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

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM noted a calm situation around Donetsk airport with the exception of one firing incident observed on the outskirts of the airport. The SMM registered several explosions, heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire in limited locations. The SMM continued to note partial non-compliance in relation to the withdrawal of heavy weapons and Addendum-related weapons. In Donetsk and Luhansk regions, it could reach three border crossing points in areas not controlled by the Government.

From the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) observation post at “Donetsk People’s Republic”(“DPR”)-controlled Donetsk railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk), the SMM did not record any ceasefire violations at and around “DPR”-controlled Donetsk airport (9km north-west of Donetsk city). At a hotel located 200-300m from the JCCC observation post at “DPR”-controlled Donetsk railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk), the SMM observed an impact on the western wall of the hotel building between 3rd and 4th floor and assessed it to have been caused by 30mm-calibre ammunition fired from a westerly direction.  A tailor and a bakery saleswomen separately told the SMM that the impact had occurred on 27 November.

The SMM recorded a limited number of ceasefire violations in other locations – explosions and small-arms and light-weapons fire – in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions[1]. For example, the SMM heard one undetermined explosion in government-controlled Orikhove (43km north-west of Donetsk).

The SMM patrolled in three of four prioritized areas where demining work is expected to be conducted jointly with the facilitation of the SMM. In government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard more than three explosions of automatic-grenade launcher fire and exchanges of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire between government-controlled Butovka mine and “DPR”-controlled Spartak (12 and 10km north-west of Donetsk). In the areas of “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) and government-controlled Hirske (62km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM observed a calm situation.

In addition, the SMM observed ceasefire violations, which it assessed to have been part of training exercises. At a training ground in government-controlled Trokhizbenka (33km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard and saw approximately 200 rounds of small-arms and automatic-cannon (30mm 2A42 BMP-2) fire.

In relation to the implementation of the Addendum to the Package of measures, the SMM visited Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent weapons storage sites whose locations corresponded with the withdrawal lines. At one of the sites, the serial numbers of two main battle tanks (MBT; T-64) and six mortars (2B9, 82mm) did not match the serial numbers in the inventory.

Also in areas beyond the withdrawal lines – but outside storage sites – the SMM observed the following Addendum-proscribed weapons: 20 MBTs at a training ground in “LPR”-controlled Kruhlyk (31km south-west of Luhansk).

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of heavy weapons. Neither “DPR” nor “LPR” members have yet provided inventories or locations of designated permanent storage sites for these weapons as requested by the SMM on 16 October. The Ukrainian military authorities have provided an inventory list of military equipment featuring weapons systems, as well as their serial numbers. The SMM revisited locations beyond the respective withdrawal lines known to the SMM as heavy weapons holding areas, even though these did not comply with the specific criteria set out in the 16 October notification.

At Ukrainian Armed Forces holding areas the SMM observed 12 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-27 Uragan, 220mm) and 17 towed anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm). The SMM observed at one of the holding areas that previously recorded weapons were missing: one towed anti-tank gun (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm), four self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm), five towed howitzers (2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm) and eight radio guided anti-tank systems (9K114-Shturm, 134mm). The SMM also observed a number of Addendum-proscribed weapons located at Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapons holding areas.

In addition to heavy weapons at holding areas, the SMM observed the following heavy weapons in areas in violation of the withdrawal lines: Near “LPR”-controlled Yurivka (26km south-west of Luhansk) 12 stationary towed howitzers (D30, 122 mm). Three armed “LPR” members prevented the SMM from approaching the weapons*.

The SMM monitored the presence and movement of other hardware. It observed: a military convoy heading west, consisting of 19 armoured combat vehicles (BMP) and several support vehicles, as well as three armoured vehicles moving towards the contact line in the area of government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk); a convoy of 17 military-type trucks (Kamaz and Ural) heading west on the highway H21 between “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city and Makiivka (12km north-east of Donetsk); a stationary convoy consisting of nine vehicles including one armoured combat vehicle (BRDM-1) and five military-type trucks with armed individuals wearing camouflage uniform in the area of “DPR”-controlled Olenivka (23km south-west of Donetsk).  

The SMM followed up on information that a civilian had been injured by gunshots at a checkpoint. At a checkpoint in government-controlled Novotroitske (36km south-west of Donetsk) a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer told the SMM that an injured civilian man, who had driven from “DPR”-controlled areas, had arrived at the checkpoint and fainted. He added that the man, who had a substantial injury to his left side between his waist and armpit, had been transported to Volnovakha hospital (government-controlled, 53km south of Donetsk). The wife of the injured, who had been with her husband in the vehicle, stated that unknown personnel had fired and her husband had suffered three gunshot wounds near a checkpoint in “DPR”-controlled Olenivka (23km south-west of Donetsk). 

The SMM monitored a number of locations – not controlled by the Government – along the Ukraine-Russian Federation border. In “DPR”-controlled Novoazovsk (53km east of Mariupol), the SMM observed 80 civilian cars (most of them with Ukrainian registration plates) queuing to cross to the Russian Federation. In “LPR”-controlled Dolzhansky (84km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw five civilian cars and two civilian trucks (all of them with Ukrainian registration plates) queuing to cross to the Russian Federation. The SMM also visited the pedestrian crossing point at “LPR”-controlled Novoborovytsi (79km south of Luhansk), where it observed that the crossing point was open but once again not staffed on the Ukrainian side of the border (see SMM Daily report 27 October). During the observation, nobody was crossing the border in either direction.

Following up on media reports on a Molotov cocktail attack on cars in Kharkiv, the SMM went to the alleged site, where it observed two completely burnt out vehicles and a slightly-damaged truck belonging to a local volunteer Non-governmental organization (NGO). A representative of the NGO told the SMM that in the early morning, Molotov cocktails had been thrown at their cars. A district police officer informed the SMM that a criminal investigation had been launched under article 194 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (intentional destruction of or damage to property).

The SMM followed up on the situation of power supply across the administrative boundary line between Kherson region and Crimea. In Chaplynka (80km south-east of Kherson), the SMM spoke to three activists from the Azov volunteer battalion (under the Ministry of Internal Affairs) who said that the repair work on the line had substantially been finished the previous day (see SMM Daily Report 21 November) and that additional work required prior to re-energising the line included the de-earthing of the overhead cables and reconnection. They added that that their leadership had instructed them not to interfere with the repair work being conducted by the Ukrenergo workers (see SMM Daily Report 25 November).

On 29 November, on Independence Square (the Maidan) in Kyiv, the SMM observed a demonstration of 150 people (mostly males in their twenties, some of them had their faces covered) with the flags of “Revolutionary Right Forces” and voluntary battalions including “OUN” volunteer battalion. From the Maidan, the demonstrators marched to Desiatynna street near Mikhaylovska Square, where they attempted to storm the premises of a company (JSC “System Capital Management”) and threw smoke bombs and flares towards the entrance of the building. The SMM saw that around 500 police officers and National Guard officers completely blocked the building, pushing back the demonstrators. The SMM observed some demonstrators expressing their discontent with the owner of the company (Rinat Akhmetov) and law enforcement forces. Later, the demonstrators moved back towards the Maidan and dispersed peacefully.   

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

*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 many areas close to the border with the Russian Federation in parts of Luhansk region not controlled by the Government.

Denial of access:

• At a checkpoint in the vicinity of “LPR”-controlled Pionerske (19km east of Luhansk), two armed “LPR” members prevented the SMM from entering Pionerske citing unspecified security reasons.
• In the area of “LPR”-controlled Yurivka (26km south-west of Luhansk), three armed “LPR” members stopped the SMM at a distance of 100m from towed howitzers, when it was approaching the weapons on foot. After they firmly demanded to leave the area, the SMM returned to their vehicles parked 400m away, where it heard a single shot, possibly fired from one of the “LPR” members. Due to the distance between the SMM position and armed personnel, the SMM was unable to assess whether the shot was fired accidently or intended as a warning.

* Please see the section at the end of this report entitled “Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to the fulfilment of its mandate”.

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