Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 19 September 2016
This report is for media and the general public.
The SMM recorded significantly fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region (including 35 explosions) compared with 18 September (which included 322 explosions). In Luhansk region the Mission recorded 11 ceasefire violations (no explosions), compared with none during 18 September. The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. It observed four Uragan multiple-launch rocket systems in Rubizhne and the presence of armoured vehicles in the security zone. The SMM monitored the situation of civilians queuing at checkpoints along the contact line. The Mission facilitated repair work of water infrastructure and demining activities in Luhansk region. The SMM continued to monitor the situation at a school along the contact line. In Odessa it monitored the re-establishment of a protest against the mayor. The Mission encountered one restriction of its freedom of movement.
The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations[1] in Donetsk region, including 35 explosions on 19 September compared with 322 explosions recorded on 18 September. All but three ceasefire violations recorded by the SMM in Donetsk region occurred during daytime.
All but four of the 35 explosions recorded by the SMM occurred in the area of government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) and “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk). In the morning of 19 September, between 08:16 and 09:35, the SMM camera in Avdiivka, recorded 12 explosions assessed as impacts of rounds from unknown weapons 4-5km east-south-east of its location. In the afternoon, the SMM camera recorded another explosion assessed as the impact of a round from an unknown weapon 4-5km east-south-east of its location. Positioned in Avdiivka, the SMM heard, between 10:23 and 11:57, 13 undetermined explosions 3km south-east of its position. While in Yasynuvata, the SMM heard, between 12:00 and 13:18, five undetermined explosions 6-7km west-south-west of its position and one explosion assessed as a mortar round of unknown calibre 3-5km south-west of its position.
At 02:05, while positioned in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard three explosions assessed as outgoing infantry-fighting-vehicle (IFV) cannon rounds (73mm) 4-5km south-east of its location.
While positioned east of government-controlled Talakivka (17km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard one undetermined explosion 8km north of its position.
The SMM recorded 11 ceasefire violations in Luhansk region (no explosions), compared with no ceasefire violations recorded on 18 September. All the ceasefire violations in Luhansk region were recorded by the SMM during the night of 18 to 19 September.
While in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk), the SMM heard nine bursts of small-arms fire and two bursts of automatic-grenade-launcher fire 800 metres to 1.5km south-east of its location.
In Donetsk the SMM met the leader of the armed formations, Mr. Zakharchenko, who said that he had launched investigations into violations involving threats against the security of SMM monitors and interference with SMM monitoring in “DPR”-controlled Lukove (72km south of Donetsk). (See SMM Spot Report 29 July and SMM Daily 22 August.)
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.
The SMM observed weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage does not comply with the criteria set in the 16 October 2015 notification. In government-controlled areas the SMM noted the presence of 12 MLRS (BM-27 Uragan, 220mm) and one self-propelled howitzer (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm), observed for the first time. The SMM continued to note as missing Addendum-regulated weapons as follows: 30 mortars (2B11 Sani, 120mm) four of them noted as missing for the first time, four surface-to-air missile systems (9K35 Strela-10, 120mm), 26 self-propelled howitzers (20 2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm; and six 2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) four of them recorded as missing for the first time, as well as three towed artillery (D-44, 85mm) reported as missing since 6 April.
The SMM observed the presence of armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. On 18 September, in non-government-controlled areas, the SMM observed three armoured combat vehicles (ACV, one BRDM and two MT-LBs) and three IFVs (BMP-2) near “DPR”-controlled Yenakiieve (41km north-east of Donetsk). On 19 September, the SMM observed one stationary IFV (BRM-1K) positioned near “DPR”-controlled Petrivske (41km south of Donetsk).
The SMM continued to observe the presence of mine hazard signs. Near government-controlled Zolote-3 (61km west of Luhansk) the SMM observed that 200m north of a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint a secondary road was blocked with branches, barbed wire and two mine hazard signs seen for the first time. The Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel at the checkpoint explained that they had blocked the road two weeks ago because of demining activities in the area of this checkpoint. The SMM could not observe any signs of demining activities being carried out.
The SMM facilitated and monitored the repair works to essential infrastructure and demining work. The SMM monitored repair works to the water pump station in the area of “LPR”-controlled Slovianoserbsk (28km north-west of Luhansk), and water canal cleaning works in the area of the power plant in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk). In nearby government-controlled Artema (26km north of Luhansk), the SMM monitored a demining team carrying out an assessment of demining requirements by the civil-military administration, intended to prepare the area for repair works to the high-voltage power line.
The SMM continued to observe queues at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line. At approximately 10:30 on 18 September, the SMM observed long queues at the checkpoints at government-controlled Zaitseve (62km north-east of Donetsk) and “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk). At two government checkpoints in Zaitseve, the SMM observed a total of 70 cars and around 400 people queuing towards government-controlled areas, and 196 cars and around 250 people waiting to travel in the opposite direction. At two “DPR” checkpoints in Horlivka, the SMM observed a total of 135 cars and around 300 people waiting to cross towards government-controlled areas, and 54 cars queuing in the opposite direction. At approximately 14:00, at the two government checkpoints in Zaitseve, the SMM observed a total of 106 cars and around 700 people queuing towards government-controlled areas, and 177 cars and around 310 people waiting to travel in the opposite direction. At the two “DPR” checkpoints in Horlivka, the SMM observed a total of 248 cars, eight buses and around 400 people waiting to travel towards government-controlled areas, and 55 cars queuing in the opposite direction. In the afternoon, the SMM observed that the number of cars and people queuing in both directions had decreased at all checkpoints. At 17:30, shortly after their closure for the day, the SMM observed that there were no vehicles in the area between government and “DPR” checkpoints.
The SMM monitored the situation of civilians travelling across the contact line at the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. At the government checkpoint north of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (16km north-east of Luhansk) the SMM observed approximately 150 people waiting to enter government-controlled areas and nobody queuing to cross in the opposite direction. At the “LPR” checkpoint south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge the SMM observed approximately 530 pedestrians queuing to walk towards government-controlled areas and approximately 210 people queuing in the opposite direction. At the emergency services tent near the “LPR” checkpoint, the SMM observed four medics and one female patient (65 years old). One medic indicated to the SMM that those seeking medical care mostly do so for high blood pressure.
The SMM continued to monitor the situation at schools along the contact line. At a school in Yasynuvata the director said that it had been operational except for the period of October-December 2014 when shelling had been intense. He said that the number of students had also been stable, with only four children having left. Some 600m north-west from of the school the SMM noted a “DPR” checkpoint with two armed “DPR” members and a fenced military-type compound marked with a red plate indicating that the premises are controlled by the “DPR ministry of internal affairs”.
In Odessa, the SMM monitored the resumption of a protest camp against the Odessa mayor near the city hall (a previous protest camp was removed by force by activists on 1 September - SMM Daily Report 3 September). The Mission observed a tent with the insignia of the “People’s Movement of Ukraine” and eight men (25 to 50 years old), most of them wearing camouflage attire and some tactical vests. Inside the vest of one protester, the SMM observed a pistol grip. The protesters informed the SMM that they were continuing a protest against the mayor. The SMM also observed the presence of four uniformed members of the Odessa municipal guard and assessed the general situation as calm.
*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.
Delay:
At a Ukrainian Armed Forces compound located south-west of government-controlled Myrne (40km north-east of Mariupol), the local commander denied the SMM entrance. The SMM informed the JCCC and after 50 minutes it was allowed to enter.
[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.