of the 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 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 (for example, see SMM Daily Report 4 August 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.

Denials of access:

• On 4 August, at a checkpoint 2.5km west of Bezimenne, two armed members of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage, citing “security reasons”. (See SMM Daily Report 30 July 2018.)
• On 4 August, near the railway station in Donetsk city, two members of the armed formationswith assault rifles (AK74) and in balaclava masks requested the SMM to immediately leave the area as it was “close to combat positions”.
• On 4 August, at a checkpoint 600m north of Zaichenko (non-government-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol), two armed members of the armed formations again (see SMM Daily Report 4 August 2018) stopped the SMM and denied it passage westward to Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, non-government-controlled, 23km north-east of Mariupol) and southward to Sakhanka (non-government-controlled, 24km north-east of Mariupol), citing “security reasons and ongoing demining activities in the area”. The SMM saw a car and a military truck pass through the checkpoint. At the same checkpoint, on 5 August, two armed members of the armed formations again stopped the SMM and denied it passage to Sakhanka.
• On 5 August, three armed members of the armed formations again (see SMM Daily Report 4 August 2018) denied the SMM passage through a checkpoint near Novoazovsk (non-government-controlled, 102km south-east of Donetsk), citing “ongoing operations” in the area.
• On 5 August, two armed members of the armed formations at a checkpoint near Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk) prevented the SMM from flying its UAV over the area of the DFS, unless approved by his superior.

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

• On 4 and 5 August, 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 by telephone that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC on both occasions.[4]
• On 4 and 5 August, 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 telephone that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC on both occasions.
• On 4 and 5 August, the SMM was prevented from accessing secondary roads south of the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A member of the armed formations 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. 

[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; thus, 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.