Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 16 November 2018

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM observed a recent impact on a road in a residential area of Debaltseve. The SMM observed military-type presence and anti-tank mines in the Zolote disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, as well as at a military compound near Starohnativka and near Leonove, close to the border with the Russian Federation.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. 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. The Mission continued to monitor the situation of civilians living near the contact line in the Vilnyi neighbourhood of Zolote-4/Rodina. In Odessa, the SMM monitored a protest against illegal construction.

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations[1], including, however, fewer explosions (about 110), compared with the previous reporting period (about 285 explosions).

On the evening of 15 November, while in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 54 undetermined explosions and about 430 bursts and shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all at an assessed range of 1-6km south-east and south-south-east. The following day, while in the same location, the SMM heard about 20 undetermined explosions, all at an assessed range of 2-5km south-south-east.

During the day on 16 November, positioned on the eastern edge of Kamianka (government-controlled, 20km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard 23 undetermined explosions and about 40 bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all at an assessed range of 1-6km east, south-east and south.

On the evening and night of 15-16 November, the SMM camera at the entry-exit checkpoint in Maiorsk (government-controlled, 45km north-east of Donetsk) recorded two explosions assessed as impacts of undetermined weapon(s) rounds and about 110 projectiles in flight (mostly from north to south), all at an assessed range of 2-4km east-north-east, east and east-south-east.

On the evening and night of 15-16 November, the SMM camera located 1.5km north-east of Hnutove (government-controlled, 20km north-east of Mariupol) recorded an undetermined explosion and about 85 projectiles in flight (mostly from south to north and from north to south), all at an assessed range of 2-4km east-north-east, east and east-south-east.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including, however fewer explosions (ten), compared with the previous reporting period (18 explosions).

On the morning of 16 November, positioned about 1.5km north-north-west of Kalynove- Borshchuvate (non-government-controlled, 61km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard five undetermined explosions 4-5km north-east.

The SMM observed a recent impact on a road in a residential area of Debaltseve (non-government-controlled, 58km north-east of Donetsk). At 21 Lenina Street, on 16 November, the SMM saw a crater in the middle of an asphalt road, about 8m from the closest residential building, assessed as caused either by the impact of a projectile or by the explosion of a grenade. A woman (aged 40-50), who said she was a resident of the neighbourhood, told the SMM that she had heard an explosion on the evening of 15 November.

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 15 November, inside the Zolote disengagement area, an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted in excess of 300 anti-tank mines (TM-62) placed in three rows running over about 500m from east to west about 60m west of road T1316, about 500m north-north-west of the checkpoint of the armed formations on the southern edge of the disengagement area. The same SMM mini-UAV also spotted in excess of 300 anti-tank mines (TM-62) in six rows from a trench of the armed formations running west to east over about 500m, about 700m north-east of the above-mentioned checkpoint. About 200 of these anti-tank mines were seen for the first time (for previous observations, see SMM Daily Report 11 April 2018). The same SMM mini-UAV spotted a new trench about 150m in length (not visible in imagery from 15 October 2018) with two people inside assessed as members of the armed formations about 1km north-north-west of the above-mentioned checkpoint, as well as a camouflaged-style jeep about 30m north-west of the same checkpoint, all inside the disengagement area.

On 16 November, positioned on the south-western outskirts of Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard four shots of small-arms fire, 3-4km north (assessed as outside the disengagement area).

Positioned inside 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.[3]

In violation of withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas, on 16 November, the SMM saw a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) in Kostiantynivka (60km north of Donetsk).

In violation of withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas, on 16 November, the SMM saw four MLRS (BM-21) near Novoamvrosiivske (56km east of Donetsk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside storage sites in non-government-controlled areas, on 14 November, aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of 18 tanks (type undetermined) and three surface-to-air missile systems (type undetermined) in a training area near Buhaivka (37km south-west of Luhansk) and 11 tanks (type undetermined) in a training area near Shymshynivka (27km south-west of Luhansk) (see also SMM Daily Report 16 November 2018). Aerial imagery available to the SMM also revealed the presence on 14 November of 29 tanks (type undetermined) in a training area near Kruhlyk (31km south-west of Luhansk) (for previous observations in the area, see SMM Daily Report 16 November 2018), and 22 tanks, nine pieces of self-propelled artillery, 18 pieces of towed artillery in a training area near Myrne (28km south-west of Luhansk) (see also SMM Daily Report 16 November 2018).

The same aerial imagery available to the SMM also revealed the presence of 76 armoured combat vehicles (ACV) (type undetermined) in the above-mentioned training area near Buhaivka, 23 ACVs (type undetermined) in the above-mentioned training area near Shymshynivka and 79 ACVs (type undetermined) in the above-mentioned training area near Myrne.[4]

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 of Donetsk region, the SMM visited two such sites and saw eight towed howitzers (six 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm and two D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm).

The SMM revisited two permanent storage sites, including one site which continued to be abandoned, whose locations were beyond the respective withdrawal line in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region and noted that, in total, 18 tanks (ten T-64 and eight T-72) were missing.

In a non-government-controlled area, on 14 November, aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of 27 pieces of towed artillery in the above-mentioned training area near Buhaivka (see also SMM Daily Report 16 November 2018).

The SMM observed ACVs[5] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, on 15 November, the SMM saw two armoured personal carriers (APC) (a BTR-70 and a BTR-80) near Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk). On 16 November, the SMM saw an APC (BTR variant) near a residential house in Malynove (19km north-east of Luhansk), an APC (BTR-70) near Novobakhmutivka (28km north of Donetsk), an APC (BTR-70) near Mariupol, an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) near Pionerske (14km east of Mariupol), as well as seven infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) (BMP-1) and an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BREM-Ch) near Popasna (69km west of Luhansk).

In a non-government-controlled area, on 16 November, the SMM saw an ACV (type undetermined) near Petrivske (outside the disengagement area).

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), water pipelines between Zolote and Popasna and near Zaitseve (50km north-east of Donetsk), the phenol sludge reservoir near Zalizne (government-controlled, 42km north-east of Donetsk) and damaged houses in Marinka and Krasnohorivka (government-controlled, 21km west of Donetsk). The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station.

The SMM continued to observe civilians facing hardships at checkpoints. On 15 November, at a checkpoint on highway H-15 near the Kargil plant in Kreminets (non-government-controlled, 16km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM saw that the road was blocked due to the high number of civilian vehicles and pedestrians queuing. A man (aged 50-60) told the SMM that the passengers of approximately 50 cars had spent the night (14-15 November) in their vehicles after waiting all day the previous day to pass through and not being able to do so before the end of the day.

The SMM monitored the situation of civilians living along the contact line. In the Vilnyi neighbourhood of Zolote-4/Rodina (59km west of Luhansk), a resident (woman, aged 60-70) told the SMM that the neighbourhood has been without electricity for almost a month. Other residents in previous days had separately told the SMM that the area was without electricity for a month. In Zolote, the Head of the Zolote Civil-Military Administration (man, aged 50-60) told the SMM that many houses in the neighbourhood do not have heating and electricity.

The SMM monitored a border area not under government control. While at a border crossing point near Leonove (formerly Chervonyi Zhovten, 82km south of Luhansk) for about ten minutes, the SMM observed no traffic. Two members of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.*

On 15 November, the SMM monitored a protest at Gagarin Plateau in the Arcadia neighbourhood of Odessa. At 9А Rishelievska Street, the SMM saw about 45 people (mixed ages, mixed genders) including seven participants wearing jackets with insignia of the National Corps blocking the intersection between Rishelievska Street and Hretska Street. The SMM observed banners in Russian language with messages critical of illegal construction. The SMM observed that about ten law enforcement officers were present. Shortly thereafter, the SMM saw the same group of people in front of the City Hall building at 1 Dumska Square, as well as seven police officers. The protest ended peacefully.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, 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, 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 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:

• At a border crossing point near Leonove, two armed members of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.
• Two Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers denied the SMM access to a compound in Starohnativka (government-controlled, 51km south of Donetsk) citing the need to obtain “permission from their superiors”.

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.[6]
• 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.6
• 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.
• The SMM did not travel across the bridge in Shchastia (government-controlled, 20km north of Luhansk) due to the presence of mines. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC said that there were mines on the road south of the bridge. The SMM informed the JCCC. 6

Other impediments:

• Medical staff at a hospital in Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk) refused to provide the SMM with information about a civilian casualty without permission from senior members of the armed formations.

[1] For a complete breakdown of ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. The SMM camera located at the Oktiabr mine and the SMM camera located 1km south-west of Shyrokyne were not operational during the reporting period.

[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.

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

[5] This hardware is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.

[6] 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.