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

This report is for the media and the general public.

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 17 and 18 May, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• Between the evenings of 18 and 19 May, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours.
• Explosions occur close to the SMM near the Zolote disengagement area.
• The SMM recorded ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area.
• The SMM observed damage caused by small-arms fire in residential houses in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka and fresh craters in Pervomaisk.
• The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. The Mission’s freedom of movement was also restricted at checkpoints in non-government-controlled Staromykhailivka, Verkhnoshyrokivske and Donetsk city, as well as at a heavy weapons holding area in a government-controlled area.*
• In several cities in Ukraine, the SMM observed protests regarding the investigation into the death of activist Kateryna Handziuk.

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 17 and 18 May, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 25 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 110 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas south-east of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol).

Between the evenings of 18 and 19 May, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 170 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours. The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded at southerly directions of Chermalyk, at easterly directions of Hnutove (government-controlled, 20km north-east of Mariupol) and in areas south-west of Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk).

In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 17 and 18 May, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 30 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 670 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations, including all the explosions, were recorded in areas south and south-east of Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk) and north-north-east of Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, non-government-controlled, 50km west of Luhansk).

Between the evenings of 18 and 19 May, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including, however, more explosions (about 40), compared with the previous 24 hours. The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas south-east of Popasna and in areas south-east of Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk).

Explosions close to SMM near Zolote disengagement area

On 19 May, positioned 400m north of the disengagement area near Zolote, the SMM heard two undetermined explosions at an assessed distance of 100m east-south-east, shortly after hearing eight explosions at an assessed distance of 2-3km east. The SMM was unable to assess the weapon used or whether the explosions were impacts or outgoing fire; it immediately left the area.

Fresh damage to residential houses in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka

On 17 May, at 12 Voikova Street in the south-western part of Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), the SMM saw two holes in two west-facing windows in the third-floor apartment of a residential building. The owner (a woman in her forties) told the Mission that she had been in her apartment during the night of 17 May when it had been hit. In the same building, the SMM observed a hole in a west-facing window of a second-floor apartment. A resident (a man in his sixties) told the SMM that shooting had occurred in the early morning hours of 14 May, while he and his wife had been at home. In both cases, the SMM assessed the damage as fresh and caused by small-arms fire. At 13 Voikova Street, about 120m east of the aforementioned building, the SMM observed a hole in the south-facing wall of a second-floor apartment, assessed as fresh and caused by small-arms fire. A resident (a man in his sixties) said that he had heard shooting in the late evening on 16 May, when he had been at home with his family.

On 18 May, at 5 Lizy Chaikinoi Street, also in the south-western part of Zolote-5/Mykhailivka, the SMM saw a hole (6cm in diameter) in a west-facing first-floor window of a two-storey residential building. It assessed the damage to have been caused by small arms. The owners of the apartment (a man and a woman in their fifties) told the SMM that shooting had occurred during the night on 4 May, while they were in their apartment. At 18 Lizy Chaikinoi Street, about 120m east of the aforementioned building, the SMM saw a hole (8cm in diameter) in a north-facing window of a second-floor apartment, assessed as fresh and caused by small-arms fire. The owner of the apartment (a woman in her sixties) told the SMM that the shooting had occurred in the evening of 14 May, while she had been hiding in a shelter in the same building. The SMM observed that positions of the armed formations were located 300m from the aforementioned residential houses (for previous observations in the area, see SMM Daily Report 17 April 2019).

Disengagement areas[2]

On the night of 17-18 May, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded a projectile in flight at an assessed range of 2-3km south-east (assessed as inside the disengagement area), as well as two projectiles at an assessed range of 1-3km east-north-east (assessed as within its 5km periphery). During the same night, while on the northern edge of Popasna, the SMM heard 240 bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire assessed as within 5km periphery of the Zolote disengagement area.

During the day of 18 May, positioned in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk) to monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to a power substation, the SMM heard three bursts of small-arms fire at an assessed distance of 1-2km north-north-west (assessed as within the 5km periphery of the disengagement area), despite security guarantees having been provided that the ceasefire would be adhered to.

During the day on 19 May, positioned 3km north-east of Pervomaisk (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard two explosions at an assessed range of 1-3km north-north-west (assessed as inside the Zolote disengagement area), as well as five shots of heavy-machine-gun fire (assessed as within its 5km periphery). Positioned at five different locations near the Zolote disengagement area during the evening of 18 May and day of 19 May, the SMM recorded 36 undetermined explosions, 75 bursts and 25 shots of heavy-machine-gun fire (assessed as within 5km periphery of the Zolote disengagement area).

On 19 May, while on the eastern edge of Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM heard an undetermined explosion at an assessed range of 5-6km south-west (assessed as outside the disengagement area, but within its 5km periphery).

On 18 and 19 May, positioned close to the disengagement area near Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), the Mission observed calm situations.[3]

Fresh craters in Pervomaisk and damage to a military-type compound nearby

On 17 May, the SMM observed six fresh craters 30-140m south-east of a military-type compound in the south-eastern outskirts of Pervomaisk. It saw two additional fresh craters in a road north of the same compound, as well as shrapnel damage to a concrete fence and two pillars located 10m north of the two craters. The Mission also observed a broken window on the second floor of the north-west facing wall of a building located inside the compound. It assessed that all the craters and damage had been caused by rounds of undetermined weapons fired from a north-north-westerly direction. Five members of the armed formations and workers of a local electricity company repairing power lines allegedly damaged during the shelling were present when the SMM conducted the impact site assessment.

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

Government-controlled areas

17 May

An SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted:

• a surface-to-air missile system (9K33 Osa) near Vidrodzhennia (66km north-east of Donetsk);
• a surface-to-air missile system (9K33) near Vrubivka (72km west of Luhansk); and
• three surface-to-air missile systems (9K33) and two trans-loaders near Raihorodka (34km north-west of Luhansk).

An SMM mini-UAV spotted a surface-to-air missile system (9K33) near Myronivskyi (62km north-east of Donetsk).

18 May

The SMM saw a probable self-propelled howitzer (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) near Romanivka (41km north of Donetsk).

Non-government-controlled areas

18 May

The SMM saw:

• two self-propelled howitzers (2S1) and four towed howitzers (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm) near Bile (22km west of Luhansk); and
• eight towed howitzers (D-30) near Mykhailivka (74km south of Donetsk).

Weapons that the SMM could not verify as withdrawn[4]

At a heavy weapons holding area in a government-controlled area in Donetsk region

18 May

The SMM noted that:

• seven multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) were present and
• 35 MLRS (BM-21) and a self-propelled howitzer (2S1) continued to be missing.

At heavy weapons holding areas in non-government-controlled areas in Donetsk region

16 May

The SMM noted that 15 mortars (PM-38, 120mm) and 17 towed howitzers (D-30) continued to be missing.

Weapons storage site

At a permanent storage site in a non-government-controlled area of Luhansk region

18 May

The SMM noted that all weapons previously observed at the site were present.

Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[5]

Government-controlled areas

17 May

An SMM long-range UAV spotted:

• six infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) (BMP variant) near Kurdiumivka (54km north of Donetsk);
• an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (MT-LB) near Loskutivka (72km west of Luhansk)
• three IFVs (two BMP-1 and one BMP-2) near Zolote;
• three IFVs (BMP variants) near Novotoshkivske (53km west of Luhansk);
• an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23-2) mounted on an APC (MT-LB) near Prychepylivka (50km north-west of Luhansk);
• two IFVs (BMP variants) near Lopaskyne (23km north-west of Luhansk);
• an IFV (BMD-2) and an APC (MT-LB) near Heivka (27km north-west of Luhansk);
• an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) near Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk); and
• an IFV (BMP variant) near Novooleksandrivka (65km west of Luhansk).

18 May

The SMM saw:

• three IFVs (BMP-1) and an APC (Varta) near Popasna;
• an IFV (BMP variant) near Novozvanivka (70km west of Luhansk);
• an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) near Krasnohorivka (24km north of Donetsk);
• an IFV (BMP-2) near Verkhnotoretske (23km north-east of Donetsk); and
• an APC (MT-LB) near Novoselivka (31km north of Donetsk).

19 May

The SMM saw three IFVs (BMP-1) near Popasna.

Non-government-controlled areas

17 May

An SMM mini-UAV spotted:

• 12 APCs (11 MT-LB and one BTR-80) and three anti-aircraft guns (ZU-23-2) in a compound near Pervomaisk (see above section on fresh craters in Pervomaisk); and
• an APC (MT-LB) near Veselohorivka (64km west of Luhansk).

19 May

The SMM saw a probable anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) near Pervomaisk.

Demining activities near Myrne and mine signs near Mykolaivka Druha

On 18 May, the Mission saw for the first time a red mine hazard sign with the words “Danger, Mines” written in Ukrainian and Russian about 4m north of a road about 1.5km north of Mykolaivka Druha (government-controlled, 55km north of Donetsk).

On 19 May, the SMM saw six members of an international demining organisation conducting demining activities in a field south of road T-0512 about 5km south-west of Hranitne (government-controlled, 60km south of Donetsk) (for previous observations in the area, see SMM Daily Report 6 May 2019).

SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure

The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk), as well as to the power lines near “Zolote-4/Rodina” (government-controlled, 59km west of Luhansk) (see above).

The Mission also facilitated the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station (15km north of Donetsk) and continued to monitor the security situation in the area of the pumping station near Vasylivka (non-government-controlled, 20km north of Donetsk).

Border areas outside government control

On 18 May, while at a border crossing point near Marynivka (78km east of Donetsk) for 20 minutes, the SMM saw 14 cars (one with Ukrainian and seven with Russian Federation licence plates, as well as six with “DPR“ plates) and one truck with covered cargo (with Ukrainian licence plates) and a bus (with “DPR“ plates) entering Ukraine. The SMM also saw 12 cars (two with Ukrainian and seven with Russian Federation licence plates, as well as three with “DPR“ plates), eight trucks with covered cargo (three with Ukrainian licence plates and five with “DPR“ plates) as well as a bus (with “DPR“ plates) exiting Ukraine.

On the same day, while at a border crossing point near Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk), for about 45 minutes, the SMM saw several cars (with Ukrainian and Russian Federation licence plates as well as “DPR” plates), a truck with covered cargo and a bus (both with “DPR” plates) entering Ukraine. The SMM also saw several cars (with Ukrainian and Russian Federation licence plates as well as “DPR” plates), 12 trucks with covered cargo (ten with Ukrainian and two with Russian Federation licence plates) and a bus (with “DPR” plates) exiting Ukraine.

The SMM observed protests regarding the investigation into the death of activist Kateryna Handziuk

On 18 May in Kyiv, the SMM monitored a gathering by about 80 people (mixed gender, mostly young) in front of the presidential administration, demanding that the investigation into the death of anti-corruption activist Kateryna Handziuk be intensified and protesting against what they said was a purported unwillingness of the authorities to prosecute her attackers. Over 30 police officers provided security for the gathering, which passed without incident. The SMM observed similar peaceful gatherings of between 12 and 50 people (mixed gender and ages) in Kherson, Kharkiv, Mariupol, Dnipro, Odessa and Lviv.

The SMM continued monitoring in Ivano-Frankivsk.

*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 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 14 May 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:

• On 18 May, two Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers denied the SMM access into a heavy weapons holding area in Donetsk region, citing the absence of permission from their commander.

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:

• On 19 May, at a checkpoint 600m west of Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, non-government-controlled, 29km north-east of Mariupol), a member of the armed formations requested to see a patrol plan. The SMM declined and was allowed to proceed only after 30 minutes.

Conditional access:

• On 17 May, at a checkpoint in Staromykhailivka (non-government controlled, 15km west of Donetsk), two armed members of the armed formations allowed the SMM to proceed only upon escort by a member of the armed formations.
• On 17 May, at a checkpoint in the Trudivski area of the Petrovskyi district (non-government-controlled, 15km south-west of Donetsk city centre) an armed member of the armed formations allowed the SMM to proceed only upon escort by a member of the armed formations.

Other impediments:

• During the night of 17-18 May, an SMM long-range UAV experienced dual GPS signal interference, assessed as due to jamming, while flying over government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including areas close to the contact line.[6]

 

[1] For a complete breakdown of ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. During the reporting period, the SMM camera in Stanytsia Luhanska  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 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.

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

[6] The interference could have originated from anywhere within a radius of kilometres from the UAV’s position.