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

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM noted a calmer security situation in Donetsk region, including 39 explosions compared with 425 during the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded 15 explosions assessed as live-fire exercise. The SMM conducted crater analysis and observed damage to civilian infrastructure in Makiivka and Novooleksandrivka. It continued to observe queues at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line. The Mission monitored repair works to essential infrastructure. It observed the situation at schools and other civilian infrastructure near the contact line. The SMM monitored two border areas currently not under government control. Armed “DPR” members denied SMM access twice. In Kyiv the SMM observed a public gathering of Anti-Terrorism Operation (ATO) veterans.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations[1] in Donetsk region, including 39 explosions compared with 425 during the previous reporting period. All ceasefire violations, except for five, were recorded during daytime.

Positioned at three different locations north of “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM saw and heard 20 explosions assessed as outgoing mortar rounds of an unknown calibre 10km south, heard three explosions assessed as impacts of rocket-propelled grenade launcher (RPG) rounds 3km east, and one undetermined explosion 2-3km east.

While in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM heard five undetermined explosions, as well as bursts and single shots of small-arms fire 2-5km south-west and west-south-west of its position. Positioned at Donetsk central railway station (“DPR”-controlled, 6km north-west of Donetsk city centre) the SMM heard five undetermined explosions 5-9km north-north-east of its position.

Positioned in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) the SMM heard one explosion assessed as outgoing round of an unknown weapon and one explosion assessed as impact of an 82mm mortar round, 2-3km south-east of its position. The SMM camera in Avdiivka recorded on the evening hours of 16 September five explosions assessed as impacts of rounds from unknown weapons 4-5km east-south-east of its location.

While in “DPR”-controlled Dokuchaievsk (30km south-west of Donetsk) the SMM heard one undetermined explosion 2-3km south-west. Positioned 1.8km south-west of “DPR”-controlled Khreshchatytske (formerly Krasnoarmiiske, 33km north-east of Mariupol) the SMM heard two undetermined explosions 12km south-west of its position.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded ceasefire violations attributable to a live-fire exercise outside the security zone. Namely, positioned at two different locations in “LPR”-controlled Vrubivskyi and Myrne (22 and 28km south-west of Luhansk, respectively) the SMM heard 12 explosions assessed as outgoing 120mm mortar rounds, three explosions assessed as outgoing artillery rounds of an unknown calibre, and multiple bursts and single shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all assessed as live-fire exercise at a training area near “LPR”-controlled Yasne (25km south-west of Luhansk).

The SMM followed up on reports of shelling and conducted crater analysis. On 15 September, accompanied by two Russian Federation Armed Forces officers at the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), the SMM observed several impact sites and carried out analysis on three craters in “DPR”-controlled Makiivka (12km north-east of Donetsk). The SMM observed a crater on a hard-soil road 5m from the north-west-facing wall of a house in Kirovohradskaia Street. The SMM also noted severe damages to two houses on the same side of the road as the impact, including shattered windows, splintered gates and fencing, and scarred house facades. Minor shrapnel damage was seen at three other houses across the street, including shattered windows, as well as damage to a vehicle. The SMM saw another impact at the base of a north-facing wall of a shed next to a house at Beregovaia Street. The SMM observed that the walls of the shed had been completely destroyed. At Tupoleva Street the SMM observed damage to a house across the street from a school (see SMM Daily Report 15 September). The SMM saw an entirely destroyed shed in the backyard, and blast damage to four houses nearby. At Tselinohradskaia Street, the SMM observed a relatively fresh crater in the backyard of a house and a destroyed outdoor toilet 3m from the crater. The SMM assessed all impacts as caused by artillery rounds of a calibre at least 122mm fired from a north-westerly direction. Several residents said they had heard shelling on the night of 14-15 September, adding that they had heard artillery firing some 500-700m from the impact site prior to their neighbourhood being shelled. Media were present at the impact sites.

In Novooleksandrivka (65km west of Luhansk), the SMM observed one fresh crater on the road in front of the Novooleksandrivka medical facility, assessed as impact of a grenade launcher (AGS-17, 30mm) round fired from a south-westerly direction. The SMM also observed damage to north-north-west facing windows of the medical facility.  

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.

Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside assigned areas the SMM observed one multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS; BM-21 Grad, 122mm) in government-controlled Novotroitske (57km north-west of Donetsk), 13 tanks (T-64) stationary at a military training area in “LPR”-controlled Myrne, and four tanks in “LPR”-controlled Kruhlyk (31km south-west of Luhansk).

The SMM revisited a Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent storage site whose location corresponded with the respective withdrawal lines and continued to note as missing 41 tanks (T-64, 125mm) and 14 mortars (2B9 Vasilek, 82mm), as previously noted.

The SMM observed the presence of armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. In government-controlled areas the SMM observed two light-armoured vehicles (Kraz Cougar) mounted with 12.7mm heavy machine-guns in Lopaskyne (23km north-west of Luhansk) and two infantry fighting vehicles (IFV; BMP-2) parked in the yard of civilian residences in Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk). In “DPR”-controlled areas the SMM observed six IFVs (BMP-1) in Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk), heading south.

The SMM continued to observe queues at entry-exit checkpoints across the contact line. At a government checkpoint in Novotroitske (36km south-west of Donetsk) the SMM observed 50 civilian vehicles and around 150 pedestrians queuing to enter government-controlled areas and 191 civilian vehicles and around 120 pedestrians queuing in the opposite direction. At a government checkpoint in Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM observed 75 civilian vehicles and 60 pedestrians queuing to enter government-controlled areas and 210 civilian vehicles and around 200 pedestrians waiting to travel in the opposite direction.

At the northernmost government checkpoint at the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge the SMM observed around 200 people waiting to enter government-controlled areas and about 200 pedestrians waiting to walk across the destroyed bridge towards “LPR”-controlled areas. At 09:30 at the “LPR” checkpoint south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge the SMM observed approximately 500 pedestrians queuing to walk towards government-controlled areas. At 12:40 the SMM observed that the queue had decreased to around 200 persons while there were some 250 people queuing to enter “LPR”-controlled areas. An “LPR” member present told the SMM that they did not have computers and had to keep records on paper. The SMM noted that the state of the wooden structure connecting the pieces of the destroyed bridge continued to be critical (See SMM Daily Report 7 September).

The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure. The SMM monitored repair works to water wells in “LPR”-controlled areas between Slovianoserbsk (28km north of Luhansk), Krasnyi Lyman and Sokilnyky (30 and 38km north-west of Luhansk, respectively). These wells supply “LPR”-controlled Alchevsk (40km west of Luhansk) with water which is then further distributed to other “LPR”-controlled areas. The SMM also monitored repair works to the power plant in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) and to the electric power lines in government-controlled parts of Zolote (60km north-west of Luhansk).

The SMM followed up on reports of interruption of water supply to Luhansk city and nearby areas. A representative of the Petrivka pumping station in government-controlled Artema (26km north of Luhansk), confirmed to the SMM that delivery of water to “LPR”-controlled areas had been stopped a week before due to a debt of 111 million UAH owed by those controlling the areas. The interlocutor added that pumping station employees had not been paid for the last three months as there had been no revenues collected from those controlling the areas. In “LPR”-controlled Vesela Hora (16km north of Luhansk), two women (in their sixties) said that their village had been without water for the past 13 days. They said that there was only one private well where they could get small amounts of drinking water for their children and for basic hygiene.

The SMM monitored two border areas currently not under government control. At the border crossing point in Marynivka (78km east of Donetsk) the SMM observed, during 45 minutes, 26 civilian cars (16 with Russian Federation, 13 with Ukrainian licence plates, one with “LPR”, and one with “DPR” plates), two closed cargo trucks with Ukrainian licence plates, and one liquid tank truck with Russian Federation licence plates waiting to leave Ukraine. Several civilians told the SMM that they cross the border often to either visit relatives or for shopping, without major restrictions. The SMM also noted a convoy of six black sports utility vehicles (with no licence plates except for the first two, both reading “A 001 BM” in black letters on a white background) with red and blue flashing lights driving fast and entering the border crossing point ahead of the queue. At the border crossing point in Dovzhanskyi (84km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed 19 parked vehicles, 16 cars, and three mini-buses (most with Ukrainian licence plates). The SMM also observed, during 45 minutes, two covered cargo trucks with Ukrainian licence plates and four passenger buses waiting to leave Ukraine, and three covered cargo trucks (with Ukrainian licence plates) and six cars (four with Ukrainian licence plates) entering Ukraine.

The SMM monitored the situation at schools near the contact line. In government-controlled parts of Zolote the SMM saw reinforcement to the windows of a school. The deputy director explained that the school windows had recently been replaced and the glass had been covered by transparent anti-shrapnel film, and that the lower part of each window had been covered by multilayer wooden plates and enforced by 3mm iron sheets. He added that the school had become a non-official shelter for the people of the adjacent buildings, in addition to serving its primary purpose. In government-controlled Novotoshkivske (53km north-west of Luhansk), the school director said that more students had enrolled this year, 46 compared with 31 a year ago. She described a similar situation for the kindergarten, explaining that some families who had left because of the conflict were now returning.

In Yasynuvata the SMM followed up on reports of a civilian building occupied by “DPR” members. The SMM observed a building, formerly a hotel, which looked like a military-type compound with a red plate indicating that it was an office of the “DPR” “ministry of internal affairs”. The SMM noted two armed “DPR” members in camouflage attire inside. When leaving the area, a vehicle, painted in camouflage colours, overtook the SMM vehicles and “DPR” members gestured to the SMM to stop. Two men in camouflage attire (one of them armed) approached the SMM. The unarmed “DPR” member asked the SMM about the purpose of its visit and why it was asking civilians about the building. He added that the SMM should, in other visits, approach him directly. 

In Kyiv the SMM monitored a public gathering of Anti-Terrorism Operation (ATO) veterans. The SMM observed some 50 people (men between 20 and 40 years old), most in camouflage clothing, who gathered in front of the Cabinet of Ministers building on Hrushevskoho Street and walked towards the Presidential Administration building on Bankova Street. The SMM saw a former member of the Kyivan Rus former volunteer battalion speaking to the media, explaining that the gathering consisted of demobilised soldiers who wanted to draw attention to the fact that the land distribution to ATO veterans had been put on hold. The SMM observed a car with Ukrainian licence plates issued in Donetsk region and two stickers of Azov and Donbas former volunteer battalions, parked in front of the gate, and two patrol police cars present.

*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:

• Four armed “LPR” members stopped the SMM near an “LPR” compound in Debaltseve. They prevented the SMM from proceeding further west and ordered it to leave as, according to them, the area around road M03 was being shelled. When leaving the area the SMM observed several fresh scratch marks on the tarmac road assessed as caused by armoured vehicles. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• In “DPR”-controlled Kozatske (36km north-east of Mariupol), eight armed “DPR” members together with their leader, who claimed they were about to conduct operations against “infiltration groups” in the village, ordered the SMM to leave the village immediately for its own safety. The SMM informed the JCCC.

[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.