Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 27 March 2019

This report is for the media and the general public.

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region.
• Small-arms fire was directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle near Nevelske.
• Near the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, the SMM saw the body of man.
• The SMM observed ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area.
• The SMM observed weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas.
• The Mission observed mines near checkpoints on both sides of the contact line.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential civilian infrastructure.
• Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. In addition, it was denied access at a checkpoint near Zaichenko.*

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including 115 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 260 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas south and south-south-east of Pyshchevyk (government-controlled, 25km north-east of Mariupol), south-east, south-west and north of Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), as well as at south-easterly directions of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol).

During the day on 27 March, positioned in Nevelske (government-controlled, 18km north-west of Donetsk) while conducting a mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight in the area, the SMM heard at least eight shots of small-arms fire at an assessed distance of 1km south. The Mission assessed the fire as aimed at the UAV. It recalled and safely landed the mini-UAV.*

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 230 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 60 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations, including the majority of explosions, were recorded in areas south of Sievierodonetsk (government-controlled, 74km north-west of Luhansk), south, north-west and north-east of Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk), as well as close to the disengagement area near Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk). (See Disengagement areas.)

Man died near Stanytsia Luhanska bridge

The SMM observed the covered body of a man lying on the ground 100m north of the checkpoint of the armed formations located south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (15km north-east of Luhansk). A member of the armed formations told the SMM that the man, about 60 years old, had died in the morning of 27 March after passing the checkpoint of the armed formations towards government-controlled areas. After about two hours, a member of the armed formations told the SMM that a van would be transporting the body of the deceased to Luhansk for further examination.

Disengagement areas[2]

During the day of 27 March, positioned in Zolote-1/Soniachnyi (government-controlled, 61km NW of Luhansk), the SMM heard four bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire at an assessed range of 2-3km south, assessed as inside the Zolote disengagement. During the same day, positioned in three different locations near the Zolote disengagement area, the SMM heard two undetermined explosions, 33 bursts and 47 shots of small arms fire, all assessed as outside the disengagement area.

On the morning of 27 March, positioned north of the disengagement area near Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), the SMM heard a shot of small-arms fire at an assessed distance of 2km west-south-west, assessed as outside the disengagement area.

The same day, positioned near the disengagement area near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed a calm situation.

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 of withdrawal lines

Non-government-controlled areas

On 26 March, an SMM mini-UAV spotted three tanks (T-72) near Kalynove (60km west of Luhansk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside of designated storage sites:

Government-controlled areas

On 27 March, an SMM mid-range UAV again spotted five tanks (type undetermined) near Tymofiievka (39km north-west of Donetsk).

Indications of military and military-type presence inside the security zone[3]

Government-controlled areas

27 March

The SMM saw:

• an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (BTR-70) near Kamianka (20km north of Donetsk) and
• an APC (BTR-70) near Krasnohorivka (24km north of Donetsk).

Non-government-controlled areas

On 26 March, an SMM mini-UAV spotted an armoured combat vehicle (type undetermined) and an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm), mounted on an APC (MT-LB), near Kalynove.

On 27 March, the SMM saw two infantry fighting vehicles (BMP-1) near Smile (31km north-west of Luhansk).

While flying a mini-UAV near Nyzhnoteple (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk), the SMM observed a black UAV (quadcopter, 30cm x 30cm) flying at an altitude of 100m.

On 25 March, aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of a 40m trench extension (not visible in imagery from 14 March 2019) running south-west off of a previously seen 45m-long trench located about 1km east of the eastern edge of the Petrivske disengagement area.

Presence of mines and unexploded ordnance

On 26 March, an SMM mini-UAV again spotted 18 anti-tank mines (probable TM-62M) laid in two rows across a road on the northern edge of Marinka (government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk). On the same day, the SMM again observed 17 anti-tank mines (assessed as TM-62) near a checkpoint of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on road H15 near Marinka, and also again saw six anti-tank mines (TM-62) 15m north of the same road near the aforementioned checkpoint. The Mission also observed two anti-tank mines (assessed as TM-62M) 5m west of the aforementioned four anti-tank mines.

Also on 26 March, the SMM observed six members of the armed formations assessing the terrain in order to carry out demining activities near a checkpoint of the armed formations near Olenivka (non-government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk). The Mission again saw at least seven anti-tank mines in a field about 25m west of road H-20, near the aforementioned checkpoint. It also observed, for the first time, 13 anti-tank mines (TM-62) laid in two rows, about 190m south of the aforementioned anti-tank mines and about 20m west of road H-20.

On the same day, the SMM observed a metal tube (122mm diameter) assessed as a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) (Grad, type undetermined) rocket protruding from the asphalt on the eastern side of road H-20 on the southern edge of Donetsk city, about 600m from the nearest residential houses.

SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure

On the 26 and 27 March, the SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire in order to facilitate demining activities near a checkpoint of the armed formations near Kreminets (non-government, controlled, 16km south-west of Donetsk). On both days, it saw about five members of the armed formations conducting demining activities in an area east of Kreminets and north of road H-15. On 27 March, the SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk).

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, 20km north of Donetsk).

The Mission 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, 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 SMM Daily Report 25 March 2019). 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:

• At a checkpoint north of Zaichenko (non-government-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol), two armed members of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage westwards to Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, non-government-controlled, 23km north-east of Mariupol), citing the risks to the security of the patrol as a reason for the denial.

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.

Delay:

• At a checkpoint west of Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, non-government controlled, 29km north-east of Mariupol), a member of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage. After about 20 minutes of waiting at the checkpoint, the Mission was allowed to proceed.

Other impediments:

• While conducting a mini-UAV flight near Nevelske (government-controlled, 18km north-west of Donetsk), the SMM heard eight shots of small-arms fire assessed as aimed at the UAV. The SMM safely landed the mini-UAV.*

 

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

[3] The hardware mentioned in this section is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons, unless otherwise specified.