Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 1 April 2019
This report is for the media and the general public.
Summary
- Compared with the previous 24 hours, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region.
- The Mission followed up on reports of a man killed in Sakhanka due to shrapnel injuries, as well as a man and a woman injured in Pikuzy due to shelling, all in March.
- The SMM saw fresh damage to residential buildings and a school in Zolote-2/Karbonit and Zolote-5/Mykhailivka.
- It also observed fresh craters near Kalynove-Borshchuvate and Novotroitske.
- The Mission recorded ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area and near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area.
- The SMM saw for the first time a piece of unexploded ordnance near Novobakhmutivka, unexploded ordnance and anti-tank mines near Marinka, an improvised explosive device near Olenivka and mine hazard signs near Kreminets and Verkhnotoretske.
- 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 restricted at checkpoints near Zaichenko, Verkhnoshyrokivske and Tavrycheske, as well as at a border crossing point and railway station near Voznesenivka, close to the border with the Russian Federation.*
Ceasefire violations[1]
In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 200 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours (about 75 explosions). The highest number of ceasefire violations was recorded in areas south-east of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol).
On the evening of 31 March, among other ceasefire violations, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) (15km north of Donetsk) recorded seven projectiles in flight at an assessed range of 300-500m south-south-west.
In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including, however, more explosions (about 25), compared with the previous 24 hours (nine explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded inside and near the disengagement area near Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) (see below).
Man killed in Sakhanka due to shrapnel injuries, as well as man and woman injured in Pikuzy due to shelling
In Sakhanka and Pikuzy, the SMM corroborated cases from March. The SMM followed up on reports of a man killed in Sakhanka (non-government-controlled, 24km north-east of Mariupol) from shrapnel injuries. On 12 March, staff at a morgue in Starobesheve (non-government-controlled, 32km south-east of Donetsk) told the SMM that on 5 March the body of a 59-year-old man who had died due to shrapnel injuries to the head had been brought to the morgue. On 6 March, a resident of Sakhanka (man, 50 years old) who said he was the man’s neighbor told the SMM that on the morning of 4 March, after shelling had occurred he had found the man lying inside the summer kitchen of his house with injuries to his head.
The SMM followed up on reports of a woman and a man injured by shelling in Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, non-government-controlled, 23km north-east of Mariupol) at two locations where the SMM previously saw fresh craters and damage to residential houses (see SMM Daily Report 25 March 2019). At 112 Akhmatovoi Street, the SMM saw a resident (woman, 75 years old) with a bandage stained with blood and bruises on the right side of her chest who told the SMM that she had been injured while inside her home when shelling occurred in the early morning of 22 March. About 300m further east-south-east, at 92 Akhmatovoi Street, the SMM saw a resident (man, 79 years old) with a scratch on the right side of his head who said that he had been injured while inside his house when shelling occurred in the early morning hours of 22 March.
Fresh damage to residential buildings and a school in Zolote-2/Karbonit and Zolote-5/Mykhailivka
On 30 March, on the north-eastern edge of Zolote-2/Karbonit (government-controlled, 62km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM observed six fresh craters: two in a field on the western side of a bridge that connects Zolote-2/Karbonit with Hirske (government-controlled, 63km west of Luhansk), three in a field on the eastern side of the bridge and one on the tarmac road on its south-eastern edge, all at a distance of 1-30m from the road. The SMM assessed the craters as caused by 120mm mortar rounds fired from an undetermined direction.
Also on the north-eastern edge of Zolote-2/Karbonit, at 43 Molodizhna Street, the SMM saw three shattered east-facing windows, two on the ground floor and one on the fifth floor of a five-storey apartment building. At 44 Molodizhna Street, the SMM saw a shattered east-facing window pane and five fresh holes in five east-facing windows on the ground floor of a five-storey residential building. At both locations, the SMM assessed the damage as caused by shrapnel. Two residents (men, aged 30-60) of the damaged flats on the ground and fifth floors told the SMM that they had been at home with their families in the afternoon of 29 March at around 17:00 when shelling had occurred. At Lunacharskoho Street, the Mission saw five fresh holes, assessed as caused by shrapnel, in five north-facing windows of a two-storey building of an operational school.
In the centre of Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 61km north-west of Luhansk), at 6 Poshtova Street, accompanied by members of the armed formations, the SMM saw 20 fresh holes in a wall and four shattered windows on the north-facing side of a one-storey house, as well as glass shards on the ground, assessed as shrapnel damage. It saw more than 100 fresh holes in the metal gate and fence about 4m north the same house, 20 fresh holes in the north-facing side of a barn, as well as 20 fresh holes in the north-facing wall and metal gate of a garage located about 6-8m north of the house, all assessed as shrapnel damage. The SMM also observed a cut power line about 1m north from the house. About 15m north of the house, the SMM saw a fresh crater in the tarmac road. The SMM could not assess the type of weapon used or direction of fire. The SMM also saw a cut power line and fresh scorch marks on the grass within a 5m-radius of the house. A resident of the house (male, aged 60-70) told the SMM that he had heard explosions nearby at around 17:30 on 29 March.
At 8 Poshtova Street, the SMM observed 20 fresh holes in a wall and two freshly shattered windows on the north-facing side of a one-storey house, as well as glass shards on the ground, and at least ten fresh holes in a wooden fence about 4m north of the same house, all assessed as shrapnel damage. The Mission also saw a hole in an above-ground gas pipe, assessed as shrapnel damage. The SMM also saw a fresh crater in a field about 10m north of the house and another on a tarmac road about 10m further north. The SMM could not assess the type of weapon used or direction of fire.
At 9 Poshtova Street, the SMM saw a crater with a metal tube in it assessed as a remnant of ammunition (OG-9 or OG-15 grenade) next to a broken wooden fence (pieces of which were on the ground) about 7m north of a single-storey residential house. The SMM also saw a crack in the north-facing wall of a barn and broken bricks on the ground about 2m north of the residential house. The SMM could not assess the type of weapon used or direction of fire.
On the same street (about 20m north of the previous house), about 3m north of an abandoned single-storey house, the SMM saw in a tree line a fresh crater with three aluminium fragments inside it, assessed as remnants of ammunition (OG-9 or OG-15 grenade), and another fresh crater 7m further north. About 150m east of the abandoned house, the SMM saw two other craters near the road, 15m north of another abandoned house. The SMM also observed that all windows on all sides of the house had been shattered. The Mission was unable to assess the weapon type or direction of fire.
On 31 March, at 2 Pervomaiska Street in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka, the SMM saw a fresh hole in the north-facing part of the roof of a single-storey house. The SMM could not assess the type of weapon or the direction of fire.
Fresh craters near Kalynove-Borshchuvate and Novotroitske
On 31 March, an SMM mini-UAV spotted three impact craters assessed as caused by a 120mm mortar and eight impact craters assessed as caused by 82mm mortar rounds (not visible in imagery from 26 March) in a field near Kalynove-Borshchuvate (non-government-controlled, 61km west of Luhansk).
On 1 April, about 200m north of the entry-exit checkpoint near Novotroitske (government-controlled, 36km south-west of Donetsk) and west of road H-20, the SMM saw 13 fresh craters in a field marked with mine hazard signs. The SMM could not assess the type of weapon or direction of fire.
Disengagement areas[2]
On the evening of 31 March, the SMM camera in Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk) recorded eight explosions, assessed as airbursts, at an assessed range of 2-4km west-south-west, near the disengagement area.
On the evening of 31 March, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded 16 projectiles in vertical flight at an assessed range of 2-4km south-east, assessed as inside the disengagement area, as well as six projectiles near the disengagement area. On the next morning, the same camera recorded a projectile near the disengagement area. During the day on 1 April, positioned in Berezivske (non-government-controlled, 53km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard ten bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire at an assessed range of 4.5-6km west, assessed as inside the disengagement area. Positioned on the eastern edge of Berezivske, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion and 20 shots of small-arms fire at an assessed range of 4-6km west, assessed as inside the disengagement area. Positioned 1km east of Orikhove (government-controlled, 57km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard three explosions assessed as impacts of artillery rounds near the disengagement area.
On 31 March, an SMM mid-range UAV again spotted at least 15 anti-tank mines (type unknown) laid out in a 10m-long row inside the disengagement area near Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), approximately 450m south of its northern edge and approximately 100m west of its eastern edge.[3]
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.
In violation of withdrawal lines
Non-government-controlled areas
30 March
An SMM mini-UAV spotted three surface-to-air missile systems (9K35 Strela-10) in a compound near Katerynivka (formerly Yuvileine, 8km west of Luhansk).
Beyond withdrawal lines but outside of designated storage sites
Government-controlled areas
1 April
The SMM saw a surface-to-air missile system (9K33 Osa) near Pidhorodne (73km north of Donetsk).
Non-government-controlled areas
1 April
The SMM saw a piece of heavy artillery (type undetermined) under a tarpaulin loaded on a truck on road T-1321 near Uspenka (23km south-west of Luhansk).
Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[4]
Government-controlled areas
30 March
An SMM mini-UAV spotted two infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) (BMP variant) as well as an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) mounted on an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (MT-LB) near Prychepylivka (50km north-west of Luhansk).
31 March
An SMM long-range UAV spotted:
- an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) near Bila Hora (54km north of Donetsk) and
- an APC (MT-LB) near Novozvanivka (70km west of Luhansk)
An SMM mini-UAV spotted five IFVs (BMP-1) near Myrne (63km south of Donetsk).
1 April
The SMM saw:
- four IFVs (three BMP-1 and one BMP variant) in the eastern outskirts of Popasna (69km west of Luhansk) and
- an APC (MT-LB variant) at a compound in Yurivka (35km north of Donetsk)
Non-government-controlled areas
30 March
An SMM mini-UAV spotted:
- an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) mounted on an APC (MT-LB) in Luhansk city and
- two APCs (MT-LB) in Katerynivka.
31 March
An SMM long-range UAV spotted:
- an APC (MT-LB) near Stare (formerly Chervonyi Prapor, 58km west of Luhansk) and
- 21 IFVs (BMP-1) and an APC (MT-LB) near Kruhlyk (65km south-west of Luhansk)
An SMM mini-UAV spotted four IFVs (BMP-1) and an APC (MT-LB) near Lobacheve (13km east of Luhansk).
Presence of mines, unexploded ordnance, improvised explosive device and mine hazard signs
About 20m north of highway H-15 at the forward position of the Ukrainian Armed Forces about 1.8km south-south-east of the entry-exit checkpoint near Marinka (government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM saw for the first time a piece of unexploded ordnance (UXO), assessed as a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) rocket. About 500m further north-north-west, the SMM observed for the first time 24 anti-tank mines (TM-62M) in a fenced field. At the same location, it saw for the first time a red mine hazard sign (with “Stop mine” written on it in Russian language and “Danger mine” in English) attached to a wooden stick about 20m north of highway H-15.
About 150m south-west of a checkpoint near Olenivka (non-government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM saw for the first time a black plastic bottle with a fuse, assessed as an improvised explosive device, and a metal trip wire next to a concrete block on the median strip between two lanes of a road used daily by civilians and the SMM.
About 2km north-east of Novobakhmutivka (government-controlled, 28km north of Donetsk), the SMM saw for the first time a piece of UXO, assessed as the remnants of a missile tube (type undetermined), embedded in a road used daily by civilians and the SMM.
About 280m west of a checkpoint near the Kargil plant in Kreminets (non-government-controlled, 16km south-west of Donetsk) and about 20m south of highway H-15, the SMM saw for the first time a red plastic sign (with “ Stop mines” written in Russian and “Danger mines” in English) attached to a wooden stick in the ground.
In Verkhnotoretske (government-controlled, 23km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM observed for the first time two white boards with “Mines” written in black in Russian language attached to sticks in a field next to a road.
SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure
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). It also continued to facilitate the operation of the DFS 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 near Marynivka (78km east of Donetsk) for about an hour, the SMM saw eight cars (one with Ukrainian and five with Russian Federation licence plates, as well as two with “DPR” plates) entering Ukraine and 16 cars (one with Ukrainian, five with Russian Federation and one with Polish licence plates, as well as nine with “DPR” plates), five covered cargo trucks (four with Ukrainian licence plates and one with “DPR” plates) and two buses (with “DPR” plates) exiting Ukraine.
While at a border crossing point near Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, 65km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw 11 cars (six with Ukrainian and three with Russian Federation licence plates, as well as two with “LPR” plates) and seven pedestrians entering Ukraine, and four cars (one with Ukrainian and three with Russian Federation licence plates) and 16 pedestrians exiting Ukraine. After about 20 minutes, an armed member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.*
While at the Chervona Mohyla railway station in Voznesenivka, the SMM saw two trains (one with fuel bowsers and one with coal transportation wagons, with their cargo not visible). After two minutes, a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.*
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, 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 for Control and Co-ordination (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.
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 south to Sakhanka (non-government-controlled, 24km north-east of Mariupol), citing risks to the security of the patrol as the reason for the denial.
- At a border crossing point near Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, non-government-controlled, 65km south-east of Luhansk), an armed member of the armed formations again told the SMM to leave.
- At the Chervona Mohyla railway station near Voznesenivka, a member of the armed formations again told the SMM that it had to leave the area, citing the lack of “instructions for the SMM to be present there”.
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.
- At a checkpoint of the armed formations south of the bridge in Shchastia (government-controlled, 20km north of Luhansk), a member of the armed formations told the Mission that he was not aware of any demining activities having taken place during the previous seven days and that the road north of the bridge was still mined.
Delay:
- At a checkpoint west of Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, non-government controlled, 29km north-east of Mariupol), four members of the armed formations again stopped the SMM and allowed it to pass only after about 35 minutes of waiting at the checkpoint, citing the need to obtain “permission” from their “superiors”.
[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.
[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.