Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 7 July 2016

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared to the previous day. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded a number of ceasefire violations, compared to none the previous day. The SMM followed up on reports of shelling in Novooleksandrivka and Verhulivka. The Mission observed nine howitzers in violation of the withdrawal line, near “LPR”-controlled Buhaivka. Civilians expressed their anger at continued shelling while other civilians expressed their frustration over water cuts. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure in government-controlled Shchastia, “LPR”-controlled Krasnyi Lyman and near government-controlled Toretsk.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared to the previous day [1].

While in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk) on the night of 6-7 July the SMM heard ten outgoing artillery (122mm) explosions 5km north-east and ten artillery (122mm) impacts 5km west between 04:00 and 04:10. Between 05:00 and 05:03 the SMM heard ten outgoing artillery (122mm) explosions 5km north-east and 10 artillery (122mm) impacts 5km west. The SMM also heard six undetermined explosions, one burst from an infantry fighting vehicle (BMP-1) cannon (73mm) and bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 5km north-east.

During the night of 6-7 July, the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol), recorded one explosion east-north-east. The camera recorded direct tracer fire, starting with two bursts of direct tracer fire from west to east at 22:11 and 23:22. Between 00:09 and 02:00 the camera recorded 52 bursts of direct tracer fire from south-west to north-east, four bursts of direct tracer fire from south to north-north-east, six bursts of direct tracer fire from west to east and seven bursts of direct tracer fire from east to west or north-west.

While in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk city), the SMM heard 37 undetermined explosions and bursts of small-arms-fire 1-5km north-north-west, north-west and north. Between 09:30 and 15:00 the SMM, positioned in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) recorded no ceasefire violations.

Positioned near “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north of Donetsk) the SMM heard two undetermined explosions 4km south-east.

While in government-controlled Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM heard seven undetermined explosions and small-arms fire 1-1.5km north-east.

In “DPR”-controlled Kominternove (23km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard one explosion assessed as an outgoing 120mm mortar round, 2km south-south-west of its position.

While in government-controlled Talakivka (17km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard – over a five-minute period - uncountable bursts of small arms-fire at an unknown distance south-west of its position.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded some ceasefire violations compared to none the day before. Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Slovianoserbsk (28km north-west of Luhansk) the SMM heard two undetermined explosions 3-5km north-north-east. While in government-controlled Orikhove (57km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard one undetermined explosion and small-arms fire in an area south-east. In government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) on the night of 6 July, the SMM heard one undetermined explosion about 1km south-east of its position (assessed as mine or booby trap detonation) and small-arms fire in the same area a short time later.

On 6 and 7 July, in the proposed disengagement area west of “DPR”-controlled Petrivske (41km south of Donetsk) the Ukrainian and Russian Federation Armed Forces Major Generals from the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) did not co-operate to ensure security for the SMM.* Following a similar failure of control and co-ordination, the SMM could not cross the contact line on the M03 road between Svitlodarsk and “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk), necessitating a long detour.

The SMM followed up on reports of shelling. In Novooleksandrivka (65km west of Luhansk) the SMM saw damage to a roof of a house assessed as caused by automatic-grenade-launcher (AGS) fire from the east. The owner of the house, a 60-year-old woman, said her house had been hit during an exchange of fire on 6 July at approximately 21:00. Nearby, the SMM saw six fresh craters in the yard of a house, assessed as caused by automatic grenade-launcher (AGS, 40mm) fired from an easterly direction. On the western side of “LPR”-controlled Verhulivka (61km west of Luhansk) the SMM observed three fresh craters (two on the road and one in a field) and assessed them as caused by artillery (122mm) or mortar (120mm).

In areas near the contact line civilians expressed their anger and frustration at continued shelling. In the Kashtanove neighbourhood of Yasynuvata three residents (two women in their sixties and a man in his thirties) told the SMM that the security situation had deteriorated significantly over the last few weeks. At a market in “DPR”-controlled Kuibyshivskyi district of Donetsk city (6km west of city centre) a group of 10-12 civilians told the SMM of the trauma of night-time shelling. Many were emotional, some were angry and others were in tears as they told the SMM of the stress of living amidst fighting. The SMM heard small-arms fire in the area on 6 July (see SMM Daily Report 7 July), and following up, found a military-type training area at the bottom of a slagheap with practice targets, within the security zone. A military-type truck carrying men wearing military-type clothes was observed leaving the area.

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, in implementation of the Package of Measures and its Addendum, as well as the Minsk Memorandum.

In violation of the respective withdrawal lines the SMM observed nine self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) at what appeared to be a training range in “LPR”-controlled Buhaivka (37km south-west of Luhansk). At the same location the SMM also observed one armoured tracked vehicle (MT-LB), and approximately 20 unarmed men and two armed men wearing military-style clothes.

Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside assigned areas the SMM saw at a known training area near “LPR”-controlled Myrne (28km south-west of Luhansk) 13 tanks (T-64 and T-72) and one infantry fighting vehicle (BMD), all stationary. In government-controlled Shyrokyi (38km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed the Ukrainian Armed Forces training with three 120mm mortars in front of the local school yard.

The SMM observed an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM) in the security zone, travelling north towards government-controlled Trokhizbenka (32km north-west of Luhansk).

On both sides of the contact line civilians told the SMM of cuts to the water supply. In “LPR”-controlled Krasnyi Yar (30km south of Luhansk), a female shopkeeper (about 60 years old) and a male pensioner (approximately 70 years old) told the SMM that tap water was available once a week for a few hours, and that they depended on a truck delivering water on a weekly basis. Residents in government-controlled Shyrokyi told the SMM that tap water was supplied for two hours a day.

The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure. From government-controlled Trokhizbenka the SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable maintenance works of the water and gas supplies near “LPR”-controlled Krasnyi Lyman (30km north-west of Luhansk). Near government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) the SMM maintained a presence as repair work was carried out in the power plant. The repair team completed repairs to high-voltage lines by the end of the day; work will continue on repairing a water pump in the coming days. The SMM facilitated and monitored demining works to enable repair of a gas pipeline near “LPR”-controlled Pryshyb (34km north-west of Luhansk). SMM patrols on opposite sides of the contact line facilitated and monitored repair works in the area of a factory near government-controlled Toretsk (formerly Dzerzhynsk, 43km north of Donetsk). At 12:54 Russian Federation Armed Forces officers at the JCCC in Horlivka told the SMM that “DPR” members had withdrawn security guarantees. The SMM then left the area. 

*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:

• During the morning, armed men at an “LPR” checkpoint immediately south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (16km north-east of Luhansk) denied the SMM access to the bridge as it did not share their patrol plan. The JCCC was informed.
• In the afternoon, armed men at the “LPR” checkpoint immediately south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge once again denied the SMM access to the bridge as it did not share their patrol plan. They also insisted that it be presented in the Russian language. The JCCC was informed.
• The SMM were unable to reach the proposed disengagement area near the village of Petrivske due to the lack of security guarantees.
• Armed “DPR” members at a checkpoint on the western side of Kominternove told the SMM that it could not deviate from the main road, stop in the village or talk to residents. The JCCC was informed.

[1] Please see the annexed table for a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations as well as map of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions marked with locations featured in this report.