Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30 (Kyiv time), 5 May 2015

This report is for the media and general public.

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by third parties and security considerations.* The SMM observed movement on both sides of the contact line. The SMM observed a significant amount of “DPR” infantry forces in Donetsk city.

The SMM continued to observe ceasefire violations[1] in and around Donetsk airport (“Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled, 11km north-west of Donetsk), and near Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol). From the observation point on the eastern outskirts of government-controlled Berdianske (1.5km west of Shyrokyne, 20km east of Mariupol), between 14:20 and 18:00hrs, the SMM heard 47 mostly outgoing explosions and observed 26 airbursts of small arms fire. The explosions came from south-east, east, north and north-west direction from a distance between 0,3km and 2.5km. The weapons used included 82mm mortars, anti-tank guns and small arms. This represents a decrease compared to the number of ceasefire violations recorded on 4 May at this location.    

The SMM was told by Ukrainian armed forces checkpoint personnel in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (56km north-east of Donetsk) that a “DPR” ambush took place on 5 May at 04:00hrs killing two Ukrainian soldiers and injuring six others. The SMM observed two trucks with shooting impacts and two bullet pierced helmets on the ground. The SMM saw Ukrainian armed forces soldiers using telemetric devices in direction of “DPR”- controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk) and two BRDM-2 armoured reconnaissance vehicles were deployed in firing position.

On 4 May, at 15:24hrs, while in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk), the SMM heard a single explosion (possibly mortar or artillery). The location of the explosion could not be determined.

In the “DPR”-controlled village of Oktyabr (85km south of Donetsk, 26km east of Mariupol), the SMM analysed four 122mm artillery craters and two 120mm mortar craters. The analysis showed that the shelling originated from a western direction. One civilian home was severely damaged. The SMM also saw two other artillery craters at that location which the patrol was unable to analyse due to time constraints.

The SMM conducted a follow up analysis of the shelling of five different locations including a kindergarten and three civilian houses in the Kievskyi district of Donetsk city. According to the local inhabitants and the JCCC operation centre in Donetsk city, the shelling took place on 2 May around 22:30 hrs. The SMM concluded that rounds of heavy artillery were used in the impacted area, consistent with 152mm calibre, which was assessed as incoming from north and north-north-east. There was no crater or shrapnel for a comprehensive analysis to be made in order to indicate the exact origin of fire. The SMM was also informed by the JCCC operation centre that Leninskyi district was also shelled during the night of the 2 May but the SMM was not able to confirm. No casualties were reported.

In the Leninskyi district of Donetsk city, the SMM observed a significant amount of “DPR” members guarding major traffic junctions. The SMM estimated the total amounted to at least two companies (around 200 individuals), which represent a considerable increase of “DPR” armed member’s presence on the streets in Donetsk city. The “DPR” members were wearing full body armour. The “DPR” member to the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) at the observation post at Donetsk Railway Station informed the SMM that these are security measures taken as part of the preparations for the parade on the 9 May.

The SMM met with the Chief Judge of the Ordzhenikidzovskiy district Court in Mariupol (102km south of Donetsk, government-controlled) who informed the SMM that internally displaced persons (IDP) from “DPR”-controlled areas cannot initiate a case in court unless they are registered as IDPs in Mariupol. Unregistered IDPs attempting to initiate cases are informed that they must do so in courts that were designated by the Supreme Court of Ukraine to handle cases from areas under “DPR” control.  In this case, IDPs are supposed to introduce their case in the courts of the Zaporizhia region. 

The SMM was informed by village council members of government-controlled Trokhizbenka (33km north-west of Luhansk) that for one year there has been neither gas nor electricity in the village. They also reported that the situation is difficult due to the prohibition to cross the Trokhizbenka bridge from government-controlled side (see SMM Daily Report 4 May 2015, //www.osce.org/ukraine-smm/154916). Moreover, according to the interlocutors, because of the bridge closure, villagers cannot sell their agricultural products, the market being located in “LPR”-controlled territory.

The SMM spoke with three middle-aged females in “LPR”-controlled Rovenky (55km south of Luhansk) who complained about the difficulty in receiving Ukrainian identification documents in “LPR”-controlled territory. Due to the fact that they live on the “LPR” side of the contact line, the local inhabitants cannot receive Ukrainian internal passports that are a precondition for receiving international passports. Furthermore, interlocutors told the SMM that women often travel to government-controlled territory to get birth certificates for their new-born children.

The SMM visited heavy weapons holding areas on “DPR”-controlled territory and observed that the weapons previously recorded remained in situ. At another heavy weapons holding area in “DPR”-controlled territory, the SMM found the place abandoned with no weapons present. The last time the SMM visited the place, it contained two 122mm howitzers and six Msta-B (152mm) (see SMM Daily Report 4 May 2015, //www.osce.org/ukraine-smm/154916).

Despite claims that withdrawal of heavy weapons was complete, the SMM observed the following weapons in areas non-compliant with the withdrawal lines. On 4 May, in government-controlled territory, the SMM observed a military position with one artillery barrel exposed which appeared be over 100mm. On 5 May the SMM observed three stationary main battle tanks (MBT) T-64 on government-controlled territory and two stationary T-64 in “DPR”-controlled territory. A stationary convoy consisting of tanks, Ural trucks towing artillery pieces, Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) Grads and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) loaded with soldiers was also spotted on “DPR”-controlled territory. The SMM Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) observed shelling incoming to the “DPR”-controlled village of Oktyabr (26km north-east of Mariupol) on 4 May and saw one MBT and three artillery pieces (type undetermined). In and around Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol), the SMM saw four “DPR” MBTs. On 5 May the UAV was subject to jamming in an area south of “DPR”-controlled Sakhanka (24km east of Mariupol).

On 5 May, in Lviv, the SMM monitored a protest held by relatives of the Ukrainian Armed Forces 2nd and 3rd battalions of the 24th Brigade against a recent government decision postponing planned demobilization in May until next month. Approximately forty protesters, all either young or middle-aged men, gathered in front of the Lviv Regional State Administration. There was no police presence during the event.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Odessa, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, Kherson and Kyiv.

* Restrictions on SMM access and freedom of movement:

The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by third parties and security considerations including the lack of information on whereabouts of landmines.

The security situation in Donbas is fluid and unpredictable and the cease-fire does not hold everywhere.

• On 5 May at 10:45hrs, the SMM was stopped at a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint located at the intersection of roads between government-controlled Zolote (60km north-west of Luhansk) and Hirske (62km north-west of Luhansk). The officer in charge retained SMM identification cards while the interior of the vehicle was inspected. The SMM was also requested to show the content of the trauma bags. The patrol was stopped for eight minutes before being allowed to pass through the checkpoint.
• On 5 May, at approximately 10:45hrs, the SMM was stopped at the “LPR”-checkpoint in “LPR”-controlled Pionerske (19km east of Luhansk). The “LPR” members requested the SMM show an authorization letter to enter the village. The SMM informed them about the SMM’s freedom of movement and it was allowed to proceed with an escort.
• On 5 May, at 11:20hrs, the SMM was stopped at a Ukrainian armed forces mobile checkpoint in the outskirts of Hranitne (government controlled, 60km south of Donetsk) and was told by the checkpoint personnel that they could not proceed due to the possibility of shelling.
• On 5 May, while at a heavy weapons holding area in “DPR”-controlled territory, the guards refused to allow the SMM monitors with Moldovan citizenship to accompany the inspecting party (no explanation was given as to why).    

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