Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 11 November 2018

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region between the evenings of 9 and 10 November, compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 10 and 11 November, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous 24 hours. Two SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicles came under small-arms fire in Kadiivka and Novotoshkivske. In non-government-controlled areas, the SMM monitored the security situation on the day of reported “elections” announced for 11 November. An SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle spotted fresh mortar impacts at the Bakhmut Agrarian Union’s pig farm near Novoluhanske. The SMM recorded ceasefire violations inside the Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote disengagement areas. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas as well as in three separate areas near the border with the Russian Federation, including Novoazovsk. The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable demining near Nyzhnoteple.                                                                                                          

In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 9 and 10 November, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations[1], including about 140 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (260 explosions).[2] Between the evenings of 10 and 11 November, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 115 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours.

On the evening of 9 November, the SMM camera located 1.5km north-east of Hnutove (government-controlled, 20km north-east of Mariupol) recorded three undetermined explosions and 25 projectiles in flight (about half from north to south and about half from south to north), all at an assessed range of 2-5km east-north-east, east and east-south-east. On the evening of 10 November, the same camera recorded 17 projectiles in flight (mostly north to south) at an assessed range of 2-4km east-north-east, east and east-south-east.

On the evening of 9 November, while in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard about 50 undetermined explosions and about 105 bursts and shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all at an assessed range of 3-7km at directions ranging from south-east to south-west. The following day, from the same location, the SMM heard four undetermined explosions and 20 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all at an assessed range of 3-6km east, south-east and south-west.  

During the day on 10 November, while in Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard about 40 undetermined explosions and about 130 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all at an assessed range of 5-8km south-west and north-west.

During the evening of 10 November, while in Svitlodarsk, the SMM heard about 40 undetermined explosions, about 130 bursts and shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all at an assessed range of 2-7km at directions ranging from east to south-west. On 11 November, from the same location, the SMM heard 11 undetermined explosions about 40 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all at an assessed range of 2-5km east, south-east and south-west.

In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 9 and 10 November, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 30 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about four explosions). Between the evenings of 10 and 11 November, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including, however, more explosions (about 40), compared with the previous 24 hours.  

On 10 November, while flying a mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over a military-type compound near Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, non-government-controlled, 50km west of Luhansk), about 2km south-east of the SMM’s position, the SMM heard about 20 shots and bursts of small-arms fire, assessed as aimed at the mini-UAV.*

On 11 November, positioned on the south edge of Berezivske (non-government-controlled, 53km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 11 undetermined explosions and about 50 bursts of small-arms fire, all at an assessed range of 2-5km north.

On 11 November, while flying a mini-UAV near Novotoshkivske (government-controlled, 53km west of Luhansk), about 50m south-east of the SMM’s position and at an altitude of 120m, the SMM heard a shot of small-arms fire originating from 30-50m south-west, assessed as aimed at the UAV. The SMM had seen at least three armed Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel at a checkpoint 20-30m south-west of the SMM’s position and had launched the UAV in view of the checkpoint.*

In areas outside of Government control in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the SMM monitored the security situation on the day of reported “elections” announced for 11 November. (See SMM Spot Report 12 November 2018 for more details.)

The SMM continued to follow up on reports of recent shelling near Novoluhanske (government-controlled, 53km north-east of Donetsk). (See SMM Daily Report 10 November 2018.) On 9 November, in a concrete parking area on the northern edge of the Bakhmut Agrarian Union’s pig farm, an SMM mini-UAV spotted a probable fresh mortar impact on the top of a concrete wall surrounding the parking complex and fragments of concrete spread out on the ground below, as well as a fresh hole in the roof of a large single-storey garage on the southern edge of the parking compound assessed as caused by a mortar round. The SMM assessed that the fresh impacts were caused by 82mm mortar rounds fired from a south-south-easterly 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[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 10 November, positioned 500m north of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, inside the disengagement area, the SMM heard 12 shots of small-arms fire at an assessed range of 0.4-1km south-west and west (five shots assessed as inside the disengagement area and seven shots assessed as outside the disengagement area). Positioned 800m north of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge a short time later, the SMM heard two bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire and 12 shots of small-arms fire, all about 2km west (assessed as outside the disengagement area).

On 11 November, positioned near the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, the SMM noted a calm situation.

On 10 November, positioned on the northern edge of the Zolote disengagement area, the SMM heard nine explosions (three undetermined and six assessed as impacts of mortar (calibre undetermined) rounds), 18 shots of infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1) cannon (73mm) fire, 14 shots of small-arms fire and three bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all at an assessed range of 1-5km south-east, south-south-east and south. All violations were assessed as inside the disengagement area except the three undetermined explosions, assessed as outside the disengagement area, and two shots of IFV (BMP-1) cannon (73mm) fire, which were not able to be determined as inside or outside the disengagement area. The same day, positioned on the southern edge of the Zolote disengagement area, the SMM heard seven shots and five bursts of small-arms fire, all at an assessed range of 2-3km north-north-east and north-west (unable to assess whether inside or outside the disengagement area). The SMM saw a black Volkswagen Passat with military licence plates and two Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel inside drive into the disengagement area.

On 11 November, positioned in Zolote, the SMM heard 15 explosions assessed as artillery (calibre undetermined) rounds at an assessed range of 3-8km east and 16 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire at an assessed range of 3-5km east (all assessed as outside the disengagement area).

On 10 and 11 November, positioned north of the Petrivske disengagement area, 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.

Beyond the respective withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in government-controlled areas, on 9 November, an SMM mini-UAV spotted a surface-to-air missile system (9K37) with four missiles (9M317) mounted on top near Shevchenko (87km south of Donetsk). On 11 November, the SMM observed a mortar (2B11 Sani, 120mm) about 2km east of Ocheretyne (31km north-west of Donetsk).

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles[4] in the security zone. In government‑controlled areas, on 9 November, an SMM mini-UAV spotted an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) near Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk). On 11 November, the SMM observed an armoured recovery vehicle (BREM variant) north-west of the entry-exit checkpoint in Maiorsk (45km north-east of Donetsk).

In non-government-controlled areas, on 11 November, the SMM observed an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM variant) in Donetsk city.

The SMM observed unexploded ordnance (UXO). On 10 November, about 3km west of Nova Marivka (non-government-controlled, 64km south of Donetsk), the SMM again saw an unexploded mortar (82mm) round embedded in the paved surface of a road and a fallen tree spanning half the width of the road with two mine hazard signs fasted to the tree, one reading ‘Stop, Mines’ in Russian and the other painted white and red (see SMM Daily Report 25 June 2018). On 11 November, about 400m east of a checkpoint near Marinka (government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM saw a tailfin directly under the driver’s side front tire of a civilian vehicle, which had driven and parked over it, on the side of road H-15 facing west.

The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable demining activities near Nyzhnoteple (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk) on 10 November. On both 10 and 11 November, the Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station.

The SMM visited border areas outside government control on five occasions. On 10 November, while at a border crossing point near Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk) for about an hour, the SMM observed 33 civilian vehicles (six with Ukrainian, 14 with Russian Federation and one with Belorussian licence plates, and 12 with “DPR” plates) exiting Ukraine and two cars (with Ukrainian licence plates) and ten cargo trucks with canvas-covered trailers (seven with Ukrainian and one with Belorussian licence plates, and two with “DPR” plates) entering Ukraine. The same day, at a border crossing point near Ulianivske (61km south-east of Donetsk) for about 20 minutes, the SMM observed no traffic in either direction.

On 11 November, while at a border crossing point near Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, 65km south-east of Luhansk) for about 20 minutes, the SMM observed five cars (three with Ukrainian and two with Russian Federation licence plates), a bus (with Ukrainian licence plates and about 60 passengers) and six pedestrians exiting Ukraine and four cars (two with Ukrainian and two with Russian Federation licence plates) and six pedestrians entering Ukraine. While present, an armed member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave.*

The same day, while at a border crossing point near Uspenka for about an hour, the SMM observed 39 cars (12 with Ukrainian and 16 with Russian Federation licence plates, and 11 with “DPR” plates) as well as a bus (with “DPR” plates) exiting Ukraine. The SMM also observed 12 cars (two with Ukrainian and seven Russian Federation licence plates, and three with “DPR” plates) and a truck (with “DPR” plates) entering Ukraine. Also on 11 November, while at a border crossing point near Ulianivske for about an hour, the SMM saw four pedestrians exiting Ukraine and a pedestrian entering Ukraine.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, 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, 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 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 11 November, at a border crossing point near Voznesenivka, an armed member of the armed formations again told the SMM to leave the area.
• On 11 November, at the Chervona Mohyla railway station in Voznesenivka, an armed member of the armed formations again told the SMM to leave the railway station area.
• On 11 November, at a checkpoint north of Novoazovsk (non-government-controlled, 40km east of Mariupol), two armed members of the armed formations again prevented the SMM from passing through the checkpoint in the direction of Novoazovsk.  

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

• On 10 and 11 November, 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 on both occasions.[5]
• On 10 and 11 November, 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 on both occasions. [5]
• On 10 and 11 November, 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.

Conditional access:

• On 10 November, at a checkpoint about 7km north of Horlivka, a member of the armed formations insisted on inspecting the trunks of the SMM vehicles as a condition of it passing through the checkpoint. After inspection, the SMM was allowed to pass.

Delay:

• On 10 November, at a checkpoint near Ozerianivka (non-government-controlled, 35km north-east of Donetsk), an armed member of the armed formations told the SMM that he needed “permission” from his superiors in order to allow the SMM to pass. After 20 minutes, the SMM was allowed to proceed.

Other impediments:

• On 10 November, while flying a mini-UAV near Kadiivka over a military-type compound about 2km south-east of the SMM’s position, the SMM heard about 20 shots and bursts of small-arms fire, assessed as aimed at the mini-UAV. The SMM retrieved the UAV and left the area.
• On 11 November, while flying a mini-UAV near Novotoshkivske, about 50m south-east of the SMM’s position and at an altitude of 120m, the SMM heard a shot of small-arms fire 30-50m south-west, assessed as aimed at the UAV. The SMM retrieved the UAV and left the area.

[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] On 10 and 11 November, 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.