Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 21 March 2019

This report is for the media and the general public.

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region.
• The SMM recorded ceasefire violations and saw military hardware, fresh craters, unmanned aerial vehicles and mines seen for the first time inside the Zolote disengagement area; it also saw military hardware inside the Petrivske disengagement area.
• The Mission observed weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line.
• It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential civilian infrastructure in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued in all three disengagement areas, in Voznesenivka, close to the border with the Russian Federation, and elsewhere near non-government-controlled Verkhnoshyrokivske and Staropetrivske.*  

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including fewer explosions (about 190), compared with the previous reporting period (about 560 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded at westerly directions of Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk), at south-easterly directions of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol) and at westerly directions of Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk).

In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 700 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 290 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded north-north-east of Kalynove-Borshchuvate (non-government-controlled, 61km west of Luhansk), north of Myrne (non-government-controlled, 28km south-west of Luhansk), north-east and east of Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk) and north-north-west of Holubivka (formerly Kirovsk, non-government-controlled, 51km west of Luhansk).

 

Disengagement areas[2]

Positioned inside the southern edge of the Zolote disengagement area (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk), while monitoring adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair works to power lines allegedly damaged by shelling on the evening of 20 March, the SMM saw 22 fresh craters, assessed as caused by 122mm artillery rounds, near damaged power lines about 50m north of the road and adjacent to trenches of the armed formations. Within 25 minutes, the SMM saw a black unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (probable mini-UAV) overhead on two occasions, one time circling the repairs site and again flying from south to north over the repairs site.    

On 20 March, inside the Zolote disengagement area, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1) and an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) 600m south of its northern edge and about 1km east of its western edge, and again spotted four IFVs (three BMP-1 and a BMP-2), all assessed as belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The same day, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted for the first time 20 anti-tank mines (type undetermined) inside the Zolote disengagement area, ten metres south of its northern edge and about 2km east of its western edge. The same UAV again spotted 34 anti-tank mines (type undetermined) about 150m south-west of the aforementioned 20 anti-tank mines and 80m south of the disengagement area’s northern edge and about 2km east of its western edge. The same day, inside the Zolote disengagement area, an SMM mid-range UAV again spotted at least 130 anti-tank mines (see SMM Daily Report 21 March 2019 and SMM Daily Report 11 April 2018).

On the evening of 20 March, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded an undetermined explosion at an assessed range of 2-4km south-east (assessed as inside the disengagement area) and a projectile in flight at an assessed range of 2-4km east (assessed as outside the disengagement area). On the same evening, positioned in Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard about 15 undetermined explosions 8-10km east (unable to be assessed as inside or outside the Zolote disengagement area). The next morning, positioned at the same location, the SMM heard about 100 undetermined explosions at an assessed range of 10-12km north-east (assessed as outside the Zolote disengagement area).  

On the morning of 21 March, positioned about 1.5km south-west of Molodizhne (non-government-controlled, 63km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard seven undetermined explosions and about 15 bursts of undetermined weapons at an assessed range of 5-7km north-east (all assessed as inside the Zolote disengagement area). In the afternoon of the same day, at the same location, the SMM heard seven undetermined explosions and about 25 bursts of undetermined weapons at an assessed range of 3-5km south-south-west (all assessed as outside the disengagement area).

On the morning of 21 March, positioned about 1.5km north-west of Kalynove-Borshchuvate, the SMM heard about 80 undetermined explosions and 170 bursts of undetermined weapons, all at an assessed range of 5-7km north-north-east (unable to be assessed as inside or outside the Zolote disengagement area). On the same morning, positioned in three areas around the Zolote disengagement area, the SMM heard about 135 ceasefire violations (all assessed as outside the disengagement area).

On the evening of 20 March, two cameras in areas near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk) recorded 12 undetermined explosions (assessed as outside the disengagement area).

During the day on 21 March, positioned about 2km north of Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), the SMM heard an undetermined explosion at an assessed range of 3-5km east (assessed as outside the disengagement area), and saw an IFV (BMP variant), assessed as belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, inside the disengagement area, about 900m south-west of Petrivske near the eastern edge of the disengagement area[3].

Heavy smoke observed in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka

Positioned south of Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk) while following up on allegations of shelling on the morning of 20 March, the SMM saw heavy smoke in the Maryivka area, a northern neighbourhood of Zolote-5/Mykhailivka. Due to security restrictions, the SMM was unable to access the site for further assessment. A resident of the area (woman, about 45 years old) told the SMM that she had heard explosions and gunfire on the evening, night and morning of 20-21 March. On the morning of 21 March, positioned in five locations near the Zolote disengagement area, the SMM heard more than five hundred ceasefire violations in the area of Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (see Disengagement areas).

Withdrawal of weapons

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Memorandum and the Package of Measures and its Addendum.

Weapons in violation

Government-controlled areas

21 March

The SMM saw:

• a self-propelled anti-aircraft system (2K22 Tunguska) moving west in the north-western outskirts of Avdiivka (17 km north of Donetsk) and
• two anti-tank guided missile systems (9P148 Konkurs, 135mm) near the checkpoint of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk).

Non-government-controlled areas

20 March

An SMM mini-UAV spotted two tanks (T-64) near Stepanivka (62km west of Luhansk).

An SMM long-range UAV spotted:

• seven multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) near Sadovyi (57km south-west of Luhansk) and
• two MLRS (BM-21) and an anti-tank gun (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) near Vilkhivka (40km east of Donetsk).

21 March

The SMM saw 22 MLRS (BM-21) near Khrustalnyi (formerly Krasnyi Luch, 56km south-west of Luhansk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside of designated storage sites:

Government-controlled areas

20 March

An SMM mid-range UAV spotted:

• four tanks (T-72) near Lozuvatske (35km north-west of Donetsk) and
• five tanks (type undetermined) near Tymofiievka (39km north-west of Donetsk).

Weapons storage sites

At a heavy weapons permnanent storage site in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region

21 March

The SMM noted the presence of all weapons observed previously.

Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[4]

Government-controlled areas

20 March

An SMM mid-range UAV spotted:

• an IFV (BMP-1) near Zolote-4/Rodina (59km north-west of Luhansk);
• four IFVs (BMP-1) near Zolote; and
• five IFVs (four BMP-1 and a BMP-2) and an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) inside the Zolote disengagement area (see Disengagement areas).

An SMM mini-UAV spotted:

• four IFVs (BMP-1) about 2km north-east of Zolote-4/Rodina.

21 March

• the SMM camera in Avdiivka recorded an armoured recovery vehicle (possible BREM) and an IFV (BMP-2) about 150m south-south-east of the camera and
• the SMM camera in Berezove (31km south-west of Donetsk) recorded an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (BTR-80) on road H-20.

The SMM saw:

• an IFV (BMP-2) near Romanivka (41km north of Donetsk) and
• Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers digging trenches near a checkpoint near Verkhnotoretske (23km north-east of Donetsk).

Non-government-controlled areas

20 March

An SMM long-range UAV spotted:

• three IFVs (BMP-2) near Dovhe (22km north-west of Luhansk);
• an IFV (BMP-1) and an APC (MT-LB) as well as approximately 100 ammunition crates nearby near Sukhodil (21km west of Luhansk); and
• an APC (MT-LB) with an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) mounted on top in Katerynivka (former Yuvileine, 8km west of Luhansk).

An SMM mini-UAV spotted:

• six IFVs (four BMP-1 and two BMP variant) and a probable armoured combat vehicle (type undetermined) near Vesela Hora (16km north of Luhansk) and
• an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) near Nadarivka (64km west of Luhansk).

21 March

The SMM saw:

• a black UAV (probable mini-UAV) inside the Zolote disengagement area on two occasions (see above) and
• an IFV (BMP variant) inside the Petrivske disengagement area (see above).

Mines seen near Orikhove and Vesela Hora

On 20 March, an SMM mid-range UAV again spotted at least 82 anti-tank mines (TM-62) laid in two rows in a field south of Orikhove (government-controlled, 57km north-west of Luhansk).

The same day, an SMM mini-UAV again spotted at least ten anti-tank mines (TM-62) laid across the western lane of dual-lane road H-21 leading to the Shchastia bridge, about 2km north-east of Vesela Hora. About 500m south-east of the aforementioned anti-tank mines, it also saw four anti-tank mines (TM-62) laid across the western lane of the same road and large potholes present in the eastern lane. On the same day, the same UAV again spotted at least 40 anti-tank mines (probable TM-62) in a field 50m south-west of the aforementioned four anti-tank mines.

SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure

The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to the Petrivske water pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk), to water pipelines in Horlivka, to power lines in Zaitseve (62km north-east of Donetsk) damaged from reported shelling on 17 March and to power lines inside the Zolote disengagement area between Zolote-5/Mykhailivka and the southern edge of the disengagement area.

The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station (15km north of Donetsk) and to monitor the security situation around the pumping station near Vasylivka (non-government-controlled, 24km north-east of Donetsk).

Border areas outside government control

While at a border crossing point in Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, 65km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw three cars with Ukrainian licence plates and one pedestrian entering Ukraine, and two cars (one with Ukrainian licence plates and one with “LPR” plates) exiting Ukraine. After about five minutes, a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.*

While at the Chervona Mohyla railway station in Voznesenivka, the SMM saw at least 100 wagons stationary; however, the contents were not visible. After about five minutes, two armed members of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.*

SMM monitored the security situation south-east of Kherson

On 20 March, the Mission observed calm situations at the crossing points between Kalanchak (67km south-east of Kherson) and Crimea and between Chaplynka (77km south-east of Kherson) and Crimea (see SMM Daily Report 6 March 2019).

The Mission continued monitoring in 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, unexploded ordnance 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 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.

Denial of access:

• While at the Chervona Mohyla railway station in Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, non-government-controlled, 65km south-east of Luhansk), two armed members of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area, citing that the visit was not agreed upon with their superiors.
• While at a border crossing point in Voznesenivka, a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.
• While at a checkpoint north of Staropetrivske (non-government-controlled, 35km north-east of Donetsk), an armed member of the armed formations refused the SMM passage, citing lack of “safety and security” related to a live-fire exercise in the area. While present, the SMM heard and saw ceasefire violations nearby assessed as live-fire training in the security zone, in violation also of the decision of the Trilateral Contact Group of March 2016 that prohibits the conduct of live-fire training (exercises) in the security zone as described in the Addendum to the Package of Measures (see table).
• At a checkpoint 600m west of Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, non-government-controlled, 85km south of Donetsk), four armed members of the armed formations demanded the SMM show their patrol plan and then refused to allow the Mission to pass through the checkpoint when it did not comply.

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

• The sides continued to deny the SMM full access to the three disengagement areas, as well as the ability to travel certain roads previously identified as important for effective monitoring by the Mission and for civilians’ movement, through failure to conduct comprehensive clearance of mines and UXO.

[1] For a complete breakdown of ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. During the reporting period, the SMM camera in Krasnohorivka was not operational. Due to heavy fog, the SMM camera in Zolote experienced reduced visibility during this reporting period.

[2]Disengagement is foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016.

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

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