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

This report is for media and the general public.

The number of explosions recorded by the SMM in Donetsk region more than doubled (139) compared with the previous reporting period (62 explosions). In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations[1]and no explosions. The SMM followed up on reports of an injury to a woman near the Avdiivka industrial zone. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The Mission facilitated repair works to the Shchastia power plant and monitored the situation of civilians crossing the contact line as well as the situation around schools in the security zone. The SMM noted a calm situation at a border area not controlled by the Government, as well as along the administrative boundary line between the mainland and Crimea. In Ivano-Frankivsk an SMM vehicle was set on fire by a masked man.

The SMM recorded 139 explosions in Donetsk region during the reporting period, compared with 62 explosions in the previous reporting period.

While in government-controlled Mariupol (102km south of Donetsk) on the evening of 6 September, the SMM heard 60 explosions assessed as outgoing artillery rounds of an unknown calibre at an undetermined distance north-east. During approximately the same time period, the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded ten rocket-assisted projectiles fired west to east and south-west to south-east and two undetermined explosions, all at unknown distances to the north and north-north-east.

The number of explosions recorded in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport triangle reached its highest level in September. While in Donetsk city centre on the night of 6 September, the SMM heard two undetermined explosions 7-10km north-west of its position. Positioned at the Donetsk central railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk city centre) on 7 September, the SMM heard five undetermined explosions and saw one explosion assessed as an impact of a round from an unknown weapon; all 2-6km north-west and north of its position. Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard seven undetermined explosions 4-8km north-west and 40 explosions assessed as caused by automatic-grenade-launcher rounds 1-3km west of its position. Positioned in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard five explosions assessed as outgoing rounds of a recoilless gun (SPG-9, 73mm) or infantry fighting vehicle (IFV; BMP-1) cannon (73mm) 1.5km north-east of its position, one explosion assessed as an impact of a 120mm mortar round and one undetermined explosion, the latter two both 4km south-east of its position.

While in Donetsk city centre on the night of 6 September the SMM heard one explosion assessed as an outgoing artillery round of an unknown calibre 5-8km south of its position.

Positioned 1km south-east of government-controlled Maiorsk (45km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard one explosion assessed as caused by a mortar round of an unknown calibre 1km north-east of its position.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Luhansk region during the reporting period with only 11 single shots recorded, compared with 42 explosions in the previous reporting period. Positioned in an “LPR”-controlled area 100m south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge shortly before noon on 7 September, the SMM recorded 11 single shots of heavy-machine-gun fire 300m east of its position.   

The SMM followed up on reports of a civilian casualty in government-controlled Avdiivka on 6 September. The head doctor at a hospital in Avdiivka told the SMM that a woman with a bullet wound in her abdomen was in critical, but stable, condition. The head of the police informed the SMM that a 56-year-old woman had been found bleeding from her stomach in the yard of her house in Avdiivka on the evening of 6 September. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer at the JCCC told the SMM that the woman’s home was located approximately 700m north-west of the Avdiivka industrial zone.

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 the respective withdrawal lines, aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of nine multiple rocket launcher systems (MLRS; BM-21 Grad, 122mm) near government-controlled Zatyshne (64km south-west of Donetsk) on 6 September. An SMM mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) recorded the presence of one self-propelled howitzer (2S7, Pion, 203mm) near government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk), also on 6 September.

Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside assigned areas, the SMM saw one tank (T-72) on a trailer being transported west near government-controlled Novoaidar (49km north-west of Luhansk). Aerial surveillance imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of two towed howitzers near government-controlled Rivnopil (65km south-west of Donetsk) on 6 September.

The SMM observed weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage does not comply with criteria set forth in the 16 October 2015 notification. In government-controlled areas, the SMM observed that four such sites continued to be abandoned, as previously noted. In total the SMM noted as missing: 27 self-propelled howitzers (eight 2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm and 19 2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm), one surface-to-air missile system (9K35 Strela-10, 120mm), one tank (T-64) and six mortars (2B11 Sani, 120mm). The SMM observed as present: 21 tanks (T-64) and 12 mortars (2B11 Sani, 120mm).

The SMM observed the presence of armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, the SMM saw three armoured personnel carriers (APC; BTR-70, BTR-80 and BRDM) and five IFVs (two BMP-1 and three BMP-2) near Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk), one APC (BRDM-2) near Shchastia, and one APC (BTR-80) and five IFVs (two BMP-1 and three BMP-2) near Petrivka (27km north of Luhansk). On 6 September, an SMM mini UAV recorded one APC (BTR) and one unidentified armoured combat vehicle parked together in a command or communication position by abandoned houses on the western edge of Shyrokyne. Just over 1km to the north of Shyrokyne, the mini UAV also recorded the presence of one IFV (BMP). Approximately 1km south of Shchastia a mini UAV revealed the presence of eight armoured vehicles, including three IFVs (one BTR-4 and two BMP) on 6 September.

Near “LPR”-controlled Pervomaisk (58km west of Luhansk) aerial surveillance imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of two armoured vehicles on 6 September.

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repair work to enable the cleaning of water channels at the power plant in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk).

The SMM continued to observe queues at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line. At a checkpoint near government-controlled Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM observed 69 cars, three mini-buses, one civilian truck and approximately 200 pedestrians waiting to travel towards government-controlled areas; and 94 cars, 12 mini-buses and 76 pedestrians waiting to travel in the opposite direction. At the last “DPR” checkpoint before moving towards government-controlled areas near Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), a group of civilians told the SMM that they had been trying to cross into government-controlled areas for two days. At the first government-controlled checkpoint after leaving “DPR”-controlled areas near Horlivka, ten civilians told the SMM that there was no access to drinking water or toilet facilities between the two aforementioned checkpoints.

At the “LPR” checkpoint immediately south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, the SMM observed approximately 400 people queuing to enter government-controlled areas. Several people there told the SMM that they had been waiting for five hours. The SMM noted that a crane was reinforcing an “LPR” position just north of the river with large concrete blocks. The checkpoint opened a short time later, after the crane stopped operating. The SMM noted again the poor condition of the wooden ramp across the broken part of the bridge.

The SMM monitored the situation at schools in “DPR”-controlled areas near the contact line. In Horlivka, the SMM spoke with the director of a school that provides specialized support for children with speaking problems. He told the SMM that there had been an increase in enrolment as more children had developed speaking problems due to the conflict. He added that the calmer situation at the start of the school year had had a positive effect on students. In Hrabove (65km north of Donetsk), the director of a school told the SMM that there were 45 pupils attending the school, compared with 60 last year.

The SMM monitored a border area currently not controlled by the Government. While present at a border crossing point near Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk; 64km south-east of Luhansk) for 45 minutes, the SMM observed 44 cars and two covered trucks (most with Ukrainian licence plates) queuing to exit Ukraine. At least ten cars and one covered truck (most with Ukrainian licence plates) entered Ukraine during the same time.

The SMM monitored a calm situation at the Kuchurhan (64km north of Odessa) international border crossing point along the Ukrainian border with the Transdniestrian segment of the border with the Republic of Moldova.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation along the administrative boundary line between the mainland and Crimea. At the crossing points near Kalanchak, Chaplynka and Chonhar (67, 77 and 163km south-east of Kherson, respectively) and in adjacent areas, including at the administrative boundary line on the Arabat spit (near Valok Resort, 205km south-east of Kherson) and the Mala Kosa peninsula, the SMM noted a generally calm situation. The SMM observed the continued reinforcement (see SMM Daily Report 6 September) of a Ukrainian position on the Arabat spit with concrete blocks and new trenches.

In Ivano-Frankivsk, CCTV camera footage outside the SMM office revealed that an SMM vehicle had been set on fire by a masked man (see SMM Spot Report 7 September) on the night of 6 September. No SMM staff were harmed and a police investigation is ongoing.

*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.

Besides the abovementioned general restrictions, the SMM was not subject to any specific restriction of its freedom of movement.

[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.