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

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous day. The largest concentration of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region was recorded during night hours in the area of Horlivka and Svitlodarsk, while during the day the Donetsk city area was most kinetic. The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties in Novoazovsk, shelling in Troitske, and conducted crater analysis in Novotoshkivske. The Mission monitored queues at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line, the situation of civilians living near the contact line, and facilitated repairs to essential infrastructure on both sides of the contact line in Shchastia, Krasnyi Lyman, Pryshyb, Zolote, and Maiorsk. The SMM monitored all crossing points at the administrative boundary line between Kherson and Crimea, as well as a religious procession in Kyiv. The SMM crossed the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge for the first time since 1 July. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted on two occasions, one on each side of the contact line.*

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

Whilst in Horlivka (“DPR”-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk) on the night of 27-28 July, the SMM heard a total of 18 explosions assessed as outgoing rounds at a range of 1 to 5km north and north-west of its position, as well as two assessed as outgoing 122mm artillery rounds 0.3-0.5km east of its location in the south-west of the city. In the same period, the SMM heard six explosions assessed as impacts of 82mm mortar rounds 1-2km north of its position. Whilst in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), within four hours the SMM heard 70 explosions: 25 assessed as outgoing 82mm mortar rounds 1-1.5km south-south-east, 45 as mortar round impacts at a range of 4 to 6km south-south-east and east-south east of its location. The SMM also heard bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire from the same distances and directions. In the evening hours of 28 July, the SMM heard fighting north and west of the city, including: two explosions assessed as outgoing mortar rounds, two as impacts 2-3km north-north-west of its position 7km north of the city and heavy machine-gun fire 4-6km west-south-west of its position in the city.

Within about 90 minutes on the same night, the SMM heard 20 undetermined explosions 8-10km north of its position in Donetsk city centre. 

On 28 July, positioned at the “DPR”-controlled Donetsk central railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk city centre), the SMM heard 53 undetermined explosions at a range of 4 to 8km north-east and one undetermined explosion 4-6km north-west of its position. Positioned in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard six undetermined explosions 10-12km south-east of its position, one explosion assessed as an outgoing 120mm mortar round and at least four assessed as outgoing 82mm mortar rounds as well as numerous continuous bursts of small-arms fire at a range of 0.6 to 3km south-east of its position.

The SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded two rocket-assisted projectiles and one burst of direct tracer fire fired west to east within about two hours on the night of 27 July. During the day on 28 July, positioned in Mariupol (government-controlled, 102km south of Donetsk), the SMM heard 30 undetermined explosions at an unknown distance east of its position.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations compared with the previous day, with a total of four undetermined explosions, with the majority assessed as live-fire training in an area outside the security zone, in “LPR”-controlled Shymshynivka (27km south-west of Luhansk).

The SMM followed-up on reports of civilian casualties, shelling, and conducted crater analysis on both sides of the contact line. On 27 July, the SMM visited the hospital in Novoazovsk to follow up on two residents of Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, “DPR”-controlled, 23km north-east of Mariupol) who other residents had told the SMM were injured during shelling on the night of 24-25 July. The SMM spoke to a 32-year-old man who had sustained shrapnel wounds to his leg and hand. Medical staff told the SMM that a woman (approximately 80 years old) had been transferred to a hospital in Donetsk city by her relatives, and the shrapnel wounds to her back were not serious.

North east of Ukrainian Armed Forces positions on the eastern outskirts of government-controlled Troitske (65km west of Luhansk), near Shchorsa Street, the SMM observed two completely destroyed houses and several others abandoned. The SMM could also observe mine warning signs on both sides of the street. In late May, the SMM had seen the aftermath of a booby-trap that injured a woman in that area (see SMM Daily Report 26 May 2016). The SMM assessed that at least one of the houses was recently destroyed as the ruins were still smouldering. According to a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer present, the house was destroyed in shelling on the night of 26-27 July. In government-controlled Novotoshkivske (53 km north-west of Luhansk) the SMM conducted crater analysis; a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer at the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) was also present. In a field, about 1.5km from the contact line, the SMM saw three craters which it assessed as fresh. One crater was assessed as caused by a multiple-launch rocket system rocket (MLRS; BM-21 Grad, 122mm) fired from an easterly direction, another as caused by a grenade launcher (AGS-17) round fired from an easterly direction and the other as caused by a recoilless gun (SPG-9) projectile, fired from a westerly direction.

In relation to the SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that crashed during the night of 25 July, while flying over government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) (see SMM Spot Report 26 July 2016), the SMM continued to follow up on the incident and conducted a mini UAV flight over the possible crash site. No further UAV debris or indications of the possible cause of the crash were seen. The SMM is unable to deploy a ground patrol in the area due to security concerns.

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

In violation of withdrawal lines, aerial surveillance imagery revealed the presence on 26 July of 16 towed artillery pieces in areas close to “LPR”-controlled Buhaivka (37km south-west of Luhansk).

Beyond the respective withdrawal lines and outside assigned areas the SMM observed: at the train station in government-controlled Rubizhne (84 km north-west of Luhansk), three towed howitzers (2A65 Msta-B, 152 mm) and a recovery vehicle; 13 tanks (T-64) in a static position at a training ground near “LPR”-controlled Myrne (28km south-west of Luhansk). Aerial surveillance imagery available to the SMM revealed on 26 July the presence of: 20 artillery pieces (18 towed and two self-propelled) and 34 tanks in areas near “LPR”-controlled Myrne (28km south-west of Luhansk); 17 MLRSs, eight artillery pieces (five self-propelled, three towed), 15 tanks and 52 armoured vehicles near “LPR”-controlled Miusynsk (62km south-west of Luhansk); six towed artillery weapons and 15 tanks in areas near “LPR”-controlled Mala Martynivka (32km south-west of Luhansk); and 24 tanks in Buhaivka.

The SMM observed weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage does not comply with the criteria set out in the 16 October 2015 notification. At Ukrainian Armed Forces holding areas, the SMM observed 21 towed howitzers (six 2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm and 15 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm) and 30 tanks (T-64). The SMM noted as missing 22 towed howitzers (six 2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm, and 16 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm).

The SMM observed the presence of armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. In government-controlled areas the SMM saw: on 27 July, in Karlivka (25km north-west of Donetsk), two covered armoured personnel carriers (APC; BTR-type) parked on the north-western side of the road, five stationary APCs (one BTR-60, two BRDM, one BTR-4) in and near Popasna (69km west of Luhansk); on 28 July, north of Solodke (33km south-west of Donetsk) a southbound flatbed truck transporting an infantry fighting vehicle (BMP-1); on the H20 road north-east of Berezove (31km south-west of Donetsk), a stationary APC (BTR), partially covered with camouflage netting facing south; near Novozvanivka (70km west of Luhansk) two stationary APCs (Spartan) each mounted with a machine gun; a stationary APC (BRDM) inside the yard of a house in Lopaskyne (23km north-west of Luhansk) and one stationary APC (BRDM-2) near government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk).

In non-government-controlled areas the SMM saw: five APCs (MTLB) and what it assessed to be a mobile jamming station (R-330T) on the northern outskirts of “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk) and a Ural truck towing an APC (BTR-2) near “LPR”-controlled Khriashchuvate (10km south-east of Luhansk), moving north. Aerial surveillance imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence on 26 July of 13 armoured vehicles (AVs) near “DPR”-controlled Telmanove (67km south-east of Donetsk) and four AVs near government-controlled Novohnativka (40km south of Donetsk).

The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure on both sides of the contact line. The SMM monitored repairs to railway tracks and overhead wires between Horlivka and Maiorsk (government-controlled, 45km north-east of Donetsk), including a successful test of the repaired line. The SMM also monitored the cleaning of the river canal at the Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) power plant; repairs to the water pump station in “LPR”-controlled Krasnyi Lyman (30km north-west of Luhansk) and to the gas pipeline near “LPR”-controlled Pryshyb (34km north-west of Luhansk). In Zolote (60km north-west) repair work on electrical power lines resumed and demining teams were present.

The SMM continued to observe queues at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line. On 27 July the SMM monitored the traffic going through the government checkpoint on the H15 road south of government-controlled Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk). The SMM noted a 1.6km vehicle queue (280 civilian vehicles) and ten pedestrians in the area between the last “DPR” checkpoint and the first government checkpoint, queuing to enter government-controlled areas, which did not move from 12:20 to 13:30, when it advanced 100m before again coming to a standstill. The SMM saw no traffic in the opposite direction. The SMM also saw 15 empty buses parked on the roadside in the area before the checkpoint. Four hours later, at the same checkpoint, the SMM saw 200 civilian vehicles still queuing to enter government-controlled areas and no traffic in the opposite direction. In the afternoon, at least ten people from vehicles at the front of the queue told the SMM that they had been waiting since between 05:00 and 06:00, while two other people said they had been waiting since 23:00 the previous day. When the SMM left the area between the checkpoints at 18:45, less than two hours before the closing time of the government checkpoint, at least 200 cars were still in line.

The SMM crossed the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (16km north-east of Luhansk) without restriction from “LPR” members for the first time since 1 July. At the bridge on 28 July, in the morning the SMM saw around 200-220 people waiting to enter government-controlled areas at the Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint. The SMM observed an employee of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine assisting an elderly disabled woman to cross the checkpoint. In the afternoon, at the same checkpoint, the SMM saw approximately 220 people queuing to enter government-controlled areas and approximately 100 people queuing in the opposite direction. The SMM saw woman (approximately 50 years old) being treated in the parking lot by an employee of the State Emergency Service, who said she had fainted due to the heat and was taken from the bridge on a stretcher. After having received first aid, she seemed to be able to proceed further on her own.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation of civilians living near the contact line. In “LPR”-controlled Krasnyi Luch (56km south-west of Luhansk) and areas of Zolote, residents complained of limited and irregular water supply.

The SMM monitored the situation at the administrative boundary line between Kherson region and Crimea at the three crossing points in Kalanchak, Chaplynka and Chonhar (95, 90 and 162km south-east of Kherson, respectively). On 24 and 26 July the SMM noted a calm situation at all three crossing points and that while Asker members were present at all three, they were not conducting any activities.

In Kyiv, the SMM monitored the religious procession organized by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv Patriarchate. In the morning, the SMM saw some 2,000 people (predominantly middle-aged women) gather around the St. Volodymyr's Cathedral and assessed that over 1,500 people were inside. The access to the cathedral grounds was controlled by police and National Guard officers operating metal detectors and searching those who were entering. Around mid-day, some 800 clerics exited the cathedral and led the procession of some 14,000 people along the Shevchenko Boulevard. The procession reached the Saint Volodymyr Hill (Volodymyrska Hirka) where a religious service was held. The SMM noted that Maidan self-defence activists - with insignia of the 10th Maidan sotnia - were assisting the police. The Ukrainian Red Cross was providing medical assistance to procession participants in the vicinity of the St. Volodymyr’s Cathedral. The SMM observed them assisting one elderly female who fainted and several other people who felt unwell, including a priest. The SMM estimated that there were in total approximately 1,800 uniformed personnel (police and National Guard) securing the events. Throughout the day and all along the route, the SMM noted a calm situation and all events passed off peacefully. Earlier that day, the SMM monitored a religious ceremony at the Pechersk Lavra monastery for participants of the religious procession organized by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (see SMM Daily Report, 27 July 2016) with about 200 participants (clergy and believers). The ceremony marked the closure of the religious procession. The SMM noted the presence of about 40 police officers at the entrance of the monastery.

*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: 

• Ukrainian Armed Forces officers prevented the SMM from monitoring the area along the railway line near Lomonosova Street in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk), citing demining work in the area.
• An armed man demanded the SMM leave its location in “LPR”-controlled Pryshyb (34km north-west of Luhansk), citing an earlier 120mm mortar round explosion near the SMM’s position. 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.