Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 14 October 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 between the evenings of 12 and 13 October, compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 13 and 14 October, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous 24 hours. In Zolote-5/Mykhailivka, the SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties and observed damage caused by shelling. The Mission also observed damage caused by shelling and gunfire in residential areas of Yasynuvata and Chermalyk. It recorded ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area and near the Stanytsia Luhanska and Petrivske disengagement areas. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas as well as near Zaichenko, Novoazovsk and Leonove, near the border with the Russian Federation.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of the agreed withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable demining in Zolote‑2/Karbonit. The Mission monitored events related to the Defender of Ukraine Day in different cities as well as a march on the occasion of the anniversary of the founding of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army in Kyiv.

In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 12 and 13 October, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations,[1] including 270 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (235 explosions); about 55 per cent of the ceasefire violations were recorded north-east of Hnutove (government-controlled, 20km north-east of Mariupol). Between the evenings of 13 and 14 October, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 570 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours.

On the evening and night of 12-13 October, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) (15km north of Donetsk) recorded four undetermined explosions and 35 projectiles in flight (mostly from west to east), all 0.5-5km at southerly directions. The following evening and night, the camera recorded 60 explosions assessed as impacts 0.5-1km south-south-west as well as about 50 undetermined explosions and about 40 projectiles (mostly from west to east and from north-west to south-east), all 0.5-4km at southerly directions.

On the evening and night of 12-13 October, the SMM camera 1.5km north-east of Hnutove recorded 30 explosions (two assessed as outgoing rounds, one as an impact and the remainder undetermined) and about 980 projectiles in flight (including 645 from south-west to north-east and 285 from north-west to south-east), all 2-4km east-north-east, east and east-south-east. The following evening and night, the camera recorded about 90 explosions (28 assessed as impacts and the remainder undetermined) and about 630 projectiles (including about 380 from south to north and about 250 from north to south), all 1-5km east-north-east, east and east-south-east.

On the evening and night of 12-13 October, the SMM camera east of Lomakyne (government-controlled, 15km north-east of Mariupol) recorded about 70 undetermined explosions, four airbursts, about 100 projectiles in flight (mostly from north-west to south-east), six muzzle flashes and three bursts, all 2-4km north-east and east-north-east.

On the evening and night of 13-14 October, the SMM camera in Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol) recorded 75 undetermined explosions and about 190 projectiles in flight (the majority from west-south-west to east-north-east), all 2-4km at directions ranging from south-east to south-south-west.

On the evening of 13 October, while in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 36 undetermined explosions and about 50 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 4-7km at south-easterly directions, and 24 undetermined explosions 4-6km at westerly directions.

In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 12 and 13 October, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 30 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 270 explosions). Between the evenings of 13 and 14 October, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 180 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours.

On 14 October, positioned on the northern edge of Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 28 undetermined explosions 10-15km north-east. Shortly thereafter, positioned on the eastern edge of Popasna, the SMM heard 24 undetermined explosions 10-15km north-east and three undetermined explosions 5-8km east-north-east.

The same day, while in Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, non-government-controlled, 50km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard about 50 explosions assessed as outgoing artillery rounds 10-15km north-north-east and north-north-west.

The SMM followed up on reports of a woman and a girl killed by shelling and damage caused by shelling in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk). At 26 Poshtova Street on 14 October, accompanied by members of the armed formations, the SMM saw a fresh crater in the yard of a house as well as shrapnel damage and two broken windows on the north-eastern- and north-north-eastern-facing sides of the house, assessed as caused by a projectile fired from a northerly direction. In the same yard, the SMM also saw shrapnel damage to the north-north-west-facing side of a summer kitchen and two broken windows (one north-north-west-facing and the other north-north-east-facing). A man (in his twenties) told the SMM that he had heard a loud explosion between 17:00 and 18:00 on 13 October while he had been in the backyard of the abovementioned house. He added that immediately after he had seen a woman and her daughter lying in the yard with wounds to their chest and legs, respectively. At a morgue in Kadiivka, medical staff told the SMM that the bodies of a woman (47 years old) and a girl (17 years old) had been brought to the morgue on the evening of 13 October. (For previous observations in the area, see SMM Daily Report 10 October 2018.)

The SMM observed damage caused by shelling and gunfire in residential areas. In Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk) on 13 October, on the third-floor of a three-storey residential building at 22 Hoholia Street, the SMM saw a hole in the north-west-facing side of the building, assessed as caused by a bullet fired from a westerly direction. Six residents of the building separately told the SMM that they had heard bullets flying overhead in the early evening of 12 October. (For previous observations in the area, see SMM Daily Report 10 August 2018 and SMM Daily Report 20 August 2018.)

In Chermalyk on 14 October, the SMM saw a fresh crater in a field 30-40m south-south-west of a house at 69 Zamozhna Street, assessed as caused by a round of an undetermined weapon fired from a northerly direction. The SMM also saw shattered south-south-west-facing windows of the house. A resident of the house (a woman in her fifties) told the SMM that she had heard an explosion at around 18:30 on 13 October while she had been at home.

The SMM continued to monitor 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[2] (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 12 October, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded six projectiles in flight from west-north-west to east-south-east, followed by 11 projectiles from north-east to south-west, all 2-4km east-south-east and south-east (unable to assess whether inside or outside the disengagement area). The following day, positioned in Pervomaisk (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard five undetermined explosions and 45 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 3-5km north-north-east (unable to assess whether inside or outside the disengagement area). During the day on 14 October, positioned about 1.5km south-west of Molodizhne (non-government-controlled, 63km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard four undetermined explosions 7-9km north-east (assessed as outside the disengagement area) and 12 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 4-6km north-east (assessed as inside the disengagement area). The same day, positioned on the north-eastern edge of Katerynivka (government-controlled, 64km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 18 undetermined explosions 3-5km east (assessed as outside the disengagement area). Positioned on the northern edge of the Zolote disengagement area, the SMM saw two armed Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers walking west inside the area.

On 12 October, inside the Petrivske disengagement area, an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted well-maintained trenches near previously observed positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, about 1.2km east of the western edge of the area and about 800m north of its southern edge (see SMM Daily Report 2 October 2018).

During the day on 13 October, positioned about 2km north of Petrivske, the SMM heard 12 undetermined explosions and four bursts of small-arms fire during a 17-minute period, all 2-6km south and south-east (assessed as outside the disengagement area). The following day, positioned at the same location, the SMM heard three shots of small-arms fire 2-3km east-north-east (assessed as outside the disengagement area).

On the evening of 13 October, the SMM camera in Stanytsia Luhanska recorded a projectile in flight from north-east to south-west 1-3km south-west (unable to assess whether inside or outside the disengagement area). The following day, positioned in the Stanytsia Luhanska 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 non-government-controlled areas, on 11 October, an SMM mini-UAV spotted a multiple launch rocket system (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) and three self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) near Perevalsk (38km west of Luhansk). The same day, an SMM mini-UAV spotted 13 self-propelled howitzers (2S1), 14 towed howitzers (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm) and six anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) about 2km south-east of Buhaivka (37km south-west of Luhansk). On 13 October, the SMM saw a convoy of five towed howitzers (2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm) being transported by military-type trucks heading west in Kadiivka.

In violation of withdrawal lines in a government-controlled area, on 13 October, the SMM saw a surface-to-air missile system (9K35 Strela-10) moving west near Orikhove-Donetske (44km north-west of Luhansk).

Beyond the respective withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in non-government-controlled areas, on 11 October, an SMM mini-UAV spotted three tanks (T-64) and a self-propelled mortar (2S9 Nona-S, 120mm) near Perevalsk. (The UAV also spotted 54 infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) (46 BMP-1 and eight BMP-2) in the same location.) The same day, an SMM mini-UAV spotted 16 tanks (T-64) and five surface-to-air missile systems (9K35) about 2km south-east of Buhaivka.

Beyond the respective withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in government-controlled areas, on 12 October, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted a surface-to-air missile system (9K37) about 3km north-west Klishchiivka (60km north of Donetsk). On 13 October, the SMM saw a tank (T-64) near Pokrovsk (formerly Krasnoarmiisk, 55km north-west of Donetsk). On 14 October, the SMM saw a surface-to-air missile system (9K33 Osa) near Novookhtyrka (55km north-west of Luhansk) and a surface-to-air missile system (9K33) about 4km north-north-east of Hrechyshkyne (45km north-west of Luhansk).

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles (ACV), anti-aircraft guns[3] and a UAV in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, on 13 October, the SMM saw an IFV (BTR-4) near Novobakhmutivka (28km north of Donetsk), two IFVs (BMP-1) near Popasna, two anti-aircraft guns (ZU-23, 23mm) – one mounted on an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (MT-LB) and the other on a military truck – accompanying a surface-to-air missile system (9K35) near Orikhove-Donetske (see above) and an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) and an APC (MT-LB-variant) near Muratove (51km north-west of Luhansk).

In non-government-controlled areas, on 13 October, the SMM observed an unmarked, dark-coloured, rectangular-shaped UAV flying near Lozove (52km north-east of Donetsk). On 14 October, the SMM saw an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) as part of the convoy in Kadiivka (see above).

The SMM continued to observe mines. An SMM mid-range UAV again spotted 35 anti-tank mines laid across the road north of the Petrivske disengagement area between Bohdanivka (government-controlled, 41km south-west of Donetsk) and Viktorivka (non-government-controlled, 42km south-west of Donetsk).

On 13 October, the Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable demining in the area of Zolote-2/Karbonit (government-controlled, 62km west of Luhansk) as well as the operation of the DFS.

The SMM visited three border areas not under government control. On 13 October, while at a border crossing point near Dovzhanske (84km south-east of Luhansk) for 35 minutes, the SMM saw seven cars (four with Ukrainian, two with Russian Federation and one with Georgian licence plates), two trucks with Ukrainian licence plates (one with an empty trailer and the other with an covered cargo area) and a bus with “LPR” plates exiting Ukraine, and two cars with Ukrainian licence plates entering Ukraine.

The same day, while at a border crossing point near Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk) for 15 minutes, the SMM observed 60 cars (licence plates not visible) queuing to exit Ukraine and no traffic or pedestrians entering Ukraine. On 14 October, while at the same border crossing point for about an hour, the SMM saw 28 cars (14 with Ukrainian, six with Russian Federation and one with Polish licence plates, and seven with “DPR” plates), 11 trucks (eight with Ukrainian and two with Russian Federation licence plates, and one with “DPR” plates) and 12 pedestrians queuing to exit Ukraine, and four pedestrians entering Ukraine.

On 14 October, while at a border crossing point near Ulianivske (61km south-east of Donetsk) for about 20 minutes, the SMM observed no traffic or pedestrians entering or exiting Ukraine.

In Kyiv, on 14 October, the SMM monitored events related to the Defender of Ukraine Day and a pre-announced “traditional Ukrainian Insurgent Army march” on the occasion of the anniversary of the founding of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. (See SMM Daily Report 16 October 2017.) The SMM saw about 10,000 people (men and women, different age groups) gather at Shevchenko Park and later walk to European Square. Some of them were holding flags of National Corps, Svoboda, Sokil, Right Sector and C14 (Sich), and about 300 young men were wearing Natsionalni Druzhyny insignia. There were about 200 police officers present. The SMM noted that the number of participants had increased to about 15,000 along the way to European Square and that the march ended without incidents. The SMM also monitored events related to the Defender of Ukraine Day in other cities.

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

*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 (for example, 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.

Denials of access:

• On 13 October, at a checkpoint about 1km north of Zaichenko (non-government-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol), an armed member of the armed formations again stopped the SMM and denied it passage south to Zaichenko and southward to Sakhanka (non-government-controlled, 24km north-east of Mariupol).
• On 13 October, six armed members of the armed formations again prevented the SMM from passing through a checkpoint near Novoazovsk (non-government-controlled, 40km east of Mariupol), citing an order “not to allow the SMM to enter the town”.
• On 14 October, four members of the armed formations (two armed) again denied the SMM passage through a checkpoint 5km north of a border crossing point in Leonove (formerly Chervonyi Zhovten, non-government-controlled, 82km south of Luhansk).

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

• On 13 and 14 October, 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 informed 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 both times.[4]
• On 13 and 14 October, 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 informed 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 both times.5
• On 13 and 14 October, 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 informed the SMM that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed.

Other impediments:

• On five separate occasions, an SMM long-range UAV temporarily lost its GPS signal, assessed as due to jamming[5], in government-controlled areas near Mykolaivka (40km south of Donetsk), Starohnativka (51km south of Donetsk) and Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk), in a non-government-controlled area near Novolaspa (50km south of Donetsk) and in the Donetsk airport area.

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

[2] Due to the presence of mines, including on a road between Bohdanivka and Petrivske, the SMM’s access to its camera in Petrivske remains limited, and thus the SMM has not been able to access observations from the camera since 22 June 2018.

[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 withdrew 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.