Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 29 May 2016

This report is for media and the general public.

On both Saturday and Sunday, the SMM observed more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with 27 May. The Mission followed up on allegations of shelling on both sides of the contact line. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and noted armoured combat vehicles and newly laid mines in the security zone. The SMM monitored the situation of civilians at checkpoints and observed border areas not controlled by the Government. In Chernivtsi, the SMM monitored a peaceful march to celebrate a Jewish holiday. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted on three occasions in areas not controlled by the Government.* East of Shyrokyne, near a “DPR” checkpoint, an armed man fired warning shots and pointed his weapon at the SMM, forcing the patrol to leave the area.

On both Saturday and Sunday, in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations [1] compared to 27 May.

On the night of 27 May, over an approximately two-hour period, the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded over 100 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire from east to west, south-east to north-west and south to north. After firing began from the east, the camera also recorded nine bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire from west to east. On 28 May, while driving in an easterly direction from Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol), a “DPR” member fired a burst of shots in the air from an AK-47 and adopted a kneeling position, pointing his weapon at an SMM vehicle and gesturing the patrol to stop and turn around. The SMM immediately left the area.*

The SMM continued to note high levels of ceasefire violations on the northern outskirts of Donetsk city. On the night of 27 May, whilst in Donetsk city centre, the SMM heard 47 undetermined explosions 5-6km north during a one-hour time period, 25 of them within just eight minutes. Later in the night, over a 40-minute time period, the SMM heard 31 undetermined explosions at the same distance and direction. On the night of 28 May, the SMM heard approximately 60 undetermined explosions over a 1.5-hour time period 5-7km north-east, 30 of them within a ten-minute period.

In “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 32 undetermined explosions throughout the morning and afternoon of 28 May 3-4km west. In government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) the SMM heard a nine-minute, continuous exchange of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire 2-3km south-east of its position on the same morning. Less than 30 minutes later, over an almost two-hour period, the SMM recorded approximately 80 explosions, mainly from automatic grenade launchers (majority impacts), but also explosions assessed as 82mm and 120mm mortar round impacts 3-8km south-east and 4-8km east of its position. The exchange included 45 explosions assessed as grenade impacts over a nine-minute period. On 29 May, whilst in Yasynuvata, the SMM heard over 100 undetermined explosions, mainly at locations 5km west and 2-3km west-north-west. In Avdiivka, during the same time period, the SMM heard over 300 explosions, two thirds of them assessed as grenade impacts but also over 70 assessed as 82mm mortar round impacts and airbursts and four 120mm mortar round impacts approximately 4-5km east and south-east.

Over a four-hour period late in the evening of 28 May, whilst in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard over 170 undetermined explosions and at least 530 bursts of heavy- and light-machine-gun fire 2km to the south-east of its position.

From its position in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM recorded almost 220 explosions, including mainly undetermined explosions assessed as caused by 82mm mortar rounds, grenades and recoilless gun (SPG-9, 73mm) rounds, as well as numerous bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 2-4km south-east to south-west on the night of 27 May. On the night of 28 May, the SMM recorded approximately 90 explosions, including 60 assessed as undetermined mortar round explosions and 21 assessed as mortar round impacts (unknown calibre in both cases) occurring at a radius of 3-7km south-east to south-west. During the day on 29 May, the SMM did not observe any ceasefire violations in Luhansk region.

The SMM followed up on reports of shelling on both sides of the contact line. On 28 May, in Kuibyshevskyi district in Donetsk city (7.5km north-west of Donetsk city centre) the SMM visited four locations damaged by shelling. The SMM assessed three craters as caused by artillery rounds (calibre unknown); one fired from the north-west, one from the north-north-west and one from within a radius of north-west to the north-north-east. The SMM observed broken windows, shrapnel damage to the masonry of walls and fences of four residential houses and three multi-storey residential buildings. A large hole was found in the ceiling of the fifth floor of one of the residential buildings (a five-storey building). The SMM also found six overhead electrical cables severed and one fence completely destroyed. At one of the locations, the SMM assessed that one or two airbursts (unknown direction and calibre) caused the damage. A gas pipeline located to the right of the main entrance of one of the multi-storey buildings had also been damaged and had temporarily been fixed with tape, though residents stated that they were still able to use the gas in their apartments. The SMM could smell gas leaking from the pipe. Residents at the four sites told the SMM that the shelling took place between midnight and 04:00. Interlocutors suggested that armed men sometimes fired from nearby areas before withdrawing their weapons soon after, as well as that “DPR” members had asked to fire mortars from the roof of a house. A Russian Federation representative of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) was present at the sites.

In “DPR”-controlled Dokuchaievsk (30km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM visited four locations damaged by shelling. The SMM observed damage to four houses, including shrapnel damage to walls, the ceiling of a bathroom, puncture holes on a metallic gate and door, and broken windows; the SMM found that some of the damage was on the northern side of the buildings. The SMM analysed six craters and assessed the impacts as being caused by 120mm mortar rounds fired from the west-south-west in five cases and from the west in one case. Residents told the SMM that the shelling had taken place on the night of 27 May. A Russian Federation representative of the JCCC and one “DPR” member were present at the sites.

In government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM observed fresh damage assessed as having been caused by heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire to the southern side of external walls and fences of five buildings (four of which were houses). In government-controlled Novohnativka (40km south of Donetsk), a man and a woman (both 50 years old) told the SMM that the shelling had taken place on the north-eastern edge of the village on the evening of 27 May. The SMM observed an impact but was unable to conduct a crater analysis. The SMM noted broken windows and a broken fence assessed as damaged by shrapnel at four houses along the street. The damage occurred on the northern side of two houses and on the eastern and western side of two other houses, as the rounds landed between the houses. The SMM assessed the damage as having been caused by 122mm or 152mm artillery rounds fired from the north.

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of heavy weapons as foreseen in the Minsk Package of Measures.

In violation of the withdrawal lines, the SMM continued to observe a surface-to-air missile system (9K35 Strela-10, 120mm) near government-controlled Nyzhnie (56km north-west of Luhansk) (see SMM Daily Report 27 May).

The SMM observed the presence of armoured combat vehicles, an anti-aircraft weapon, and other hardware in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, the SMM observed one armoured personnel carrier (APC, BTR-70) near Lopaskyne (23km north-west of Luhansk), one APC (BTR-60) near Nyzhnie, one APC (BTR-60) being towed near Slavne (26km south-west of Donetsk), three infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs; BMP-2) near Krymske (42km north-west of Luhansk), one IFV (BMP-2) near Stanytsia Luhanska, one IFV (BMP-2) near Popasna (69km north-west from Luhansk), one armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) near Popasna, two armoured reconnaissance vehicles (BRDM-2) near Novotoshkivske (53km west of Luhansk), two armoured reconnaissance vehicles (BRDM-2) near Troitske (69km west of Luhansk), one APC (BTR) mounted with a heavy machine-gun near Berezove (31km south-west of Donetsk), six heavy military trucks (KRAZ) with “Aidar” markings on them near Berezove, and one anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) in the back of a military truck near Popasna (69km north-west from Luhansk). On 28 May, the SMM observed one APC (BTR-60) near Popasna and on 29 May the SMM observed two APCs (BTR-60) near Popasna. In “DPR”-controlled areas, the SMM observed five military-type trucks (three KAMAZ and two ZIL) carrying a significant number of armed men east near the eastern entrance of Donetsk.

The SMM continued to monitor the presence of mines along the contact line, namely six newly laid anti-tank mines at an “LPR” checkpoint in Zolote (60km west of Luhansk).

The SMM continued to monitor queues at entry-exit checkpoints at the contact line. At the Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint at the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge in the morning on 28 May, the SMM noted a line of approximately 40 civilians waiting to walk towards non-government-controlled areas. One man told the SMM that he crossed the bridge regularly and had never experienced a faster crossing process at the checkpoint. The SMM also assessed the processing time as being faster than usually observed. On the opposite side of the bridge, approximately 200 people were waiting to cross towards government-controlled areas at an “LPR” checkpoint. On 29 May, at the government checkpoint north of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, the SMM observed approximately 150 people waiting to leave government-controlled areas. The SMM observed that within three minutes 17 people passed the checkpoint, which the patrol assessed as normal at this checkpoint. At 10:00, the SMM observed approximately 300 people queuing to pass towards government-controlled areas at the government-controlled checkpoint. In a ten-minute interval, 30 people passed the checkpoint. By 14:30, there was no queue of people waiting to walk in either direction at the government-controlled checkpoint.

On 28 May, at the “DPR” checkpoint near Olenivka (23km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM observed a line of approximately 113 civilian vehicles, one bus and 15 pedestrians waiting to move towards government-controlled areas and 120 civilian cars and one bus waiting to travel in the opposite direction.

The SMM monitored four areas alongside the border with the Russian Federation outside government control. At the Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, 65km south-east of Luhansk) border crossing point, the SMM observed 14 civilian cars parked near the checkpoint and three civilian cars queuing at the border. Over a 30 minute time period, the SMM observed nine civilian cars [2] (two with Russian Federation licence plates) and two female cyclists enter Ukraine. The SMM also observed eight civilian cars (four with Russian Federation licence plates) leave Ukraine. The SMM observed four covered commercial trucks approach the border checkpoint. One of them exited Ukraine while the others were waiting to pass in the same direction. At the Izvaryne (52km south-east of Luhansk) border crossing point, the SMM observed approximately 60 cars (ten with Russian licence plates), four buses, eight commercial trucks and 15 pedestrians queuing to leave Ukraine. There were 30 cars parked in the parking area. Over 30 minutes, SMM observed three cars, one bus with passengers, and one truck enter Ukraine. At the Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk) border crossing point, the SMM observed 15 cars (of which three had Russian licence plates) and 12 commercial trucks queuing to exit Ukraine. At the Marynivka (78km east of Donetsk) border crossing point, the SMM observed five civilian cars (two with Russian Federation licence plates) and eight commercial trucks waiting to leave Ukraine.

On 26 May in Chernivtsi, the SMM monitored a peaceful march to celebrate a Jewish holiday organized by members of the local Jewish community. Approximately 80 people participated in the march (men and women of different ages). Six uniformed police officers were present at the march, which concluded peacefully.

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

*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:

• On 28 May, as the SMM was travelling east from Shyrokyne, approaching a “DPR” checkpoint to the east of Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol), an armed man appeared from cover on the road and fired a burst of shots into the air from an AK-47. He took a kneeling position, pointed his weapon at the lead SMM vehicle and gestured to the patrol to stop and turn around. The SMM turned around and left the area. The Mission informed the JCCC.
   
• Armed “DPR” members continue to keep the power supply to SMM’s repeater in Donetsk city disconnected as they have been since 20 May. As a result, SMM remote monitoring equipment at “DPR”-controlled Oktiabr mine and in government-controlled Avdiivka are disabled (see SMM Daily Report 21 May 2016).

Delay:

• On 28 May, an armed man stopped the SMM at an “LPR” checkpoint near Sokilnyky (38km north-west of Luhansk). The SMM contacted the JCCC and was allowed to pass the checkpoint after a nearly 20 minute delay.

Other impediments:

• The SMM has yet to recover the presumed wreckage of its long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (see SMM Spot Report 27 May 2016) 

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

[2] Unless otherwise noted, all vehicles had Ukrainian licence plates.