Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 8 November 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. It corroborated a civilian fatality in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka as a result of shrapnel injuries. The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Novoselivka and Yasnodolsk. The SMM observed an anti-aircraft-gun inside the Zolote disengagement area and recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote and Petrivske disengagement areas. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas. The SMM observed anti-tank mines for the first time near Orikhove. The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to houses and essential civilian infrastructure on both sides of the contact line, as well as to enable demining near Nyzhnoteple. In Kyiv, the SMM observed a public gathering related to an import tax on vehicles. In Kherson, the SMM followed up on the situation of the detained Mekhanik Pogodin tanker.  

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations[1], including, however, a similar number of explosions (about 115), compared with the previous reporting period.[2]

On the evening of 7 November, while in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard about 30 undetermined explosions and 210 bursts and shots of small-arms fire, all at an assessed range of 2-7km south-east and south-south-west. The next day, while at the same location, the SMM heard about 30 undetermined explosions and about 40 shots and bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all at an assessed range of 2-6km south-east and south-west.  

During the day on 8 November, positioned about 1km north-west of the railway station in Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk) for about 2.5 hours, the SMM heard ten undetermined explosions at an assessed range of 2-10km at directions ranging from north to west-south-west and about 50 shots and bursts of small-arms fire at an assessed range of 1-5km south-west, west-south-west and west.

During the same day, positioned 2km south-east of Lebedynske (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard 12 explosions assessed as impacts (three of mortar rounds and nine of rounds of undetermined weapons) at an assessed range of 2-3km north-east and about 220 shots and bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire at an assessed range of 2-5km north-east and east.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 90 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 140 explosions).

In the early morning of 8 November, while in Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, non-government-controlled, 50km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 22 undetermined explosions at an assessed range of 10-15km north.

The SMM saw a civilian fatality in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 58km north-west of Luhansk). At 10:35, positionedin Zolote-5/Mykhailivka, the SMM saw four armed members of the armed formations carrying an injured man (63 years old) from 5 Chapaieva street in the Mariivka area of Zolote-5/ Mykhailivka to an area near a bus stop on Poshtova Street. Near the bus stop, the SMM then observed an ambulance arrive and heard medical staff declare that the man had already died due to shrapnel injuries. The SMM then observed the body of the man with injuries under his left arm being placed into an ambulance. A neighbour (woman, about 65 years old) of the deceased man told the SMM that at around 10:10, she had approached his house at 5 Chapaieva Street after hearing his wife screaming for help, and had found the man lying on the ground in his yard, breathing with difficulty. Shortly before seeing the casualty, between 09:55-10:10, the SMM heard 15 undetermined explosions about 1km north-west of its position in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka while monitoring adherence to the ceasefire to enable works to power lines in the area. The SMM could not reach the deceased man's house due to security considerations.

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[3] (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 7 November, an SMM long-range unmanned-aerial-vehicle (UAV) again spotted an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23-2, 23mm) on a military-type truck inside the Zolote disengagement area (see SMM Daily Report 8 November 2018).

During the day on 8 November, positioned about 1km north of the centre of Zolote, the SMM heard 12 undetermined explosions and two shots of heavy-machine-gun fire, all at an assessed range of 1-3km south (unable to assess whether inside or outside the disengagement area); two explosions assessed as impacts at an assessed range of 1-2km south-east (assessed as outside the disengagement area); four undetermined explosions at an assessed range of 2-8km east-south-east and south-west (unable to assess whether inside or outside the disengagement area); and six shots of heavy-machine-gun fire at an assessed range of 3-5km north-west (assessed as outside the disengagement area).  

On the same day, positioned 400m north of the northern edge of the Zolote disengagement area, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion at an assessed range of 5-8km south, assessed as outside the disengagement area. Positioned on the northern edge of Zolote-2/Karbonit (government-controlled, 62km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard three undetermined explosions at an assessed range of 4-8km south (assessed as outside the disengagement area).

Positioned in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka on the same day, the SMM heard 15 undetermined explosions at an assessed range of 1km north-west (see above),  an undetermined explosion at an assessed range of 5-7km south-west and nine undetermined explosions at an assessed range of 3-12km north and east-north-east (all assessed as outside the disengagement area).     

Inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, at a forward position of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the SMM saw a hole (about 1cm) in a sheet of glass covering an observation post. The SMM assessed it as a bullet hole, but could not assess whether it was fresh or the direction of fire.  

During the day on 8 November, positioned about 2km north of Petrivske, the SMM heard 65 shots of small-arms fire 2-4km east and 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.

In violation of withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas, on 7 November, an SMM long-range UAV spotted five tanks (T-64) near Novoselivka (16km west of Luhansk) and four towed howitzers (D-20, 152mm) near Yasnodolsk (41km west of Luhansk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in government-controlled areas, on 7 November, an SMM long-range UAV spotted two surface-to-air missile systems (9K33 Osa): one near Chervone (63km north of Donetsk) and one near Bila Hora (67km north-west of Luhansk). On the same day, the SMM saw five tanks (T-72) near Andriivka (61km south of Donetsk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside storage sites in a non-government-controlled area, on 8 November, the SMM saw five tanks (type undetermined) inside a training area near Ternove (57km east of Donetsk).

On 7 November, the SMM revisited a permanent storage site in a government-controlled area of Donetsk region whose location was beyond the respective withdrawal lines and noted that 28 tanks (T-64) and 12 mortars (M120-15 Molot, 122mm) remained missing. The SMM also observed additional weapons present for the first time. 

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles (ACV) and an anti-aircraft gun[4]  in the security zone. In non-government-controlled areas, on 7 November, an SMM mini-UAV spotted an ACV (type undetermined) near Zemliane (11km north-west of Luhansk). On the same day, an SMM long-range UAV spotted four infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) (BMP-1) and an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (BTR-70/80) near Pakhalivka (40km west of Luhansk), an APC (MT-LB) near Novoselivka and an IFV (BMP-1) near Rozsadky (62km north-east of Donetsk). On 8 November, the SMM saw an APC (BTR-80) in Kadiivka.

In government-controlled areas, on 7 November, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted a probable IFV (BMP-1) parked close to residential houses near Zolote-4/Rodina (59km west of Luhansk). On the same day, an SMM long-range UAV spotted an IFV (BMP-2) near Krymske (42km north-west of Luhansk).  On 8 November, the SMM saw an APC (MT-LB) with a mounted anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) near Muratove (51km north-west of Luhansk).

The SMM continued to observe the presence of mines, including some for the first time, as well as mine hazard signs and de-mining activities. On 6 November, an SMM mid-range UAV again spotted nine anti-tank mines (probable TM-62) laid out in a row across the road between Vodiane (government-controlled, 94km south of Donetsk) and Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, non-government-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol) (see SMM Daily Report 12 September 2018). On 7 November, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted for the first time 82 anti-tank mines (TM-62) placed in two rows over about 190m in a field  about 2km south of Orikhove (government-controlled, 57km north-west of Luhansk). On 8 November, in a field about 3km north-west of Lebedynske and north-west of the junction of road T-0519 leading to Lebedynske, the SMM saw ten Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel in military uniform engaged in de-mining activities.

The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair works to the Petrivske water pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk), the phenol sludge reservoir near Zalizne (formerly Artemove, government-controlled, 42km north-east of Donetsk), damaged houses in Marinka (government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk) and Krasnohorivka (government-controlled, 21km west of Donetsk) and power lines in Donetskyi (non-government-controlled, 49km west of Luhansk) and near Zolote-5/Mykhailivka, as well as to enable demining activities near Nyzhnoteple (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk). The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station.

In Kyiv, the SMM monitored a public gathering in front of the Parliament building at 5 Hrushevskoho Street. It saw approximately 350-400 individuals (mostly men, mixed ages) carrying about 100 flags of “Auto Euro Power” as well as about 90 cars with foreign licence plates parked along the sidewalks of Shovkovychna and Hrushevskoho Streets during an ongoing plenary session in which Members of Parliament considered adopting amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine concerning a tax on imported vehicles. Participants on Hrushevskoho Street allowed only cars with EU registration plates to pass, and refused passage to cars with Ukrainian plates. At this location on the previous day, the SMM observed a gathering related to the same issue (see SMM Daily Report 8 November 2018).

In Kherson, the SMM followed up on the situation of the detained Mekhanik Pogodin tanker. It saw that the tanker remained moored and surrounded by Ukrainian Border Guard Service members in a port in the south-western outskirts of Kherson city (see SMM Daily Report 24 August 2018). A man who introduced himself as the captain of the tanker, together with a male crew member, told the SMM that a court hearing regarding the tanker’s case would take place this month. Staff at the court told the SMM that the hearing was scheduled for 14 November.

The SMM continued monitoring in 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 on 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 8 November 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:

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 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.[5]
• 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.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 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:

• An SMM mini-UAV temporarily lost its GPS signal, assessed as due to signal interference, while flying over Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol).[6]
• At the city hospital in Khartsyzk (non-government-controlled, 26km east of Donetsk), while following up on civilian casualties, staff told the SMM that the hospital was not permitted to give information citing orders from the armed formations.  

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

* Please see the section at the end of this report entitled “Restrictions of the SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate”.

[2] During the reporting period, the SMM camera in Krasnohorivka was not operational.

[3]           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.

[4]           This hardware mentioned in this section is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.

[5]           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.

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