Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 22 September 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 the parties and security considerations*. The situation remained largely calm in Donbas with only one non-training ceasefire violation recorded by the SMM. “DPR” members at a checkpoint pointed weapons at and threatened to shoot SMM members.

The situation remained relatively calm in the Donetsk region. The SMM – positioned 1km south-east of the destroyed “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled airport (9km north-west of Donetsk) – observed one explosion.[1]

In government-controlled Krasnivka (35km north-west of Mariupol), the SMM heard approximately 20 explosions in the far distance to the east. In government-controlled Topolyne (19km north-west of Mariupol), it heard approximately ten explosions in the far distance to the west and south-west. The SMM assessed both instances to have been part of training exercises.

In government-controlled Tonenke (19km north-west of Donetsk), residents told the SMM that the area had been calm since 1 September. According to them, some internally displaced persons – including children of school-age– had returned to the village. The children, they said travel by bus to the nearest school in government-controlled Orlivka, 3km to the north.

“DPR” members at a checkpoint close to “DPR”-controlled Zaichenko (26km north-east of Mariupol) pointed weapons at and threatened to shoot SMM members*. As the SMM was leaving the scene, one of the “DPR” members fired shots into the air.

The SMM facilitated – having previously provided needs assessment and advice on secure distribution points, and arranged meetings with relevant interlocutors – and monitored the delivery of 2,012 18kg hygiene packages and 2,012 18kg food packages by the International Committee of the Red Cross to residents of “DPR”-controlled Staromykhailivka (16km north-west of Donetsk). It facilitated and monitored similar deliveries to residents of “DPR”-controlled Oleksandrivka (20km south-west of Donetsk) and government-controlled Krasnohorivka (21km west of Donetsk).

The SMM observed a peaceful protest outside the offices of Medecins Sans Frontiers in Donetsk city, at which approximately 100 men and women drew attention to what they referred to as a failure to adequately address the humanitarian needs of people in “DPR”-controlled areas.

The SMM noted a relatively calm situation in the Luhansk region, recording no ceasefire violations other than training. Positioned at various locations in “Lugansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”)-controlled areas to the north and north-west of Luhansk city, the SMM heard numerous explosions, which it assessed to have been part of training exercises taking place in government-controlled Trokhizbenka (33km north-west of Luhansk).

In government-controlled Solidarne (145km north-west of Luhansk), the director of a factory that employs 60 of the village’s 400 inhabitants told the SMM that he feared the factory would close. He cited an unrepaired railway link servicing the factory, which he said had been damaged in shelling earlier in the conflict.

The SMM re-visited five Ukrainian Armed Forces’ heavy weapons holding areas, all of which corresponded with the respective withdrawal lines. The SMM found that a number of previously-recorded weapons were absent, namely five self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) at one site, as has been the case since 24 July; and, four anti-tank guns (2A19 MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) at another site, as has been the case since 12 July.

The SMM observed the following weapons in areas that are in violation of the respective withdrawal lines: close to “DPR”-controlled Bezimenne (30km east of Mariupol), one main battle tank (MBT); and close to government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk), a 100mm anti-tank gun (MT-12).

In areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM observed two anti-tank guns (100mm, Rapira) and an MBT (T-64) near "LPR"-controlled Lutuhyne (21km south-west of Luhansk). In addition, it observed eight self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika) close to "LPR"-controlled Uspenka (23km south-west of Luhansk) and 19 MBTs (T-64) close to "LPR"-controlled Myrne (28km south-west of Luhansk), both training grounds.

At the three crossing points to Crimea – namely, Kalanchak, Chaplynka  and Chonhar (95, 90 and 162km south-east of Kherson, respectively) – the SMM observed a relatively calm situation with occasional arguments between some truck drivers and protesters (see Dally Report 22 September 2015). No cargo trucks were allowed through to Crimea. Two kilometres north of the Kalanchak crossing point, the SMM observed six to eight soldiers at a sand-bagged position. An infantry fighting vehicle with a mounted heavy-machine-gun was parked nearby.

In Mykolaiv (55km north-west of Kherson), a judge of the Mykolaiv central district court told the SMM that approximately 1,500 people – suspected of desertion from the  Ukrainian Armed Forces – are to be brought before the courts in the Mykolaiv region.

On 21 September, the secretary of the village council in Banyliv (40km west of Chernivtsi) told the SMM that the remains of two inhabitants – killed in fighting in the east in July 2014 – had been returned to their families in July 2015. He added that seven local men were currently serving with the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the east.

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

*Restrictions on SMM monitoring, access and freedom of movement:

The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by the parties and security considerations, including mine threats, and damaged infrastructure. The security situation in Donbas is fluid and unpredictable and the ceasefire does not hold everywhere. Self-imposed restrictions on movement into high-risk areas have impinged on SMM patrolling activities, particularly in some areas not controlled by the government. Members of the “LPR” continue to prevent the SMM from monitoring in some areas close to the border with the Russian Federation.

Denied access:

• Armed “DPR” members – in addition to threatening SMM members – denied the SMM passage beyond a checkpoint near “DPR”-controlled Zaichenko (26km north-east of Mariupol).

• On 21 September, armed “LPR” members did not allow the SMM access to an “LPR” training ground near “LPR”-controlled Uspenka (23km south-west of Luhansk), citing on-going live-fire exercises. Access was again denied the following day, with no explanation offered. While there, the SMM was also informed by an “LPR” “liaison officer” that access to the training ground in “LPR”-controlled Myrne (28km south-west of Luhansk) would be denied. No explanation was offered.

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