Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 4 July 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 both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• Gunfire occurred in close vicinity of SMM patrol members at the Zolote disengagement area.
• The SMM saw fresh damage due to shelling in Patriotychne, Azov, Marinka and craters in Pikuzy. It also observed fresh craters near Sakhanka and in Novoluhanske, as well as damaged and destroyed buildings and ongoing fires in and near Pikuzy and Vodiane.
• Inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the SMM saw that concrete blocks near the former forward position of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were no longer present; it also observed workers cutting trees and grass along the road north of the bridge.
• The Mission recorded ceasefire violations inside the disengagement area near Zolote.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate repairs and the operations of critical civilian infrastructure.
• Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued, including in non-government-controlled Hryhorivka and Horlivka.*

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including more explosions (about 450), compared with the previous reporting period (384 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded at westerly and northerly directions of Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk), at south-easterly directions of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol) and at southerly and northerly directions of Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk).

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including more explosions (115), compared with the previous reporting period (eight explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas inside and around the disengagement area near Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) (see below).

 

Gunfire in close vicinity of SMM patrol members at Zolote disengagement area

On 4 July, positioned at the checkpoint of the armed formations on the southern edge of the disengagement area near Zolote, the SMM heard about 20 bursts of heavy-machine-gun and about 30 shots of small-arms fire, all at an assessed range of 1-2km north-north-west. The SMM patrol members heard bullets flying 10-15m above their heads and also heard and saw bullets impacting electricity poles 10-15m south-west of their position. A few seconds later, the SMM patrol members heard about 20 bursts of outgoing machine-gun and about 30 shots of small-arms fire, at an assessed distance of 5m north-north-west, within the area of the checkpoint. One SMM patrol member, who was at the time talking to a member of the armed formations at the checkpoint, immediately took cover behind a checkpoint fortification, while the driver of one of the SMM vehicles immediately reversed to pick up the other SMM patrol member. While driving away, they heard again bursts and shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, assessed as an exchange of fire. The SMM returned safely to its base in Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, non-government-controlled, 50km west of Luhansk). (See also SMM Spot Report 4 July 2019.)

Fresh damage due to shelling in Patriotychne, Azov, Marinka and craters in Pikuzy

On 3 July, on the western outskirts of Patriotychne (non-government-controlled, 35km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM saw a fresh crater in a field, assessed as caused by a 122mm artillery round fired from a west-north-westerly direction. About 300m further north-east, the Mission saw two broken windows on the west- and north-facing sides of a one-storey agricultural compound, assessed as caused by shrapnel from the explosion of the abovementioned artillery round. Four workers (men in their fifties) of the agricultural compound told the SMM that shelling occurred on the morning of 2 July.

About 240m further west of the compound, the SMM saw a fresh crater in a field, assessed as caused by a 122mm artillery round fired from a west-north-westerly direction. About 120m south of the crater, the Mission saw broken windows on the north-west-facing side of a one-storey house, assessed as caused by shrapnel from the explosion of the abovementioned artillery round.

On the same day, in the southern part of Azov (formerly Dzerzhynske, non-government-controlled, 25km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM saw a hole in the west-facing wall and another hole in the south-west-facing corner of the roof of a two-storey house, and debris scattered in front of the house. The SMM assessed both as fresh impacts of 120mm mortar rounds fired from a westerly direction. About 50m further east, in the garden of the same house, the Mission observed four fresh craters 5-10m apart. The SMM was unable to assess the type of weapons used and direction of fire.

On 4 July, the SMM followed up on reports that a building was damaged by shelling on 30 June in Marinka (government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk). At 147 Prokofieva Street, the Mission saw a fresh crater in the garden of a house, assessed as caused by an undetermined weapon fired from a north-easterly direction. About 3m west-north-west of the crater, the SMM observed two recently broken window panes placed on the ground against a wall. About 3m south-south-east of the crater, it also saw two holes on the north-north-east-facing wall of a shed. The Mission assessed the damage as caused by shrapnel. About 10m south-east of the same house, the SMM saw pieces of concrete chipped off on all sides of an electricity pylon and recently cut electrical cables along the street. The Mission could not assess the type of weapon used and direction of fire. A resident of the house (woman, 49 years old) told the Mission that, while at home, she had heard two explosions in the early morning hours of 30 June.

On the same day, in Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, non-government-controlled, 23km north-east of Mariupol), on Akhmatovoi Street, 20m north-north-east from the Culture House, the SMM saw four fresh craters (three in concrete slabs and one on soft ground) about 5m apart: two assessed as caused by 82mm mortar rounds and two as caused by 120mm mortar rounds, all fired from a west-north-westerly direction. About 20m further north-north-east, on Akhmatovoi Street, the SMM observed for the first time a 120mm mortar tailfin embedded in the asphalt road with splinter grooves around it. The closest positions of the armed formations are located 150-200m west. Five residents of Pikuzy (two women, 40-60 years old; and three men, 30-50 years old) told the SMM together that shelling had occurred in the settlement on the morning of 3 July. For previous observations in the area, see SMM Daily Report 28 June 2019.

Fresh craters near Sakhanka and in Novoluhanske, damaged and destroyed buildings and ongoing fires in and near Pikuzy and Vodiane

On 2 July, aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed five fresh craters (not seen in imagery from 16 June) in a field approximately 700m east of the south-eastern edge of Sakhanka (non-government-controlled, 24km north-east of Mariupol). The SMM was unable to assess the type of weapons used and direction of fire.

The same aerial imagery also revealed ongoing fires and numerous recently burnt buildings in residential areas (some destroyed, and others damaged) in the western part of Pikuzy, and in the southern part of Vodiane (government-controlled, 94km south of Donetsk), as well as numerous fresh craters in areas north and west of Pikuzy and north-east of Vodiane (all not seen in imagery from 16 June). The SMM was unable to assess the type of weapons used and direction of fire.

On 3 July, an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted a damaged concrete panel fence in the backyard of a building in a residential area in the centre of Novoluhanske (government-controlled, 53km north-east of Donetsk). The Mission was unable to assess the type of weapon used and direction of fire. About 600m further west, on the edge of a field, the same UAV spotted a crater (assessed as caused by a 82mm mortar round fired from an undetermined direction) and a probable crater 80m apart.

Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area

On the afternoon of 3 July, inside the disengagement area and north of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (15km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw two members of the State Emergency Services (SES) and three persons in civilian clothing who stated that they were employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, with a truck and a crane, continuing to dismantle the concrete blocks of the former forward position of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

On the morning of 4 July, at the same location, the SMM noted that the concrete blocks were no longer present and saw 17 workers in civilian clothing with a tractor cleaning the area, removing sand and cutting trees. In the afternoon, the Mission saw that concrete slabs were being placed near the Ukrainian Border Guard Service post at the entry-exit checkpoint (EECP), outside the disengagement area, and that positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the western side of the road that leads from the EECP to the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, about 50m south-west of the EECP, were being removed. On the same day, the SMM saw SES members cutting trees and grass along the road inside the disengagement area, north of the former forward position of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

During the day on 4 July, inside the disengagement area, the SMM saw up to six members of the armed formations, all wearing blue armbands with “JCCC” written on them, standing in the area between the checkpoint of the armed formations just south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge and the former forward position of the armed formations south of the wooden ramps on the broken part of the bridge.[2]  In the former forward position of the armed formations, it also saw a member of the armed formations in camouflage clothing.

Other disengagement areas[3]

On 2 July, inside the disengagement area near Zolote, aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed six recent probable craters approximately 300m west of the eastern edge of the area and 800m south of its northern edge, as well as eight recent craters and burnt trees about 600m north-west of the checkpoint of the armed formations on its southern edge. The SMM was unable to assess the type of weapons used and direction of fire. The craters were not seen in imagery from 10 June 2019.

During the day on 4 July, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded three airbursts at an assessed range of 2-3km south-south-east and south, assessed as inside the disengagement area. On the same day, positioned at the checkpoint of the armed formations on the southern edge of the disengagement area, the SMM heard bursts of heavy-machine gun and shots of small-arms fire, assessed as inside the disengagement area (see above). On the same day, positioned in Kalynove-Borshchuvate (non-government-controlled, 61km west of Luhansk), near Molodizhne (non-government-controlled, 63km north-west of Luhansk) and on the southern edge of Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk), the Mission heard two undetermined explosions and 48 bursts and shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all assessed as outside the disengagement area but within 5km of its periphery.

During the day on 4 July, positioned close to the disengagement area near Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), the SMM observed a calm situation.[4]

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.

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside of designated storage sites

Government-controlled areas

4 July

The SMM saw a tank (type undetermined) in Pokrovsk (55km north-west of Donetsk).

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

Government-controlled areas

2 July

Aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of:

• a 20m extension of a trench, about 3km east of Hnutove (20km north-east of Mariupol);
• a 350m extension of a trench about 300m south-east of the edge of Vodiane and
• an armoured combat vehicle (ACV) near the EECP of the Ukrainian Armed Forces about 350m north of the northern edge of the Zolote disengagement area as well as a probable armoured reconnaissance vehicle on the same road just north of the area’s northern edge.

4 July

The SMM saw:

• an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BTR-4) near Krasnohorivka (24km north of Donetsk);
• four armoured personnel carriers (APC) (BTR-70) in Romanivka (41km north of Donetsk);
• four IFVs (two BMP variant and one type undetermined) – two in military compounds and two parked between residential buildings, including one less than 150m from a functioning school – and an APC (BTR-80) in Popasna; and
• an APC (BTR-70) just north of the northern edge of the disengagement area near Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk) (also seen on 3 July).

Non-government-controlled areas

2 July

Aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of:

• four ACVs on the south-eastern edge of Bezimenne (30km east of Mariupol) and
• two probable ACVs near Pikuzy.

3 July

An SMM mini-UAV spotted an IFV (BMP variant) on the west-south-western edge of Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk).

SMM facilitation of repairs and the operations of civilian infrastructure

The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to a water intake near Krasnyi Lyman (non-government-controlled, 30km north-west of Luhansk) and to a water pipeline between Zolote-3/Stakhanovets (government-controlled, 61km west of Luhansk) and Popasna. The SMM 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

While at a border crossing point near Marynivka (78km east of Donetsk) for about 50 minutes, the SMM saw eight cars (one with Ukrainian, three with Russian Federation, one with Polish, and one with Lithuanian licence plates, as well as two with “DPR” plates) and a bus with “DPR” plates entering Ukraine. The Mission also saw 23 cars (six with Ukrainian, ten with Russian Federation licence plates, as well as seven with “DPR” plates), a bus with “DPR” plates and four pedestrians (three women in their thirties and a child) exiting Ukraine.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Chernivtsi and Kyiv.

*Restrictions of the 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, SMM Daily Report 29 June 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 the eastern outskirts of Hryhorivka (non-government-controlled, 68km south of Donetsk), three members of the armed formations (two visibly armed) denied the SMM passage after the Mission refused to show its patrol plan. They also cited “ongoing kinetic activity in the area”.
• At a school in Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk), where the SMM was following up on reports of conflict-related damage, a staff member refused to let the Mission enter the building without permission from senior members of the armed formations.

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

• The sides continued to deny the SMM full access to 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.

[1] For a complete breakdown of ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.

[2] The Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) was established in September 2014 by Ukraine and the Russian Federation. Each posted a representative to jointly head the Centre and a staff of officers from the Ukrainian and Russian Federation Armed Forces to be co-located in defined sectors of Luhansk and Donetsk regions. In December 2017, Russian Federation Armed Forces officers withdrew from the JCCC and departed Ukraine. 

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

[4] Due to the presence of mines, including a road between Bohdanivka and Petrivske, the SMM’s access to its camera in Petrivske remains limited, and thus the SMM has not been able to access observations from the camera since 22 June 2018.

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