Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 4 April 2019
This report is for the media and the general public.
Summary
- Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
- The SMM observed damage from a mortar round to a house in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka.
- The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line.
- The Mission recorded ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area.
- The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential civilian infrastructure on both sides of the contact line.
- Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. It was also restricted at a railway station in government-controlled Kostiantynivka and near non-government-controlled Korsun and Zaichenko.*
Ceasefire violations[1]
In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 110 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 60 explosions). Almost half of the ceasefire violations were recorded in areas south-east and south-south-east of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol).
In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including 200 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (no explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations, including most of the explosions, were recorded at directions ranging from north-north-east to south-west of Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk) and in areas north-west and south-west of Pervomaisk (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk) (see Disengagement areas).
Damage from mortar round to residential house in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka
On 30 March, an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted a hole in the roof of a house, assessed as recent and caused by a mortar round, on Pervomaiska Street in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk) (for previous observations in this area, see SMM Daily Report 2 April 2019).
Disengagement areas[2]
On the evening and night of 3-4 April, the SMM camera in Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) recorded three undetermined explosions at an assessed range of 2-3km south-south-east (assessed as inside the disengagement area) and seven projectiles at an assessed range of 1-2km east and east-south-east (unable to be assessed as inside or outside the disengagement area). On 4 April, positioned in five different locations near the Zolote disengagement area, the SMM heard 68 undetermined explosions, 24 bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, as well as 18 shots of 30mm cannon fire, all assessed as outside the disengagement area.
During the day on 4 April, positioned in the disengagement area near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk) the SMM observed a calm situation.[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.
Weapons in violations of withdrawal lines
Government-controlled-areas
3 April
The SMM saw 12 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) stationary at the railway station in Bakhmut (formerly Artemivsk, 67km north of Donetsk).
4 April
The SMM saw:
- five towed howitzers (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm) and two self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) in Kostiantynivka (60km north of Donetsk), and
- two towed howitzers (D-30) on road H-20 near Kostiantynivka.
Non-government-controlled areas
4April
The SMM saw 18 MLRS (BM-21) near Khrustalnyi (formerly Krasnyi Luch, 56km south-west of Luhansk).
Beyond withdrawal lines but outside of designated storage sites
Government-controlled
4 April
The SMM saw:
- a towed howitzer (D-30) on a local road near Yelyzavetivka (43km north-west of Donetsk) and
- a towed mortar (2B16 Nona-K, 120mm) near Kostiantynivka.
Non-government-controlled areas
31 March
Aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of:
- 22 tanks (type undetermined), eight self-propelled howitzers (type undetermined) and 18 pieces of towed artillery or mortars at a training area near Myrne (28km south-west of Luhansk). (Aerial imagery also revealed the presence of 78 armoured combat vehicles (type undetermined) at the same training area, for previous observations see SMM Daily Report 29 March 2019.)
Weapons permanent storage sites
At a heavy weapons permanent storage site in a non-government-controlled area of Luhansk region
4 April
The SMM noted that four MLRSs (BM-21) were missing for the first time.
Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[4]
Government-controlled areas
1 April
An SMM mid-range UAV spotted three infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) (two BMP-1 and a BMP-2) close to houses in a residential area of Novotoshkivske (53km west of Luhansk) (for previous observations see SMM Daily Report 4 April 2019).
4 April
The SMM saw:
- an IFV (BMP-1) near Trokhizbenka (32km north-west of Luhansk);
- an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) and an armoured personnel carrier (BTR-60) near houses used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Orikhove-Donetske (44km north-west of Luhansk); and
- three IFVs (two BMP-1 and a BMP-2 ) in Kriakivka (38km north-west of Luhansk).
Non-government-controlled areas
3 April
An SMM mini-UAV spotted:
- six IFVs (probable BMP variants) in Kozatske (36km north-east of Mariupol), in a zone within which deployment of heavy armaments and military equipment is proscribed according to Point 5 of the Memorandum of 19 September 2014.
4 April
The SMM saw an electronic counter measure system (RB-341V LEER-3) heading south-east on road T-0508 near Starobesheve (32km south-east of Donetsk).
Presence of mines and a mine hazard sign
On 1 April, an SMM mini-UAV spotted for the first time at least 50 probable anti-tank mines (TM-62) laid out in a field (from east to west for about 100m) about 2km east of Novotoshkivske.
On the same day, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted for the first time six anti-tank mines (TM-62) laid out in a V shape across a road about 4km east of Novotoshkivske.
On 4 April, the SMM again saw six anti-tank mines (TM-62) (near previously observed mines) laid within 2m of the edge of road T-0504, about 180m south-east of a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint on the eastern edge of Popasna.
On 4 April, the SMM saw for the first time a mine hazard sign (with skull and cross bones and “Stop, Mines” written in Russian) on the western edge of road T-0513 approximately 4km north-east of the entry-exit checkpoint in Maiorsk (government-controlled, 45km north-east of Donetsk).
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), to power transmission lines near Novooleksandrivka (government-controlled, 65km west of Luhansk), Khoroshe (non-government-controlled, 36km west of Luhansk) and Spartak (non-government-controlled, 9km north of Donetsk). The Mission also continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station and to monitor the security situation around the pumping station near Vasylivka (non-government-controlled, 20km north of Donetsk).
SMM observed a calm situation south of Kherson region
On 3 April, the SMM observed calm situations at the crossing points between Kalanchak (67km south-east of Kherson) and Chaplynka (77km south-east of Kherson) and Crimea. On 4 April, the SMM observed calm situations in areas along the Black Sea coast south of Kherson.
The Mission continued monitoring in Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Chernivtsi.
*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 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 SMM Daily Report 2 April 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:
- A minivan and four member of the armed formations blocked a road near Korsun (non-government-controlled, 31km north-east of Donetsk), thus preventing the SMM from proceeding northward to Novoselivka (non-government-controlled, 37km north-east of Donetsk). One of them told the SMM that it could not proceed due to ongoing operational activities in the area.
- An officer of the Ukrainian Armed Forces denied access to the SMM at the train station in Kostiantynivka (government-controlled, 60km north of Donetsk) citing “security procedures”. The SMM saw weapons in the area of the train station (see above).
- One armed member of the armed formations at a checkpoint north of Zaichenko (non-government-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol) prevented the SMM from continuing westward to Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, non-government-controlled, 23km north-east of Mariupol) and southward to Sakhanka (non-government-controlled, 24km north-east of Mariupol).
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 600m west of Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, non-government-controlled, 29km north-east of Mariupol), on two occasions, two members of the armed formations stopped the SMM and requested to see the patrol plan which the Mission refused to show. On both occasions, they allowed the SMM to pass through the checkpoint after about 30 minutes.
[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] 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.