Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 21 October 2018

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 19 and 20 October, compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 20 and 21 October, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties in a location between Zolote-4/Rodina and Zolote-5/Mykhailivka. It observed damage to civilian infrastructure in Novoluhanske and to a tent caused by bullets near the entry-exit checkpoint in Maiorsk. It recorded ceasefire violations assessed as 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, Lebedynske and Yuzhna-Lomuvatka as well as Izvaryne, near the border with the Russian Federation.* The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to the Petrivske pumping station and to a water pipeline between Zolote and Popasna. In Lviv, it monitored a peaceful gathering in front of the Prosecutor’s office.

In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 19 and 20 October, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations,[1] including about 215 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 300 explosions). Between the evenings of 20 and 21 October, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 115 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours.

On the evening and night of 19 October, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) (15km north of Donetsk) recorded 12 undetermined explosions and about 80 projectiles in flight (mostly from west to east and from east to west), all 0.2-3km at southerly directions. The following evening, the camera recorded about 60 undetermined explosions and about 40 projectiles (mostly from west to east), all 1-4km at southerly directions.

On the evening of 19 October, the SMM camera 1.5km north-east of Hnutove (government-controlled, 20km north-east of Mariupol) recorded 13 undetermined explosions and about 190 projectiles in flight (mostly from north to south and from south to north), all 2-5km at easterly directions.

Between the evenings of 19 and 21 October, while in Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard at different time intervals about 105 explosions (four explosions as caused by artillery rounds and the remainder undetermined) and about 525 bursts and shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 2-8km at southerly and westerly directions.

On the evening and night of 20-21 October, while in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard about 30 undetermined explosions 2-6km at easterly and southerly directions. During the day on 21 October, while in the same location, the SMM heard ten undetermined explosions 2-6km at easterly and southerly directions.

During the day on 21 October, positioned about 1.5km east of Nelipivka (government-controlled, 40km north-east of Donetsk) for about 2.5 hours, the SMM heard 15 explosions (13 assessed as outgoing mortar rounds, one as an airburst and one undetermined) 1.5-4km east and north-east.

In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 19 and 20 October, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including, however, a similar number of explosions (15), compared with the previous reporting period (13 explosions). Between the evenings of 20 and 21 October, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 40 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours.

During the day on 21 October, positioned in Shchastia (government-controlled, 20km north of Luhansk) for about 25 minutes, the SMM heard 35 undetermined explosions and 26 bursts and shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 1-2km south-south-east.

During the day on 21 October, positioned on the north-eastern edge of Zolote-4/Rodina (government-controlled, 59km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 14 bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire 1-2km south-south-east. On the same day, positioned in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard an undetermined explosion and about 60 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 5-10km north-east.

The SMM followed up on reports that a woman and a man (both in their forties) had died in a location between Zolote-4/Rodina and Zolote-5/Mykhailivka. On 19 October, the SMM conducted a mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight in the area and spotted two bodies. [The Mission was unable to reach the location, which is about 130m east of the closest position of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and about 500m west of the closest position of the armed formations, by road or foot due to safety concerns regarding the possible presence of mines.] On 21 October, in Zolote-5/Mykhailivika, the brother (aged 40-50) of the deceased man told the SMM that he had asked for the bodies to be recovered and moved to a non-government-controlled area. As of the morning of 22 October, no agreement had been reached on a recovery operation despite dialogue facilitation efforts undertaken by the Mission since the explosion was reported.

The SMM observed fresh damage to the Bakhmut Agrarian Union Pig Farm in Novoluhanske (government-controlled, 53km north-east of Donetsk) (for previous observations in the area, see SMM Daily Report 8 October 2018). On 20 October, accompanied by Ukrainian Armed Forces officers of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) and de-miners, the SMM saw at least 20 scattered fragmentation holes in the east- and north-facing parts of a metal container, assessed as caused by an undetermined weapon fired from a northerly direction. A Ukrainian officer of the JCCC told the SMM that shelling took place at 21:00 on the evening of 15 October. The SMM saw a well-maintained trench about 10m south of the metal container. On 15 October, at the same location, the SMM had seen burn marks and a hole in the middle part of the south-facing section of the roof of one of the farm’s buildings. The SMM noted that repairs were ongoing and was unable to assess what weapon caused the damage. Approximately 25m north of the building, the Mission saw an impact on the road, assessed as caused by an undetermined weapon fired from a south-south-westerly direction. A Ukrainian officer of the JCCC told the SMM that shelling had occurred in the area on 28 September and 13 October.

The SMM followed up on reports of damage to an inflatable tent used by civilians to keep warm approximately 70m north of the entry-exit checkpoint in Maiorsk (government-controlled, 45km north-east of Donetsk) on the eastern side of road T0513. The SMM saw two patched holes in the exterior wall of the tent (one in the south-facing wall and one in the north-facing wall) and two holes in the interior walls of the same tent (one in the south-facing wall and one in the north-facing wall), assessed as consistent with the characteristics of a through-and-through trajectory caused by bullets fired either from an east-south-easterly direction or from a west-north-westerly direction.

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 20 October, while on the eastern edge of Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM heard two undetermined explosions 6-8km south, assessed as outside the disengagement area.

During the day on 20 October, positioned on the southern edge of the Zolote disengagement area, the SMM heard six explosions assessed as caused by mortar rounds (82mm) 5km west-south-west, assessed as outside the disengagement area. On the evening of 21 October, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded an undetermined explosion and eight projectiles in flight (five from north-east to south-west, two from south-west to north-east and one in vertical flight), all 2-4km south-east and assessed as inside the disengagement area.

During the day on 20 October, positioned about 2km north of Petrivske, the SMM heard two undetermined explosions 2-3km west-north-west, four undetermined explosions 4-6km west and about 100 shots of small-arms fire 2-3km south-east, all 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. Beyond the respective withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in government-controlled areas, on 19 October, an SMM mini-UAV spotted 12 tanks (T-64) in Rubizhne (84km north-west of Luhansk) (for similar observations in the area, see SMM Daily Report 20 October 2018). On the same day, an SMM long-range UAV spotted three surface-to-air missile systems (9K33 Osa) near Kasianivka (81km south of Donetsk) and two antitank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) near Kalynove (formerly Kalinine, 65km south-west of Donetsk). On 20 October, the SMM saw four tanks (T-64) loaded on trucks near Lysychansk (75km north-west of Luhansk). On 21 October, the SMM saw three tanks (T-72) near Druzhne (39km north of Mariupol) and a tank (T-64) near Lysychansk.

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 such storage sites, beyond the respective withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas in Donetsk region, on 20 October, the SMM saw eight towed howitzers (two D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm and six 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm), five self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) and four multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) and noted that two self-propelled howitzers (2S1) continued to be missing.

In such storage sites, beyond the respective withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas in Donetsk region, on 21 October, the SMM saw a surface-to-air missile system (9K35 Strela-10), eight MLRS (BM-21) and eight self-propelled howitzers (2S1) and noted that two surface-to-air missile systems (9K35), 23 MLRS (BM-21), 22 self-propelled howitzers (11 2S1 and 11 2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) and six towed howitzers (D-20, 152 mm) continued to be missing, as well as that four MLRS (BM-21) and four self-propelled howitzers (2S1) were missing for the first time.

On 20 October, the SMM revisited two heavy weapons permanent storage sites in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region whose location corresponded with the withdrawal lines and noted that 15 anti-tank guns (MT-12), nine mortars (2B14 Podnos, 82mm) and 18 tanks (eight T-64 and ten T-72) remained missing.

On 20 October, the SMM revisited a permanent storage site whose location was beyond the respective withdrawal lines in an area of Luhansk region outside government control and noted that a tank (T-64) continued to be missing.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles (ACV) and anti-aircraft guns[3] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, on 19 October, an SMM mini-UAV spotted an ACV (type undetermined) and a self-propelled anti-aircraft system (ZU-23-4 Shilka, 23mm) near Krymske (42km north-west of Luhansk). On the same day, an SMM long-range UAV spotted an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (BTR-80) near Sartana (91km south of Donetsk) and an ACV (type undetermined) near Talakivka (90km south of Donetsk). On the same day, the SMM saw an APC (BTR-80) near Lebedynske (16km north-east of Mariupol). On 21 October, the SMM saw an APC (BTR-80) in Prymorske (13km east of Mariupol), an APC (BTR variant) in Shchastia, an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) in Muratove (51km north-west of Luhansk) and an APC (BTR-80) near Voitove (33km north-west of Luhansk).

In non-government-controlled areas, on 19 October, the SMM saw two APCs (BTR variant) near Donetsk city. On 20 October, an SMM mini-UAV spotted ten APCs (two BTR-80 and eight MT-LB) near Pervomaisk (58km west of Luhansk). On 21 October, the SMM saw an APC (BTR-80) in Azov (formerly Dzerzhynske, 25km north-east of Mariupol).

On 20 October, the SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk). On 21 October, the SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair works to a water pipeline between Zolote and Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk). On both days, the SMM continued to facilitate the operation of the DFS.

The SMM visited five border areas not under government control. On 20 October, while at a border crossing point near Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk) for about 60 minutes, the SMM saw eight cars (two with Ukrainian and two with Russian Federation licence plates and four with “DPR” plates) and a covered cargo truck (with “DPR” plates) exiting Ukraine, and ten cars (nine with Russian Federation licence plates and one with “DPR” plates), a covered cargo truck (with Ukrainian licence plates), two mini-vans (one with Russian Federation licence plates, the other with “DPR” plates) and a bus (with “DPR” plates) entering Ukraine.

On the same day, while at a border crossing point near Novoazovsk (40km east of Mariupol) for about five minutes, the SMM observed no traffic or pedestrians entering or exiting Ukraine.

On 21 October, while at a border crossing point near Ulianivske (61km south-east of Donetsk) for about 20 minutes, the SMM saw a pedestrian (man, aged 30-40) entering Ukraine and a man (aged 50-60) on a bicycle exiting Ukraine.

On the same day, while at a border crossing point near Izvaryne (52km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw a car (with Russian Federation licence plates) and 15 pedestrians (seven men and eight women, all aged 35-55) exiting Ukraine, and a car (with Ukrainian licence plates), a bus (plates not visible) and six pedestrians (four men, two women, aged 35-45) entering Ukraine. After ten minutes, a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.*

The same day, while at a pedestrian border crossing point in Verkhnoharasymivka (57km south-east of Luhansk) for about 30 minutes, the SMM saw five pedestrians (two men, three women, aged 25-60) exiting Ukraine and three pedestrians (two men, one woman, aged 50-55) entering Ukraine.

In Lviv, the SMM monitored a gathering in favour of the creation by the regional government of an independent commission composed of representatives of non-governmental organizations and civil services. In front of the Prosecutor’s office at 19 Shevchenka Street, it saw 200 people (70 per cent men and 30 per cent women, all ages), about half of them wearing jackets with insignia of the Right Sector movement and carrying flags of the same movement. Approximately 80 police officers were present. The gathering ended without any incident.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, 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 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 20 October, at a checkpoint about 1km north of Zaichenko (non-government-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol), two armed members of the armed formations again stopped the SMM and denied it passage southward to Sakhanka (non-government-controlled, 24km north-east of Mariupol), citing “ongoing demining activities in the area”.
• On 20 October, at a checkpoint near Novoazovsk, two armed members of the armed formations again prevented the SMM from passing through, citing “orders from superiors not to allow the SMM into Novoazovsk”.
• On 20 October, at a mobile checkpoint about 2km east of Novoazovsk, two armed members of the armed formations prevented the SMM from passing through, citing “orders from their commander not to allow the SMM to travel eastward to Siedove” (non-government-controlled, 106km south of Donetsk).
• On 20 October, at a checkpoint in Yuzhna-Lomuvatka (non-government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk), an armed member of the armed formations denied the SMM passage, citing “demining and engineering works ongoing in the area”.
• On 20 October, at a checkpoint south of Lebedynske, two Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers denied the SMM passage eastward, citing an “exchange of fire in the area”. After the patrol mentioned it would travel southward, the two Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers denied it access again.
• On 21 October, at a checkpoint near Lebedynske, three Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers denied the SMM passage further east, citing “an ongoing exchange of fire in the area”. The SMM observed five cars passing through the checkpoint in both directions while it was at the location.
• On 21 October, at a border crossing point near Izvaryne, a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

• On 20 and 21 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 20 and 21 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. [4]
• On 20 and 21 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 the evening of 19 October, an SMM long-range UAV temporarily lost its GPS signal, assessed as due to jamming[5], near Kashtanove (non-government-controlled, 13km north of Donetsk), Krasnohorivka (government-controlled, 21km west of Donetsk) and Volnovakha (government-controlled, 53km south of Donetsk).
• On 21 October, at a checkpoint in Horlivka, a member of the armed formations indicated to a patrol’s lead vehicle that it could proceed through the checkpoint. The patrol’s remaining three vehicles were then stopped and told by the same member of the armed formations that he had the authority to shoot at the lead vehicle because it did not stop. The three vehicles were allowed through the checkpoint after approximately five minutes.

[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 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.