Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 22 March 2016
This report is for the media and general public.
The SMM observed an increase in the number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared to the previous day. In Luhansk region the number of violations observed was similar to the previous day. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. It reached a border crossing point not controlled by the Government. Long queues of vehicles were observed at checkpoints near the contact line. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure. The SMM followed up on the situation affecting pensioners in areas close to the contact line. In Kyiv and Kharkiv, the Mission monitored public gatherings.
The SMM observed an increase in the number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region over the previous day.[1] Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city centre on 21 March between 20:50 and 22:22hrs, the SMM heard 26 undetermined explosions and two bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 5-10km north and north-west of its position. On 22 March, from a position at Donetsk railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk city centre) between 07:45 and 15:00hrs, the SMM heard two undetermined explosions 4-5km north-west of its position.
While in mirror positions in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) and in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM recorded intense and escalating exchanges of fire. From a position near the Donetsk water filtration station east of Avdiivka between 09:42 and 11:55hrs the SMM observed 26 undetermined explosions and small-arms fire 3-5km south-west. Positioned in Avdiivka between 09:42 and 10:07hrs the SMM heard 12 explosions assessed to have been automatic grenade launcher shots in areas 4-6km south-west. From the same location between 13:10 and 13:26hrs, the SMM saw and heard eight incoming 120mm mortar explosions and 30 bursts of small-arms fire approximately 3km east.
In the Avdiivka industrial zone (“Promzona”) the SMM saw human remains and a destroyed truck and approximately six pieces of unexploded ordnance (UXO) on the road. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer from the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) told the SMM that the truck and its two passengers had been hit by artillery on 20 March. The SMM observed a military medical team recover the remains. At 11:10hrs, the SMM heard an explosion approximately 150m from its position, assessed as an impact from a 73mm recoilless gun.
In “DPR”-controlled areas, the SMM moved its observation points throughout the day from Kashtanove (13km north-east of Donetsk) to different parts of Yasynuvata due to security considerations. Positioned in these areas between 13:10 and 13:45hrs the SMM recorded at least 300 undetermined explosions from 82mm mortars, automatic grenade launchers, rocket-propelled grenades and unknown weapons as well as multiple bursts of small-arms fire in areas 1-5km west and south-west.
In a government-controlled part of Zaitseve (50km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM and accompanying Ukrainian Armed Forces officers from the JCCC heard the sound of two bullets, one striking the ground 3-4m away, while the second hit a pole approximately 10m away. The SMM could not assess the direction of fire. The SMM immediately left the area.
While in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk) between 17:30 and 19:22hrs on 21 March, the SMM heard small-arms fire (including heavy-machine-gun fire) followed by 43 undetermined explosions and hundreds of shots of small-arms fire between 21:31 and 22:57hrs in areas 2-3km south-east.
In Luhansk region, the numbers of violations observed were similar to the previous day. While in government-controlled Dmytrivka (41km north of Luhansk), the SMM heard sporadic small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire in an area approximately 1km north, assessed as live-fire training in areas outside the security zone. The SMM heard two explosions in the vicinity of government-controlled Novotoshkivske (53km north-west of Luhansk) that Ukrainian Armed Forces said were controlled detonations.
In relation to the implementation of the Addendum to the Package of measures, the SMM revisited Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent storage sites whose locations corresponded with the withdrawal lines and observed that two mortars (BM-37, 82mm) had been removed, about which the SMM had been earlier informed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. One mortar (2B9, Vasilek, 82mm) was also missing, though another mortar of the same type and calibre was observed.
The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of heavy weapons foreseen in the Minsk Package of Measures. The SMM has yet to receive the full information requested in the 16 October 2015 notification. The SMM revisited locations known to the SMM as heavy weapons holding areas, even though they do not comply with the specific criteria set out for permanent storage sites in the 16 October 2015 notification.
In government-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM revisited such locations and observed 32 towed howitzers (14 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm, and 18 2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm) and six towed anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm). Six towed howitzers (2A65 Msta-B, 152mm) were missing; 23 anti-tank guns (22 MT-12 Rapira, 100mm and one T-12, 100mm) were missing, as observed since 11 December 2015.
In “DPR”-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM revisited such locations and observed six anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) and two towed howitzers (D-30, 122mm).
Beyond the withdrawal lines and outside storage sites the SMM observed two multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS, BM-21 Grad, 122mm) near government-controlled Kermenchyk (formerly Oktiabrske) (71km south-west of Donetsk).
The SMM observed the presence of other hardware: one stationary armoured combat vehicle (BMP-1) on the H15 road, approximately 10km south-west of “DPR”-controlled Donetsk; one Ural truck mounted with an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) near “LPR” controlled Vesela Hora (16km north of Luhansk); one multi-purpose tracked vehicle (MT-LB) in “LPR”-controlled Pervomaisk (57km west of Luhansk); one multi-purpose tracked vehicle (MT-LB) mounted with an anti-aircraft gun (calibre unknown) near “LPR”-controlled Kalynove-Borshchuvate (62km west of Luhansk); a civilian truck with an anti-aircraft gun (calibre unknown) on it in an “LPR”-controlled part of Zolote; an APC (BTR-70 or 71) near government-controlled Trokhizbenka (33km north of Luhansk).
The SMM monitored one part of the border not controlled by the Government. At “LPR”-controlled Dovzhanskyi (98km south of Luhansk) the SMM observed a queue of 22 civilian trucks (all with Ukrainian license plates) waiting to cross into the Russian Federation. All of the trucks were similar, almost new models. All were painted grey but no company name was displayed. The SMM could not observe if they transported anything. The SMM observed a civilian bus full of passengers and a queue of 24 cars, seven of which had Russian Federation license plates, the rest Ukrainian, all waiting to cross to the Russian Federation.
The “head of administration” in “DPR”-controlled Komsomolskyi (52km south-east of Donetsk) told the SMM that they had stopped preparations for possible “elections” citing a lack of instruction from “DPR”.
The SMM observed long lines at checkpoints close to the contact line. At the government-controlled checkpoint on highway H15 near government-controlled Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk) between 09:30 and 11:30hrs, the SMM observed a queue of 440 civilian vehicles (including ten buses) heading in the direction of government-controlled Kurakhove (40km west of Donetsk) and approximately 140 civilians (60 per cent women, 40 per cent men) on foot. No vehicles were observed queuing in the other direction. At the checkpoint the SMM noted four lines of vehicles covering the breadth of the road, some of which were positioned on the grass verges.
The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure. The SMM maintained a presence in the “LPR”-controlled part of Zolote (60km north-west of Luhansk) to enable repair works to a water pipeline in the government-controlled part of Zolote. In “LPR”-controlled Krasnyi Lyman (30km north-east of Luhansk) the SMM monitored the situation as the Luhansk water company worked to replace a pump.
In areas close to the contact line the SMM were told about the situation affecting pensioners. A group of five women and a man (aged between 50 and 60 years old) in “LPR”-controlled Petrivske (43km south-west of Luhansk) told the SMM that they no longer receive their state pensions. One man said he receives 2,500 roubles per month from the “LPR”. In “DPR”-controlled Ilinka and Kamianka (54 and 57km north-east of Donetsk respectively) three men and two women aged in their fifties or sixties told the SMM that they receive some income from the “DPR”. A former coalminer in his sixties told the SMM that he no longer received a state pension.
The SMM spoke with representatives of local authorities and the police in Rokytne, Sarny and Dubrovytsia (260, 311 and 343km respectively north-east of Lviv, Rivne region), all of whom expressed concern about the illegal digging of amber, which they said had become a significant security and environmental issue. Police told the SMM that they are not able to prevent the digging of amber, because, according to them, they do not have the necessary staff and resources.
In Kyiv and Kharkiv, the SMM monitored public gatherings outside the Russian Federation Embassy and Consulate, respectively. At the Embassy in Kyiv, the SMM observed ten elderly woman holding posters of Nadiya Savchenko. Three officers of the National Guard and five police officers monitored the event. In Kharkiv, the SMM observed 35 protestors (25 men and ten women aged from 25 to 60 years old) at the Consulate, some of whom held posters with the slogan, “Free Savchenko”. Twenty-five police officers and 15 officers of the National Guard monitored the event. Both gatherings passed off peacefully.
The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Kherson, Odessa, Ivano-Frankivsk, Dnepropetrovsk and Chernivtsi.
*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.
Besides the general restrictions mentioned above, the SMM did not encounter specific restrictions.
[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.
* 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”.