Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 9 November 2015

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”, including the Addendum. Its monitoring was restricted by the parties and security considerations. The SMM visited the “LPR”-controlled Dolzhansky (84km south-east of Luhansk) border crossing point at the Ukrainian-Russian Federation border.

Positioned at a “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled location 6km north-west of Donetsk, the SMM heard between 08:30 and 15:30hrs, a total of 17 undetermined explosions and 3 bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire at a distance of 3-6km west-north-west, north-west and north-north-west of its position.

While in government-controlled Berdianske (16km east of Mariupol) the SMM heard between 13:15 and 13:30hrs six undetermined explosions at a distance of approximately 10km north-north-west of its position.

At “DPR”-controlled Marynivka (79km east of Donetsk) border crossing point at the Ukrainian-Russian Federation border, the SMM observed a queue of 80 civilian cars, lined up to cross into the Russian Federation.

The SMM observed approximately 300 civilians cars lined up at the Government checkpoint on H15 highway (20km south-west of Donetsk) waiting to proceed into government-controlled areas. At the Government checkpoint in Novotroitske (32km south of Donetsk) the SMM observed approximately 150 civilian vehicles lined up to cross into “DPR”-controlled areas. In the opposite direction approximately 20 civilian vehicles were lined up waiting to proceed into government-controlled areas.

Whilst in Volnovakha the SMM observed a convoy of 10 trucks with “Rinat Akhmetov Foundation” labels heading in the direction of Donetsk city on highway H20.

The situation in Luhansk region remained relatively calm.

The SMM visited the “Lugansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”)-controlled Dolzhansky (84km south-east of Luhansk) border crossing point at the Ukrainian-Russian Federation border*. At the border crossing point the SMM observed 10 civilian trucks lined up to cross into the Russian Federation. Half of the trucks had Ukrainian registration plates and were loaded with coal. According to some of the drivers the SMM spoke with, coal was supposed to be delivered in an area close to the border on the Russian Federation side. Furthermore, the SMM saw that 10 civilian trucks - lined up on the Russian Federation side waiting to proceed into “LPR”-controlled areas.

In the "LPR"-controlled area between the Prince Igor monument and the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (16km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM facilitated a window of silence to enable repair works by the Luhansk Electric Company Network. The company employees continued felling trees to access pylons and thus enable repair work to start east of the bridge checkpoint in the “LPR”-controlled area.

In “LPR”-controlled Vesela Hora (16km north of Luhansk) the SMM facilitated safe access for employees from the Luhansk-based Electricity Company to conduct repair works. The repair works included replacing isolators on towers which support high voltage power lines, which provide electricity to a substation near “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (71km south-west of Luhansk).

In relation to the implementation of the Addendum to the Package of measures, the SMM revisited four Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent weapons storage sites whose locations corresponded with the respective withdrawal lines. At two of the sites, the SMM observed that all previously-recorded weapons were present. At the third the SMM noted that two mortars listed in the inventory were missing. At the fourth the SMM observed two previously-recorded mortars missing.

The SMM visited two other Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent weapons storage sites for the first time. At the first the SMM noted that numbers of weapons did not match the inventory list provided to the SMM. At the site the serial number on one weapon was missing.

On 9 November the SMM began to implement more effective monitoring and verification of heavy weapons withdrawal, having notified the signatories of the Memorandum and Package of Measures of specific criteria on 16 October. The government had not yet provided all the requested inventory of heavy weapons, or locations of designated heavy weapons permanent storage sites. Likewise, neither “DPR”, nor “LPR” had provided such information to the SMM.

Nonetheless, in relation to the implementation of the Package of measures, the SMM revisited locations that do not comply with the specific criteria set out in the 16 October notification, but are beyond the respective withdrawal lines and known to the SMM as heavy weapons holding areas.

In government-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM revisited two such holding areas and observed 17 anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm), but could not account for nine self-propelled howitzers (four 2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm, and five 2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm), or four towed guns (2A36, 152mm) previously observed in these areas. The SMM also observed three self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) close to civilian buildings in Popasne (59km north-west of Luhansk) and  31 main battle tanks near Topolyne (20km north-west of Mariupol).

In parts of Donetsk region outside government control the SMM observed six self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm), six multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM21 Grad, 122mm), and seven towed howitzers (D-30, 122mm).

The SMM met the head of the Jewish community in Kolomiya (60km south-east of Ivano-Frankivsk) following media reports concerning a fire damaging the roof and wall of a chapel at the Jewish cemetery. According to him, the fire in the night from 2 to 3 November was a deliberate arson attempt, adding that the chapel already had been set on fire in September 2015. The head of district police said that the police are investigating the incident as arson attacks under Article 194 (2) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

In Odessa, the SMM monitored on 7 November the weekly anti-Maidan commemoration for the victims of 2 May 2014 events at Kulykove Pole. The SMM observed about 60 anti-Maidan activists (majority women of different ages) commemorating in front of the trade union building. Approximately 80 metres away from the commemoration, the SMM observed 16 pro-Maidan activists (majority men of different ages). The SMM observed 30 police officers, including eight from the new police patrol unit. The SMM also observed two buses of anti-riot units parked behind the trade union building. The fence in front of the trade union building was freshly painted in red and black, displaying the phrase “Odessans were killed under Ukrainian flag”; and “Genocide” was written on the ground in front of the central flagpole of the square. The event ended at around 15:17hrs.

The SMM observed protest camps in Kyiv, in Mariyinskyi Park, near the Parliament and in front of the Cabinet of Ministers building. In front of the Cabinet of Ministers building, the tent camp with over 30 tents of the “Tariff Maidan” remained, but very few protesters were present. The SMM observed approximately 25-50 people (middle aged to elderly, mostly male) present over the course of the day, and no more than 10 police officers at the site. Some of the protestors wore different types of camouflage without insignia. In front of the Parliament, the SMM observed the continuing presence of three tents of the “Financial Maidan” and 10 protestors (elderly, mixed gender). Between 6 and 12 police officers were visible in the area during the day. Approximately 20 National Guard servicemen were present in Mariyinskyi Park.

Also in Kyiv, the SMM observed approximately 65 people (majority female of different age) demonstrating in front of the Presidential Administration. The protestors were calling for the protection of and increased public use of the Ukrainian language. The rally was organized by the non-governmental organisation (NGO) “Vidsich” (Resistance). The NGO called for obligatory Ukrainian voiceovers for TV and radio, an increase of the ratio of newspapers printed in Ukrainian to 50%; financial support and tax benefits for Ukrainian books and movies, and officials who choose not to use the state language to be laid off. The SMM observed five police officers 15 National Guards at the gathering.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Kharkiv, Dnepropetrovsk, Kherson, Chernivtsi and Lviv.

*Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to the fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by the parties and security considerations, including mine threats, damaged infrastructure, and the unpredictability of the situation in Donbas. ”LPR” members continue to prevent the SMM from monitoring most areas close to the border with the Russian Federation in parts of Luhansk region not controlled by the Government.

Conditional access:

At “LPR”-controlled Dolzhansky (84km south-east of Luhansk) border crossing point at the Ukrainian-Russian Federation border the SMM was stopped and checked by “LPR” “border guards”, requesting to see the SMM’s patrol plan, demanding a copy of it and inquired about the purpose of the visit. Although the SMM explained that “LPR” members were not entitled to review patrol plans it complied with the request *.

Interference with UAV:

The SMM UAV was subjected to GPS jamming on just after taking off in government-controlled area of Manhush (19km west of Mariupol). The UAV had to land immediately.