Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 16 August 2016

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM observed a continued high number of explosions recorded in Donetsk region, and noted continued fighting in the area of Yasynuvata-Avdiivka, including Grad multiple-launch rocket system fire. There was an increase in the number of explosions recorded in Luhansk region compared with the previous day. The SMM carried out crater analysis and observed the results of shelling on both sides of the contract line in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines. The SMM continued to assess the situation as calm along the administrative boundary line with Crimea. The SMM faced one freedom-of-movement restriction in “LPR”-controlled areas. The Mission monitored one border area not controlled by the Government.

The SMM continued to observe a high number of ceasefire violations recorded in Donetsk region, in particular a high number of explosions.[1] Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM recorded approximately ten undetermined explosions and five bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire in areas 2-3km west-south-west of its position. Positioned in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard 23 explosions assessed as outgoing mortar (82mm) rounds, nine as outgoing self-propelled grenades (SPG-9), 16 as outgoing rounds of armoured-combat-vehicle (BMP-1) gun (73mm) fire, two as outgoing automatic-grenade-launcher rounds, three as impacts of mortar rounds (82mm) and one five-second-long outgoing salvo of multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS; BM-21 Grad, 122mm) fire, as well as small-arms fire all 2-6km south-east of its position.

While in Donetsk city centre on the night of 15-16 August, the SMM heard 143 undetermined explosions 8-10km north-north-west of its location.

While in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north of Donetsk) on the same night the SMM heard: 27 bursts of automatic-grenade-launcher fire and 30 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 2-3km north-west of its position; 23 explosions assessed as mortar round impacts (82mm) 3-4km west, and one as outgoing anti-tank guided missile 3km south-west; 19 explosions assessed as impacts of artillery fire (152mm) 10-11km south-west; and 27 as impacts of mortar rounds (82mm), 30 bursts of automatic-cannon fire, and 40 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 3-4km north-west.

While in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk) on the night of 15-16 August, the SMM heard 41 undetermined explosions 4-6km east of its position.

The SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) on the night of 15-16 August recorded tracer fire from north-west to north-east, and five explosions assessed as impacts, three of them in the area of government-controlled Vodiane (19km north-east of Mariupol) and two in the area of “DPR”-controlled Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, 23km north-east of Mariupol).

Positioned at “DPR”-controlled Donetsk central railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk city) throughout the day the SMM recorded 36 undetermined explosions 4-10km north-east, north-north-east and north-west; and single shots and bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire 2-4km north-north-east, north-north-west and north-west.

The SMM observed an increase in ceasefire violations recorded in Luhansk region, particularly in the number of explosions. While in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk) on the night of 15-16 August, the SMM heard an exchange of fire near the broken railway bridge and pedestrian bridge, 3.5-4km south-west of its position, including 12 undetermined explosions and small-arms and light-machine-gun fire.

Positioned in government-controlled Popasne (60km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard seven undetermined explosions 10km north-east.

Positioned near government-controlled Katerynivka (64km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard four undetermined explosions and saw smoke rising 4-5km west; 15 explosions assessed as automatic-grenade-launcher rounds (AGS-17) 3-4km south-west; and one undetermined explosion 6-8km west of its location.

Positioned 2km north-west of government-controlled Mykolaivka (77km west of Luhansk) the SMM heard and saw 23 explosions, nine of them assessed as outgoing and nine as impacts of self-propelled grenades (SPG-9), five as anti-tank missiles, one burst of light-machine-gun fire and small-arms fire – all assessed as part of live-fire training outside of the security zone – 0.5-1.5km south-west of its position.

Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, 50km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard one undetermined explosion 2km of its position.

The SMM carried out crater analysis on both sides of the contact line in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In the Mykytiskyi district of “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (38km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM observed broken windows and scarring from shrapnel on the walls of School No. 84. The SMM analysed a fresh crater 1m from the school that it assessed had been caused by a 122mm artillery shell fired from a north-westerly direction. In the Bessarabka district of Horlivka, the SMM analysed two fresh craters that it assessed had been caused by 152mm artillery shells, but could not determine the direction of fire.

In “DPR”-controlled Azov (formerly Dzerzhynske, 25km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM observed a fresh crater in the yard of a house, where three windows were blown out and the fence splintered which, according to the owner, was as a result of shelling on the morning of 13 August. The SMM performed crater analysis and assessed it had been caused by a 120mm mortar round fired from a west-south-westerly direction.

In government-controlled Chermalyk (77km south of Donetsk), the SMM observed 19 fresh craters that, according to the Ukrainian Armed Forces officers from the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) who accompanied the patrol, resulted from shelling that had begun just after midnight. The craters were near houses and at a nearby farm, where a barn was still burning, and approximately 250m away from a Ukrainian Armed Forces compound and ammunition stockpile. The SMM assessed that all the craters had been caused by 122mm artillery shells fired from between the east and east-north-east.

The SMM returned to government-controlled Novoselivka (55km south of Donetsk) for the second consecutive day to assess the results of shelling, (see SMM Daily Report 16 August), which JCCC representatives and residents said had occurred around 03:30 on 16 August. The SMM observed relatively minor damage to four houses, including broken windows, a broken gate and shrapnel damage to walls and roofs. There were no reports of casualties. Six residents, men and women of mixed ages the SMM spoke with appeared to be in shock after experiencing two nights of shelling in a row. The SMM conducted analysis on five craters in Novoselivka and assessed that they had all been caused by 122mm artillery shells fired from the east.

In Novooleksandrivka (65km west of Luhansk), the SMM observed six fresh craters on a road and in a garden as well as shrapnel damage to the wall of a house. Residents (one woman and six men, 25-55 years old) said the shelling had occurred on the evening of 13 August. The SMM assessed that the craters had been caused by automatic-grenade-launcher (AGS17) rounds fired from an easterly direction.

At a Ukrainian Armed Forces position near government-controlled Krymske (42km north-west of Donetsk), personnel there told the SMM they had been shelled by mortar fire earlier that morning. The SMM analysed one crater and assessed it as caused by an 82mm mortar round fired from a southerly direction.

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 withdrawal lines the SMM observed two mortars (2B9 Vasilek, 82mm) being towed by trucks south towards Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk). Also, 3.5km north-east of Shchastia, the SMM saw military trucks transporting at least four mortars (2B11, 120mm) towards Shchastia.

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. The SMM observed that two Ukrainian Armed Forces areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines continued to be abandoned. At one area the SMM observed as missing eight 120mm mortars (2B11) and three 82mm mortars (2B9), as first observed on 22 July. At the second abandoned area it observed as missing six 120mm mortars (2B11), as first observed on 13 July. The SMM also noted weapons missing from other Ukrainian Armed Forces areas: 12 towed howitzers (2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm) (as first observed on 8 July), ten tanks (T-64) (as first observed on 12 July), 11 self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) (ten as first observed on 26 July and one as first observed on 20 May), and 12 MLRS (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) (as first observed on 26 July).

The SMM observed hardware in the security zone. South of government-controlled Petrivka (27km north of Luhansk), the SMM observed Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel flying an unarmed/unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

While in government-controlled Lobacheve (17km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed a Russian Federation Republic of Ingushetia flag on the “LPR”-controlled southern bank of the Sieverskyi Donets river.

The SMM continued to observe queues at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line. At 09:10 at the Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint north of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (16km north-east of Luhansk) the SMM observed around 1,000 people queuing to enter government-controlled areas and some 20 people waiting to walk in the other direction. The number of people waiting to enter government-controlled areas decreased to about 600 by midday. At 08:30 at the “LPR” checkpoint south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge the SMM observed around 500 people queuing to proceed towards government-controlled areas, and 15 people in the other direction. By midday the SMM observed 120 people queuing to be screened and walk towards government-controlled areas. Medical personnel in an ambulance parked near the checkpoint said they had treated 21 people during the morning mainly for heat-related illnesses.

The SMM monitored one border area not controlled by the Government, and found the situation calm around the “DPR”-controlled pedestrian border crossing point at Ulianivske (61km south-east of Donetsk). No one crossed the border during 37 minutes of monitoring. One man said he was waiting for his son to return from Russia where he had been visiting relatives.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation along the administrative boundary line between the mainland and Crimea and assessed the situation to have remained calm. The SMM observed a calm situation on 15 August at the Kalanchak, Chaplynka and Chonhar crossing points (67, 167 and 72km south-east of Kherson), with little traffic (vehicles and pedestrians) observed in both directions. The SMM observed at the Kalanchak crossing point at 17:10 that 13 cars and 50 pedestrians were queuing to cross to Crimea and five cars and five pedestrians were crossing to the Ukrainian mainland. On 16 August at Cape Kutara (125km south-east of Kherson), the shift commander from the 80th Paratrooper Brigade and the State Border Guard Service shift commander both described the situation as calm. Likewise the shift commander at the Ad Peninsula position (97km south-east of Kherson) described the situation as calm, while reporting that an unmanned aerial vehicle had flown over and back across the administrative boundary line and that armed men had been seen training on the other side earlier in the day. Meanwhile the head of the Kherson regional police told the SMM that the police had stepped up security measures and increased the number of patrols along the administrative boundary line.

*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 to 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 to the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations.

Denial of access:

• Three armed “LPR” members demanded the SMM leave an area, where the SMM had been following up on an allegation of the presence of heavy weapons, near “LPR”-controlled Metalist (7km north-west of Luhansk), saying it did not have permission to be there.

[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.