Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 28 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 Donetsk and Luhansk regions and the SMM recorded a small number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region.

The SMM recorded a limited number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. While at the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) observation post at Donetsk central railway station (“Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled, 8km north-west of Donetsk), the SMM recorded 13 explosions, between 10:10 and 10:34hrs[1]. Six occurred at a distance of 3-4km to the north-north-west, four 6-8km to the north and another three 4-5km to the north of the SMM’s position. The SMM assessed that the explosions were likely controlled detonations related to demining.

In “DPR”-controlled Mospyne (22km south-east of Donetsk), between 10:15 and 11:20hrs the SMM heard 25 explosions approximately 5km east of its location. In Mospyne, the SMM also met the “head” of the local administration to discuss the issue of the firing range situated near “DPR”-controlled Novodvirske (38km south-east of Donetsk) (see SMM Daily Report for 24 September).

The SMM facilitated the visit of an MH-17 recovery team to Hrabove (“DPR”-controlled, 65km north-east of Donetsk) and Rozsypne (“DPR”-controlled, 60km east of Donetsk). The recovery team observed the MH-17 crash sites.  

On the outskirts of Pavlopil (government-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM observed four anti-personnel mines (type PMN 1/2) in the immediate vicinity of the village sign. At a government-controlled checkpoint in Hnutove (20km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM observed at the southern entrance of the checkpoint a group of 50 civilians that had dismounted a bus and were waiting to cross the checkpoint on foot. At the northern checkpoint entrance, the SMM saw 20 civilian vehicles waiting to proceed in the direction of Mariupol.

In Donetsk city, the SMM met with hospital staff and the parents of the seven-year-old boy seriously injured during the 24 September events near “DPR”-controlled Torez (see SMM Daily 25 September). The SMM was told that the boy remains in critical condition, in need of intensive care, but is expected to recover.

In Luhansk region, the SMM observed a generally calm security situation and no ceasefire violations.

In the area of “Lugansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”)-controlled Stepanivka (61km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM observed an infantry fighting vehicle (BMP-2), two military-type trucks, and an existing stationary command post with an “LPR” flag. In the area of “LPR”-controlled Uspenka (22km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM observed one BMP-1 being transported on a tank trailer moving south.

The SMM observed a mined area 10m south-west of the Donetsk region sign, in an “LPR”-controlled area about 3km east of “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (80km north-east of Donetsk). It was marked with wooden signs with faded paint.

Near government-controlled Zolote (60km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM continued to facilitate a window of silence to ensure access to water pipes that run across the contact line. An engineer was thus able to inspect the condition of the water pipes as a continuation of work undertaken on 27 September (see SMM Daily Report 27 September).

The SMM re-visited three “DPR” heavy weapons holding areas, whose locations comply with respective withdrawal lines, and observed that all previously recorded weapons were present at one of the areas. At a second area, the SMM observed two howitzers (152mm 2A65 Msta-B) to be missing (both have been missing since 16 September). The SMM observed that a third area, which used to hold six anti-tank guns (100mm MT-12 Rapira), continued to be abandoned, as it had been since 17 September according to the SMM’s observation (see SMM Daily Report 17 September).

The SMM unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) observed in the area of “DPR”-controlled Komsomolske (74km north-east of Mariupol) seven main battle tanks (MBTs) and in the area of “DPR”-controlled Petrivske (77km north-east of Mariupol) one self-propelled howitzer. Beyond the respective withdrawal line, the SMM UAVs continued to observe a concentration of more than 60 MBTs and other military hardware in a training area south-west of “DPR”-controlled Torez (61km east of Donetsk) (see SMM Daily Report 27 September).

In Veselohorivka  (“LPR”-controlled 63km south-west of Luhansk), just 500m west of the contact line, the SMM heard from local residents that on 25 September power supply to the village was reestablished for the first time since shelling in January 2015 destroyed the infrastructure. The repair works were carried out during windows of silence facilitated by the SMM.

Near the Vadym railway station between the Kalanchak and Chaplynka administrative boundary line crossing points (70km and 77km respectively south-east of Kherson), the SMM saw activists at the site, one of whom introduced the group as members of Auto-Maidan Kyiv and Odessa, Right Sector (Pravyi Sektor), Donbas volunteer battalion under the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Aidar volunteer battalion under the Ministry of Defence. They had laid a concrete block, which the SMM observed them further securing by pouring concrete between the rails, and an anti-tank hedgehog on the rails leading to the Titan plant located on the Crimean peninsula. The SMM observed the arrival of one police car with four officers who photo- and video- documented the scene.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Kharkiv, Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Odessa, 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:

• On 28 September, near Ternove (“DPR”-controlled, 57km east of Donetsk), an armed “DPR” member did not allow the SMM to pass through a temporary checkpoint. He said he was unable to obtain authorization from his superiors.

• On 28 September, at a checkpoint in government-controlled Zolote (60km north-west of Luhansk), Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel prevented the SMM from passing, claiming that sniper fire had occurred in the immediate vicinity of the checkpoint as the SMM was approaching it.

Delayed access:

• On 28 September, in “LPR”-controlled Stepanivka (61km south-west of Luhansk) armed “LPR” members stopped the SMM at a checkpoint and instructed them to return to the main road, further away from the contact line.

• On 27 September, Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) officers stopped the SMM at a checkpoint located in Andronivka (125km east of Dnepropetrovsk, in the vicinity of the Dnepropetrovsk-Donetsk region administrative boundary). The officers demanded identification and searched the SMM vehicle. The SMM was thus delayed for about 40 minutes. The SMM was not hindered on its return through that checkpoint.

Interference with the UAV:

• While flying over “DPR”- controlled Torez (61km east of Donetsk) the SMM UAV was jammed.

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