Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 20 April 2016

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared to the previous day. In Luhansk region, fewer ceasefire violations were recorded in comparison to the previous day. The Mission noted a significant number of weapons in Luhansk city, in violation of withdrawal lines, while other weapons were missing from holding areas. It analysed craters in an area close to the contact line. The SMM spoke to the head of the Bakhmut (formerly Artemivsk) regional administration regarding the presence of unmarked graves.

The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared to the previous day [1]. On the night of 19 April, positioned in Donetsk city centre, the SMM heard 142 undetermined explosions approximately 7-10km west-north-west and north-west, and bursts of heavy-machine-gun and anti-aircraft fire in areas ranging from north-west to south-west of its position.

Over a two-hour period on the night of 19 April in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM observed continuous shelling, involving 164 explosions (92 mortars, 72 undetermined), at least 63 bursts of infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) cannon (BMP-2) fire, and bursts of heavy-machine-gun and anti-aircraft fire at locations north to north-west of its position.

While stationary at an observation post at “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk city) railway station, the SMM, over an approximate four-hour period, heard 18 undetermined explosions and several bursts of automatic-grenade-launcher (AGL) and small-arms fire 3-10km west, west-south-west and west-north-west of its position.

The SMM, positioned in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk),  heard, over approximately five hours, 16 automatic-grenade-launcher (AGL) impacts, 13 rocket-propelled grenade impacts, multiple recoilless gun (SPG-9, 73mm) round impacts, 18 rounds of automatic grenade launcher and several mortar round impacts and explosions approximately 2-3km east of its position. While monitoring the area, the SMM monitors heard a bullet fly 2-3m above their heads, fired from the east. The SMM left immediately.

Whilst in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM heard 20 impacts approximately 16km south-west of its location, assessed as caused by artillery.

Positioned near government-controlled Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk city centre) the SMM heard 26 explosions assessed as mortar rounds (82 and 120mm, 13 outgoing), and five undetermined explosions.

On 20 April, from a position at “DPR”-controlled Donetsk central railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk city centre), the SMM heard, over approximately eight hours, over 100 undetermined explosions and a burst of small-arms fire at locations 2-5km north-east and north-west of its position.

In Luhansk region, fewer ceasefire violations were recorded in comparison to the previous day. Whilst north-west of government-controlled Troitske (69km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 18 undetermined explosions 15-20km south-west of its position. After passing through a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint near Troitske, the SMM heard four shots of small-arms 500m south-east from the vicinity of the checkpoint. The shots were not aimed at the SMM. Positioned in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk) on the evening of 19 April, the SMM recorded a total of ten shots of small-arms fire in an area 3km south, representing far fewer ceasefire violations compared to the nightly shelling over the last week.

The SMM analysed craters in an area close to the contact line. In the vicinity of the Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint at Maiorsk (45km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM analysed two fresh craters assessed to have been caused by 82mm mortar rounds fired from the south.

In violation of the Addendum to the Package of Measures – in particular, the withdrawal lines – the SMM observed seven tanks (T-72) in “LPR”-controlled Luhansk city.

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.

In violation of the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM saw seven multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS; BM-21 Grad, 122mm), seven self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm), and ten towed howitzers (five 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm, and five D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm) in “LPR”-controlled Luhansk city.

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: 84 howitzers (36 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm; 18 towed 2A36/Giatsint-B, 152mm; 14 2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm; 16 2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm); six anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) and 16 mortars (seven 2B11, 122mm, five PM-38, 120mm, four 2B11 Sani, 120mm). Eleven howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) were absent. One site was abandoned – as it has been since 11 March - with all previously recorded weapons (six D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm) absent. At one area, eight mortars (2B11 Sani, 120mm) were absent.

In “DPR”-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM revisited such locations and observed 14 howitzers (eight 2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm, and six 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm).

The SMM spoke to the head of the Bakhmut (formerly Artemivsk) district administration regarding the presence of unmarked graves in the area (see SMM Daily Report, 14 April 2016). He told the SMM that in the summer of 2014, battles took place in the area of government-controlled Spirne (96km north-east of Donetsk) and government-controlled Berestove (90km north-east of Donetsk) and that an unknown number of bodies were buried in unmarked graves. Residents in the area also told the SMM of the existence of such graves.

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

*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 alongside the border in parts of Luhansk region not controlled by the Government, and consistently demand to review SMM patrol plans.

Delay:

• On 19 April, armed “DPR” members wearing “police” and military-type uniforms stopped the SMM and prevented it from proceeding into Yasynuvata for 53 minutes.
• Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers stopped the SMM at a checkpoint near Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), recorded the names of patrol members and the number plates of vehicles. They delayed the SMM for 30 minutes.

Conditional access:

• Armed “DPR” members insisted on escorting the SMM to an observation post in Yasynuvata.

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