Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 28 March 2016

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM observed a high number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, mostly in the Yasynuvata-Avdiivka area. In Luhansk region the situation remained relatively calm and a low number of ceasefire violations was recorded. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The SMM observed the marking of mined areas in the security zone. It facilitated and monitored the retrieval of the body of a Ukrainian Armed Forces serviceman. The Mission reached four border crossing points in areas not controlled by the Government. The SMM encountered freedom of movement restrictions in areas not controlled by the Government.* In Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv and Odessa the SMM observed public demonstrations.

The SMM observed a high number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. [1] Of note, in contrast to the previous days, the SMM recorded no overnight ceasefire violations from its position in Donetsk city. From a position at Donetsk central railway station (“DPR”-controlled, 6km north-west of Donetsk city centre), between 10:32 and 16:00hrs on 28 March, the SMM saw and heard three airbursts, one air explosion, heard eight single shots and one burst of small-arms fire at locations ranging from 2-4km north-north-east, north, north-north-west and west of its position.

While in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk) between 18:15 and 20:23hrs on 27 March, the SMM heard two undetermined explosions caused by mortars (82mm), along with multiple bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire all in areas 2-5km south-south-west of its position. On 28 March, from the same position the SMM recorded four impacts (82mm mortar and SPG-9) 3km south-east of its position.

While in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) during the evening of 27 March, the SMM heard 20 impacts (82mm mortar and automatic grenade launcher), eight bursts of heavy-machine-gun and intermittent single shots of small-arms fire 10km north-east of its position.

In the area between government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) and “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM observed numerous ceasefire violations. From a position 3km west of Yasynuvata, between 10:45 and 14:55hrs on 28 March, the SMM heard a total of 139 undetermined explosions, 125 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire and 300 single shots of small-arms fire in areas 2-7km south-west and west-south-west of its position. Whilst in Avdiivka, the SMM heard at least 52 impacts of automatic grenade launcher rounds, seven impacts of recoilless gun (SPG-9, 73mm) rounds, two impacts of mortar rounds, one impact of a tank round, along with intensive small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire in areas 2-8km east-south-east of its position. The SMM observed consistent but intermittent exchange of fire between 10:14 and 15:18hrs and noted a spike between 12:15 and 12:27hrs, when it heard numerous impacts of automatic grenade launchers and recoilless gun (SPG-9, 73mm) rounds 4-7km east-south-east of its position.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded a low number of ceasefire violations. From a position 2km south-east of “LPR”-controlled Alchevsk (40km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard bursts and 30 single shots of small-arms fire 4km south of its position, assessed as live-fire training in areas outside the security zone. Whilst in “LPR”-controlled Veselohorivka (55km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard nine shots of small-arms and light weapons fire 8-10km south-west, ten outgoing artillery rounds 5km west-north-west, three outgoing mortar rounds and two impacts assessed as artillery or mortar rounds 5km west-south-west of its position.

While at a Ukrainian Armed Forces’ checkpoint in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM heard two loud explosions, 500m north-east of its position. After crossing the bridge the SMM met the Ukrainian Armed Forces representatives at the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) who stated that they had seen, few minutes before, two women walking out of the forest east of the bridge, towards the “LPR”-controlled checkpoint. At the “LPR” checkpoint, the “deputy commander” told the SMM that two grenades (40mm) had exploded at a nearby forest, east of the checkpoint, and had wounded one of the women. He showed the SMM a piece of shrapnel, which according to him was picked up from the wounded woman’s clothing. The SMM requested to speak with the women, but the “deputy commander” said that they had departed with a civilian bus towards Luhansk city. On the bridge and in the area of the “LPR”-controlled checkpoint, the SMM observed several fresh bloodstains on the ground.

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of heavy weapons as 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 respective withdrawal lines, the SMM revisited such locations and observed 20 towed howitzers (17 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm; three D-44, 152mm), 17 self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm), and six anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm). Thirty self-propelled howitzers (16 2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm; 14 2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm), four surface-to-air missile launchers (9K35 Strela-10, 120mm) and ten Addendum-regulated mortars (2B11 Sani, 120mm) were noted as missing. The SMM further observed ten additional Addendum-regulated mortars (2B11 Sani, 120mm) at one site.

In violation of the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM observed seven self-propelled howitzers (2S9 Nona-S, 120mm) stationary in an agricultural compound near “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk). On 27 March, while flying over “DPR”-controlled Leninskyi district of Donetsk city, an SMM mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted a compound holding, among other things, two surface-to-air missile systems (9K35 Strela-10, 120mm). Also, on 26 March, while flying over “DPR”-controlled Budonivskyi district of Donetsk city, an SMM mini UAV spotted what appeared to be a repair facility holding seven tanks in violation of the withdrawal lines, one armoured personnel carrier, and other sets of heavy equipment transport systems. At the same location, the UAV spotted a number of assessed by the SMM as non-serviceable hardware, including 11 tanks, one self-propelled howitzer (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm), one multiple launch rocket system (BM-21 Grad, 122mm), and 25 armoured personnel carriers (APCs).  

Beyond the withdrawal lines and outside storage sites, the SMM observed three self-propelled howitzers (2S5 Giatsint-S, 152mm) loaded on flatbed trucks in the vicinity of government-controlled Piddubne (85km west of Donetsk).

The SMM observed the presence of other hardware within the security zone in Luhansk and Donetsk regions: four infantry fighting vehicles (BMP-1) heading north near Debaltseve; a partially covered anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) mounted on a stationary Ural truck near an “LPR” checkpoint south of government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk); and one anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) mounted on a truck near "LPR"-controlled Sokilnyky (38km north-west of Luhansk). On 27 March, while flying over Leninskyi district of Donetsk city, an SMM mini UAV spotted a compound holding 18 APCs (among them two BTR-70, seven MTLB, six BMP-1), and one possible armoured recovery vehicle.

The SMM continued to observe the marking of mined areas within the security zone. In government-controlled area in Zolote (60km west of Luhansk), the SMM observed multiple mine hazard signs that had been recently placed on both sides of the road. The SMM observed a total of 200m of clearly visible markings of hazardous areas (wooden boards painted in red and white colour stating “Mine”), placed randomly in the government-controlled area along the road between Nyzhnoteple (26km north of Luhansk), Malynove (19km north-east of Luhansk) and Stanytsia Luhanska. In “DPR”-controlled Dokuchaievsk (32km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM observed four clearly visible mine hazard signs (wooden boards painted in red and white colour stating “Mine” in the Russian language) placed every 5m at a parking lot/entrance to a refinery. The employees clarified that the markings had been placed by the staff of the refinery after shelling (last year) as they feared that there was unexploded ordnance in the area. On the edge of “DPR”-controlled Styla (34km south of Donetsk), the SMM observed a clearly visible mine hazard sign (white and red colour, no symbol), 30m south of the main road. An unarmed “DPR” member in military-type clothing and two residents (one woman aged 50 and one man aged 30) separately stated that the area was mined.

The SMM facilitated adherence to ceasefire and monitored the retrieval of the body of a soldier, by a Ukrainian Armed Forces recovery team, from a field east of government-controlled Pavlopil (26km north-east of Mariupol). According to the Ukrainian Armed Forces representative at the JCCC in Mariupol the soldier was killed at 03:00hrs on 25 March by stepping on an anti-personnel mine.

The SMM observed long lines at checkpoints close to the contact line. At Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoints on highway H15 near government-controlled Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk) the SMM observed a 2.6km long queue of 511 civilian vehicles (including four buses) heading towards government-controlled areas and approximately 170 civilian vehicles travelling in the opposite direction. At the Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint in Stanytsia Luhanska the SMM observed approximately 300 people waiting to travel towards government-controlled areas and no pedestrians travelling in the opposite direction.

The SMM monitored border areas not controlled by the Government. At the Marynivka border crossing point (78km east of Donetsk) the SMM observed 70 civilian vehicles (with Ukrainian licence plates, except for one with “DPR” licence plates, and ten with Russian Federation licence plates) waiting to cross into the Russian Federation. Five men and one woman (aged between 30 and 50 years old) told the SMM separately that the average waiting time was approximately three hours. At the Izvaryne border crossing point (34km south-east of Luhansk) the SMM observed 122 civilian vehicles (30 with Russian Federation licence plates, others with Ukrainian licence plates), 12 civilian trucks (11 with Ukrainian license plates and one with Russian Federation licence plates) and two large buses (both with Ukrainian license plates) waiting to cross into the Russian Federation. Two men and one woman (aged between 40 and 50) stated the average waiting time was between 10-11 hours. At the Chervonopartyzansk border crossing point (67km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed 11 civilian vehicles (ten with Ukrainian licence plates and one with Russian Federation licence plates) and one civilian truck (with Ukrainian licence plates) waiting to cross into the Russian Federation. At the border crossing point in Verkhnoharasymivka (57km south-east of Luhansk) the SMM observed seven people crossing the border.

In Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Lviv the SMM observed public demonstrations. Near the Presidential Administration building in Kyiv, the SMM observed approximately 400 people (70 per cent men, 20-60 years of age) gathered around an improvised stage which had attached a banner with the words: “We demand independent prosecutors”. Several Members of Parliament from Bloc Petro Poroshenko and Samopomich spoke at the event and said that unsolved rule of law matters could lead to another Maidan. Approximately 80 people (mainly men aged between 30 and 40 years old) gathered in front of the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Lviv and called for the Prosecutor General’s resignation. In Kharkiv, approximately 50 activists (80 per cent men, different ages) demonstrated in front of the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in support of the Deputy Prosecutor General.

In Odessa, on 27 March the SMM monitored the weekly public gathering at Kulykove Pole in commemoration of the events of 2 May 2014 in Odessa. The number of participants, notably on the pro-Maidan side, was larger than usual, and the atmosphere was more antagonistic, with demonstrators from anti-Maidan and pro-Maidan groups singing loudly and able to get closer to each other. The SMM saw some 100 anti-Maidan activists (45-75 years of age, 70 per cent women) and some 150 pro-Maidan activists (16-55 years of age, 90 per cent men) on the square. The two sides were separated by approximately 40 officers of the National Guard, who tried but were unable to stop approximately 12-15 young pro-Maidan supporters from reaching anti-Maidan activists and physically pushing them and taking their flags. One member of the latter group was taken to an ambulance, bleeding from his nose. The crowd dispersed without further incident at the urging of the police at approximately 15:40hrs.

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

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

The SMM’s monitoring is restrained by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines and unexploded ordnance, and by restrictions of its freedom of movement and other impediments – which vary from day to day. The SMM's mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations.

Denial of access:

• At a “DPR” checkpoint in Staromykhailivka (16km west of Donetsk), an armed “DPR” member did not allow the SMM to pass through, unless accompanied by a “DPR” member, citing an order from the “commander” of a new unit that rotated in the area on 26 March.   

Delay:

• At a “DPR” checkpoint near Debaltseve, armed men requested the SMM to show the patrol plan. The SMM contacted the regional security officer and was allowed to proceed after 35 minutes.

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