Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 16 August 2018

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM heard explosions and small-arms fire 100-500m from their location in Holmivskyi, including two shots assessed as flying overhead. The SMM recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, as well as in Horlivka and Mykolaivka, and near Kreminets*. The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Ocheretyne, Sopyne and Sofiivka. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station, as well as repairs and maintenance works to critical water infrastructure in Luhansk region.                  

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations[1], however, more explosions (about 150), compared with the previous reporting period (about 105 explosions).

On the evening and night of 15-16 August, the SMM camera at the entry-exit checkpoint in Maiorsk (government-controlled, 45km north-east of Donetsk) recorded 23 undetermined explosions, about 95 projectiles in flight, a burst of an undetermined weapon and an illumination flare in vertical flight, all 0.5-10km at directions ranging from north-east to east-south-east.

During the same evening and night, the SMM camera at the entry-exit point in Marinka (government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk) recorded nine undetermined explosions and about 45 projectiles in flight, all 2-4km at directions ranging from east-north-east to south-east.  

During the same evening and night, while in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM heard about 65 undetermined explosions and about 140 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 4-5km at directions ranging from south-east to south-west. On the morning of 16 August, at the same location, the SMM heard five undetermined explosions 5-6km south.

On the evening of 15 August, while in Debaltseve (non-government-controlled, 58km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard an undetermined explosion 6-10km north-east. During the night of 15-16 August, the SMM heard ten explosions assessed as outgoing rounds of undetermined weapons, 1-2km east.   

During the day on 16 August, positioned near Yevhenivka (government-controlled, 33km north-west of Donetsk), the SMM heard ten undetermined explosions 4-5km north-north-east.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including fewer explosions (seven), compared with the previous reporting period (20 explosions).

The SMM heard explosions and small-arms fire 100-500m from their location near Holmivskyi (non-government-controlled, 49km north-east of Donetsk). While conducting patrols on both sides of the contact line to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire for repairs of a power line by Voda Donbassa and maintenance to an SMM camera at the entry-exit checkpoint in Maiorsk, three patrol members outside the vehicles on the north-eastern edge of Holmivskyi heard an undetermined explosion approximately 500m north and another undetermined explosion about 500m south-south-east. The explosions were followed by about ten shots of small-arms fire 100-150m north and north-west, two of which were assessed as flying over the heads of the three patrol members who were outside the vehicles. The SMM immediately left the area and returned safely to its base in Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk) (see SMM Spot Report 16 August 2018).

The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement areas 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.*

While on the eastern edge of Stanytsia Luhanska on the night of 15-16 August, the SMM heard two undetermined explosions 3-4km south-west, assessed as outside the disengagement area.

Positioned near the Zolote and Petrivske disengagement areas during the day on 16 August, 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 government-controlled areas, on 15 August, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) again spotted a self-propelled howitzer (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) south-east of a residential area of Ocheretyne (31km north-west of Donetsk). On 16 August, the SMM saw a surface-to-air missile system (9K35 Strela-10) north of Sopyne (16km east of Mariupol).

In violation of withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas, on 15 August, an SMM long-range UAV again spotted three probable towed howitzers (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm) near Sofiivka (formerly Karlo-Marksove, 40km north-east of Donetsk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in government-controlled areas, on 15 August, the SMM saw a surface-to-air missile system (9K33 Osa) in a firing position north of Kasianivka (22km north of Mariupol). On the same day, an SMM long-range UAV spotted four surface-to-air missile systems (9K35) at the railway station in Kostiantynivka (60km north of Donetsk). On 16 August, the SMM saw six surface-to-air missile systems (9K35) and 13 tanks (T-72) at the train station in Kostiantynivka.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles and anti-aircraft guns[3] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, on 15 August, an SMM long-range UAV spotted an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (BTR-70) in a south-eastern residential area of Verkhnotoretske (23km north-east of Donetsk). The same day, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1) near Vodiane (19km north-east of Mariupol), and an SMM mini-UAV spotted an APC (BTR-70), an IFV (BMP-1) and an armoured command vehicle (BMP-1Ksh Potok-2) near Muratove (51km north-west of Luhansk). On 16 August, the SMM saw two APCs (BTR-80) moving south-east on road H-21 near Voitove (33km north-west of Luhansk) and a self-propelled anti-aircraft system (ZSU-23-4 Shilka, 23mm) near Sopyne.

In non-government-controlled areas, on 15 August, an SMM long-range UAV spotted a probable IFV (BMP variant) near Sofiivka, as well as two target acquisition radar detection systems (1L22) and an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) near Shyroka Balka (34km north-east of Donetsk). On 16 August, the SMM saw an APC (BTR-variant) moving east about 2km north of Petrivske.

The SMM observed mine hazard signs for the first time in Slavne (government-controlled, 26km south-west of Donetsk) and Luhanske (non-government-controlled, 15km south-west of Donetsk) on 15 August. Both signs were placed on the edge of the roads and had red squares, white lettering and a skull and crossbones with the words “Danger Mines” written on them in English and Russian. The sign in Slavne was located in an area on the eastern edge of the village about 50m from an abandoned residential house. 

The SMM continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station, including through monitoring adherence to the ceasefire. Positioned in areas near the station, the SMM heard ceasefire violations, despite explicit security guarantees (see the table below).

The SMM also continued to facilitate and monitor repairs and maintenance works to a water pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk), to water distribution infrastructure near Novotoshkivske (government-controlled, 53km west of Luhansk), Zolote and Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk) and to a water channel junction near Stanytsia Luhanska.

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 Joint Centre for Control and Coordination (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 15 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.

Denial of access:

• In Mykolaivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Mariupol), an armed member of the armed formations prevented the SMM from continuing on two roads leading west towards the Kalmius river, a few minutes after the same man delayed the SMM in travelling to Mykolaivka and told the SMM patrol to remain in the village (see below). 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.[4]
• 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.5
• 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.

Conditional access:

• At a checkpoint in Horlivka, while the SMM attempted to pass through towards Maiorsk, a member of the armed formations again allowed the SMM to proceed only after inspecting the SMM vehicle trunks.
• At a checkpoint on road H-15 east of Kreminets (non-government-controlled, 16km south-west of Donetsk), a member of the armed formations stopped the SMM twice on the same day and demanded to check an SMM trailer. On both occasions, the SMM was allowed to proceed only after its trailer was checked.
• In Shevchenko (non-government-controlled, 69km south of Donetsk), the SMM was stopped by two members of the armed formations and was only permitted to continue west towards Mykolaivka if the patrol stayed inside the village.

[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 remains 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.