Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 31 August 2018

This report is for the media and the general public.

Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and the same number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. At 17:27 on 31 August, the Mission heard an undetermined explosion less than 200m north-north-east from its residence on Pushkina Boulevard in Donetsk city. A senior member of the armed formations told the SMM that in the explosion Aleksandr Zakharchenko had suffered fatal injuries, another member of the armed formations had been severely wounded and nine other people had sustained injuries. The Mission followed up on reports of a civilian casualty in Verkhnotoretske. It saw a trench that had been recently fortified and Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers inside the Zolote disengagement area, and heard ceasefire violations near the Petrivske and the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, as well as near Luhanske and Shchastia.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Prychepylivka and Novoamvrosiivske. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable demining and repairs to water infrastructure in Luhansk region, at a gas distribution station in Krasnohorivka and the South Donbas water pipeline between Avdiivka and Yasynuvata. In Kyiv, the SMM followed up on reports of a protest outside the consulate of the Russian Federation on 30 August.

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations[1], including 18 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 80 explosions).

At 17:27 on 31 August in Donetsk city, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion less than 200m north-north-east from the Mission’s residence on Pushkina Boulevard. The explosion occurred in Separ restaurant located in a park next to 13 Pushkina Boulevard. The Mission saw that the area around the restaurant had been fenced off. A senior member of the armed formations told the SMM that in the explosion Alexandr Zakharchenko had suffered fatal injuries, another member of the armed formations had been severely wounded and nine other people had sustained injuries. SMM staff was not harmed.

On the evening and night of 30-31 August, while in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard seven undetermined explosions and four shots of small-arms fire, all 2-5km south-east. On 31 August, at the same location, the Mission heard 50 bursts and shots of small-arms fire 2-3km west.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded the same number of ceasefire violations (three explosions) as in the previous reporting period.

The SMM followed up on reports of a civilian casualty. On 31 August, in Verkhnotoretske (government-controlled, 23km north-east of Donetsk), a woman (in her twenties) told the SMM that on the afternoon of 27 August, when she had been standing outside the kindergarten at 75 Zaliznichna Street with her daughter, she had heard a sound, felt a sharp pain and seen blood on her right forearm and a bullet on her foot. On the woman’s forearm the SMM saw a haematoma with a small, scabbed wound in the centre. On the same day, staff at the military medical point in Verkhnotoretske told the Mission that on 27 August they had treated a woman (in her twenties) for a small-arms wound to her right forearm.

The SMM continued to monitor 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.*

On 30 August, inside the Zolote disengagement area, an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted a previously observed trench fortified with sandbags, about 120m south of the railway bridge (see SMM Daily Report 31 August 2018). On 31 August, inside the disengagement area, the SMM saw a 4x4 car with a Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier driving, as well as two armed Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers on foot.

On the same day, the SMM saw eight armed members of the armed formations next to a vehicle with a machine gun mounted on its frame at a checkpoint on the southern edge of the Zolote disengagement area. About 700m north from the disengagement area’s southern edge and 20m west of road T1316 it saw a wire-guided missile (a probable 9K111 Fagot). The Mission also saw previously observed concrete positions about 200m north from the disengagement area’s southern edge and 90m west of road T1316, assessed as belonging to the armed formations, and, on the side of the road, a piece of barbed wire.

During the day on 31 August, positioned about 2km north of Petrivske, the SMM heard three undetermined explosions 2-5km south-south-west (unable to assess whether inside or outside the disengagement area) and 20 bursts of small-arms fire 1km south-south-west (assessed as outside the disengagement area).

On the same day, while in Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion 3-4km south-west, assessed as outside the disengagement area.

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 government-controlled area, on 30 August, an SMM mini-UAV spotted two towed howitzers (D-30) near Prychepylivka (50km north-west of Luhansk).

In violation of withdrawal lines in a non-government-controlled area, on 31 August, the SMM saw four multiple launch rocket systems (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) near Novoamvrosiivske (56km east of Donetsk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in government-controlled areas, on 30 August, an SMM long-range UAV spotted a surface-to-air missile system (9K35 Strela-10) north-west of Klishchiivka (60km north of Donetsk). On the same day, the SMM saw two self-propelled howitzers (2S5 Giatsint-S, 152mm) at the railway station in Rubizhne (84km north-west of Luhansk).

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 beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM saw six towed howitzers (2A65 Msta-B, 152mm) and five self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm), and noted that two self-propelled howitzers (2S1) were again missing.

The SMM revisited a permanent storage site whose location was beyond withdrawal lines in a non-government-controlled area of Donetsk region and noted that 11 tanks (four T-64 and seven T-72) remained missing.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles (ACVs) and anti-aircraft guns[3] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, on 30 August, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted two infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) (BMP-1) near Vodiane (78km south of Donetsk). On the same day, an SMM long-range UAV spotted an IFV (BMP-1) and an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (MT-LB) near Zolote-4/Rodina (59km west of Luhansk), five IFVs (BMP variants), five armoured reconnaissance vehicles (BRDM-2) and two anti-aircraft guns (ZU-23, 23mm) near Prychepylivka, two ACVs (type undetermined) near Krymske (42km north-west of Luhansk), an APC (MT-LB), an IFV (BMP-1) and an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) near Trokhizbenka (32km north-west of Luhansk), two probable artillery command vehicles (BTR-60PB), four IFVs (two BMP-1 and two BMP-2) and an APC (BTR variant) near Muratove (51km north-west of Luhansk). On 31 August, the SMM saw an IFV (BMP-1) near Popasna (69km west of Luhansk) and an IFV (BMP variant) near Nyzhnie (56km north-west of Luhansk).

In non-government-controlled areas, on August 30, an SMM mini-UAV spotted a probable armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) about 20m from a non-functional school building in Donetskyi (49km west of Luhansk) where the Mission had previously observed damage caused by shelling (see SMM Daily Report 14 August 2018).

The SMM observed craters assessed to have been caused by mortar rounds near Zholobok (non-government-controlled, 47km west of Luhansk) and Prychepylivka, in an area where the SMM had previously recorded at least 500 explosions (see SMM Daily Report 24 August 2018). On 30 August, about 3km south-east of Prychepylivka, an SMM long-range UAV spotted 30 recent craters, assessed to have been caused by artillery rounds (122mm) coming from a southerly direction. On the same day, an SMM mini-UAV spotted a well-maintained trench system and four recent craters assessed as probably caused by mortar rounds (120mm) about 200m north-east of Zholobok, four recent craters assessed as probably caused by mortar rounds (120mm) on the southern edge of Zholobok, as well as over 30 recent craters assessed as probably caused by mortar rounds (120mm) about 1km south-east of Zholobok. The SMM assessed that the mortar craters were caused by fire coming from a northerly direction. (On 17 August, an SMM long-range UAV had spotted at least 16 houses engulfed in fire in the eastern part of Zholobok; see SMM Daily Report 20 August 2018.)

The SMM continued to observe the presence of mines. On 30 August, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted for the first time over 500 anti-tank mines (TM-62) laid in a field (not visible in imagery from 24 July 2018) north of Vodiane. Some of the mines appeared to have been damaged, assessed as possibly due to a fire. (On 27 August, the SMM saw plumes of smoke emanating from the direction of Vodiane.)

The SMM continued to follow up on the situation of civilians at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line. On 31 August, at the Stanytsia Luhanska entry-exit checkpoint the SMM saw three cranes, four trucks and workers conducting construction works, as well as about 100 people in a queue to cross. At various places throughout the entry-exit checkpoint, the Mission saw notes advising of the checkpoint’s temporary closure from 2 to 7 September (see SMM Daily Report 30 August). A paramedic from the Ukrainian Ministry for Emergencies told the SMM that at around 10:00 on 31 August a man (in his seventies) had collapsed on the bridge and died despite medical assistance provided.

On the same day, a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer in the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) informed the Mission that the entry-exit checkpoint in Novotroitske (government-controlled, 36km south-west of Donetsk) and the checkpoint in Berezove (government-controlled, 31km south-west of Donetsk) had been re-opened on the morning of 31 August. (The checkpoints were previously closed; see SMM Daily Report 30 August 2018).

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 recorded ceasefire violations, despite explicit security guarantees (see the table below).

The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair and maintenance works to water pipelines near Zolote and Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), as well as demining and repairs to a gas distribution station near Krasnohorivka (government-controlled, 21km west of Donetsk) and the South Donbas water pipeline between Avdiivka (government-controlled, 17km north-west of Donetsk) and Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk).

In Kyiv, the SMM followed up on reports of a protest on 30 August outside the consulate of the Russian Federation (3-5 Volunteer Battalions Street). At the address, pasted on a wall opposite of the consulate building, the Mission saw at least 50 posters containing images and messages critical of the Russian Federation and “#FREESENTSOV” hashtags. The SMM also saw that a gate adjacent to the wall had been painted in blue and yellow with black stencilling reading “FREESENTSOV”. While present, the Mission observed a calm situation.

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

*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 31 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:

• Two Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers stopped the SMM near Luhanske (government-controlled, 59km north-east of Donetsk) and denied it passage, citing “security reasons” and the presence of mines on the road ahead.

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.
• 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.
• The SMM did not travel across the bridge in governmentcontrolled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) due to the possible presence of mines. 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

Other impediments:

• While conducting a miniUAV flight near Roza (non-government-controlled, 36km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM lost contact with the UAV due to signal interference[5]. The SMM was unable to recover the UAV.

 

[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.

[2] Due to the 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.

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