Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 21 May 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 both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
- Small-arms fire was directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle near Vrubivka.
- The Mission observed trench extensions in and near the Petrivske disengagement area.
- 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 a non-government-controlled checkpoint near Novoazovsk in Donetsk region.*
- In Chernivtsi, the Mission saw gatherings in relation to the change of religious affiliations of local churches.
Ceasefire violations[1]
In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including, however, a similar number of explosions (about 45), compared with the previous reporting period (about 50 explosions). Over half of the ceasefire violations were recorded at southerly directions of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol) and at northerly and southerly directions of Avdiivka (government-controlled, 17km north of Donetsk).
In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including 50 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 280 explosions). Over two thirds of the ceasefire violations were recorded in areas north-north-west of Molodizhne (non-government-controlled, 63km north-west of Luhansk), at easterly and southerly directions of Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) and easterly directions of Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk) (see below).
Small-arms fire directed at SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle near Vrubivka
While conducting a mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight near Vrubivka (government-controlled, 72km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard six shots of small-arms fire about 500m south-east, assessed as aimed at the UAV, which was flying about 1.5km south-east of its position. While landing the UAV, the SMM heard five additional shots of small-arms fire assessed at the same distance and direction. The SMM landed the UAV safely and left the area.*
Disengagement areas[2]
On the evening and night of 20-21 May, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded ten projectiles in flight and a burst, all at an assessed range of 3-6km south-south-east and south (all unable to be assessed as inside or outside the disengagement area), as well as about 85 projectiles in flight and two bursts, all at an assessed range of 1-6km at easterly directions (all assessed as within 5km of the disengagement area’s periphery). On the evening and morning of 20-21 May, positioned at six locations close to the disengagement area near Zolote, and through its camera on the northern edge of Popasna, the SMM recorded about 550 bursts and shots and about 27 undetermined explosions (all assessed as within 5km periphery of the disengagement area).
On 15 May, aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of a 20m-long trench extension running east to west inside the disengagement area near Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), about 100m west of its eastern edge and about 75m north of its southern edge. Imagery also revealed two other trench extensions outside the disengagement area, one 45m in length and one 75m in length, located 800m-1.6km east of the disengagement area’s eastern edge (all trench extensions not visible in imagery from 27 April 2019), all assessed as belonging to the armed formations.[3]
Positioned inside 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.
In violation of withdrawal lines
Government-controlled areas
21 May
The SMM saw a surface-to-air missile system (9K33 Osa) heading south on road H-21 near Voitove (33km north-west of Luhansk).
Non-government-controlled areas
15 May
Aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed a tank (type undetermined) north-east of Novoazovsk (40km east of Mariupol).
20 May
An SMM mini-UAV spotted a surface-to-air missile system (9K35 Strela-10) in Katerynivka (formerly Yuvileine, 8km west of Luhansk).
Beyond withdrawal lines but outside of designated storage sites:
Non-government-controlled areas
19 May
An SMM mid-range UAV spotted ten tanks (six T-64 and four T-72) in a training area near Ternove (57km east of Donetsk).
Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[4]
Government-controlled areas
20 May
An SMM mini-UAV spotted an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-2) near Chermalyk.
The SMM saw an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (Kozak variant) near Krasnohorivka (24km north of Donetsk).
Non-government-controlled areas
20 May
An SMM mini-UAV spotted:
- an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) and three IFVs (BMP-1) near Zhovte (17km north-west of Luhansk);
- two APCs (MT-LB) and an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) in Katerynivka; and
- seven APCs (BTR-60) in Luhansk city.
SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure
The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to water wells and pipelines in Slovianoserbsk (non-government-controlled, 28km north-west of Luhansk) and Popasna.
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 area outside government control
On 20 May, while at a border crossing point near Dovzhanske (84km south-east of Luhansk) for about 50 minutes, the SMM saw ten cars (five with Ukrainian two with Russian Federation and one with Georgian licence plates, as well as two with “LPR” plates), six trucks (four with Ukrainian licence plates and two with “LPR” plates), a bus (with Ukrainian licence plates) and 18 pedestrians (12 women and six men, aged 25-65) entering Ukraine, as well as ten cars (six with Ukrainian and two with Russian Federation licence plates, as well as two with “LPR” plates), three trucks (with Ukrainian licence plates), two buses (with unknown licence plates) and 13 pedestrians (seven women and six men, aged 25-65) exiting Ukraine.
On 21 May, while at a border crossing point near Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk), for 70 minutes, the SMM saw 27 cars (11 with Ukrainian, five with Russian Federation, one with Georgian and one with Polish licence plates, as well as one with “LPR” and eight with “DPR” plates), four trucks (three with Ukrainian licence plates and one with “DPR” plates), a bus (with Ukrainian licence plates) and 32 pedestrians (15 women and girls, and 17 men and boys, aged 5-70) entering Ukraine. The SMM also saw 37 cars (eight with Ukrainian, 15 with Russian Federation and one with Georgian licence plates, as well as one with “LPR” and 12 with “DPR” plates), 145 trucks (57 with Ukrainian, 61 with Russian Federation and five with Belarusian licence plates, as well as 22 with “DPR” plates) and 11 pedestrians (four women and seven men, aged 30-70) exiting Ukraine.
On the same day, while at a border crossing point near Ulianivske (61km south-east of Donetsk) for about 40 minutes, the SMM saw a woman (aged 50-60) exiting Ukraine and no vehicles or pedestrians entering Ukraine.
While at a border crossing point near Marynivka (78km east of Donetsk) for 75 minutes, the SMM saw nine cars (one with Ukrainian, five with Russian Federation and one with Georgian licence plates, as well as two with “DPR“ plates) entering Ukraine. The SMM also saw 24 cars (five with Ukrainian and 12 with Russian Federation licence plates, as well as seven with “DPR“ plates), a truck (with Ukrainian licence plates) and a bus (with “DPR“ plates) exiting Ukraine.
Gatherings against change of religious affiliations of churches in Chernivtsi
On 20, 21 and 22 May, in Chernivtsi, the SMM saw 24-40 people (mixed gender and ages) gathered in front of the building of the Regional State Administration at 1 Hrushevskoho Street, some of whom were holding signs critical of decisions made by the regional administration to recognize changes in affiliation of churches in Chernivtsi region from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).
The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Dnipro 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 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 20 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:
- At a checkpoint north of Novoazovsk (non-government-controlled, 40km east of Mariupol), two armed members of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage south to Novoazovsk or east to the border with the Russian Federation, citing an “ongoing operation” in the area.
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.
Other impediments:
- On 20 May, while conducting a mini-UAV flight near Vrubivka (government-controlled, 72km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 11 shots of small-arms fire about 500m south-east, assessed as aimed at the UAV, which it landed safely.
[1] For a complete breakdown of ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. During the reporting period, the SMM camera in Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk) was not operational.
[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.