Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 13 November 2016

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations on both 12 and 13 November in Donetsk region compared with 11 November. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations on 12 November and fewer violations on 13 November, as compared with 11 November. The Mission followed up on reports of shelling as well as civilian and non-civilian casualties on both sides of the contact line. The Mission continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote, and Petrivske, and faced restriction of its freedom of movement in all three areas.* The SMM observed long queues at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line and shelling in the vicinity of civilian crossing areas. The SMM observed the presence of mines in populated areas. In Luhansk region the Mission visited two border areas currently not under government control.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations[1] in Donetsk region, including approximately 1,300 explosions on 12 November and 460 explosions on 13 November compared with 270 during the previous reporting period.  

During the evening and night of 11-12 November while in “DPR” controlled Donetsk city centre, the SMM heard 407 undetermined explosions at distances ranging 5-10km north-west. The following night, the SMM heard 103 undetermined explosions 5-10km north-west. Over two hours during the day on 13 November, the SMM heard at least 100 undetermined explosions 6-10km north-west.

Over an hour and a half during the evening and night of 11-12 November, while in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM heard 65 undetermined explosions and 15 explosions assessed as rounds outgoing from unknown weapons 2-5km north-west and south-east. During the evening of 12 November, the SMM heard 15 undetermined explosions, 16 explosions assessed as impacts of rounds from unknown weapons and 12 explosions assessed as outgoing mortar rounds of unknown calibre as well as small-arms fire, all at distances 1-6km east, south-east, south-south-east and south. On 13 November, the SMM heard 29 explosions assessed as impacts of mortar rounds of unknown calibre 2-3km south-east.

During the night of 11-12 November while in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM heard 173 undetermined explosions, two explosions assessed as impacts of rounds from unknown weapons, four explosions assessed as impacts of 82mm mortar rounds, 24 explosions assessed as outgoing infantry fighting vehicle (IFV; BMP-1) cannon (73mm) fire, three shots of automatic-grenade-launcher fire, 42 shots and 42 bursts of IFV (BMP-2) cannon fire (30mm), at least 200 shots and 78 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, 120 bursts assessed as anti-aircraft-gun fire (ZU-23-2, 23mm) as well as 172 bursts of small-arms fire, all at distances 3-10km south-south-west, south-west, west-south-west, west, west-north-west, north-west, and north-north-west. During the evening of 12 November, the SMM heard 20 undetermined explosions, three explosions of IFV (BMP-1) cannon (73mm) fire, nine bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, four single shots of IFV (BMP-2) cannon (30mm) fire and six single shots of small-arms fire all 4-8km south, south-west and west.

On 12 November, the SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) recorded 16 undetermined explosions, five explosions assessed as impacts, two explosions assessed as outgoing rounds, one air burst, one illumination flare, three undetermined projectiles in flight from east to west and eight undetermined projectiles in flight from west to east, all of unknown weapons and at locations ranging 2-10km south-east, east-south-east and east.

During the night of 12-13 November, the SMM camera in Avdiivka recorded 22 undetermined explosions 2-4km south-east. On 13 November, positioned in Avdiivka, the SMM heard 29 explosions assessed as 82mm mortar rounds (ten were assessed as impacts, ten as undetermined and nine as outgoing rounds), five explosions assessed as impacts of 122mm artillery rounds, three explosions assessed as impacts of 120mm mortar rounds, five undetermined explosions, 20 bursts of IFV (BMP-2) cannon (30mm) fire, 30 bursts of automatic-grenade-launcher fire, 12 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, as well as short and intense fire, on six occasions, of overlapping single shots and bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all at locations ranging 2-5km east, south-east and south. On the same day, the SMM camera in Avdiivka recorded 15 undetermined explosions, four rocket-assisted projectiles in flight from north to south, eight rocket-assisted projectiles in flight from south to north, at locations ranging 3-6km east-south-east and south-east.

On 12 November, positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM heard 25 undetermined explosions, seven shots of cannon (30mm) fire, three shots of automatic-grenade-launcher fire, 110 bursts and 343 single shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire at locations ranging 600m-5km west-south-west, west, west-north-west, north-west and south-west. Over three hours, the SMM also heard five explosions assessed as outgoing tank rounds at distances ranging 600m-5km west-south-west, west and north-west. 

The following day, the SMM heard 53 explosions, out of which two were assessed as outgoing rounds and two as impacts of unknown weapons, 40 bursts and 54 single shots of small-arms fire all at distances ranging 2-8km west, west-south-west, south-west south-south-east and south-east.

During the night of 11-12 November, the SMM camera at Oktiabr mine (“DPR”-controlled, 9km north-west of Donetsk city centre) recorded 45 undetermined explosions 3-5km north-west.

During the evening and night of 11-12 November, whilst in “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 334 undetermined explosions 5-10km west-north-west and north-west. On 12 November, during thirty minutes, the SMM heard 24 undetermined explosions 7-10km north. During two minutes the night of 12-13 November, the SMM heard 23 undetermined explosions 7-10km west-north-west.

During the evening hours of 11 November, the SMM camera in Shyrokyne recorded (20km east of Mariupol), facing north-north-east, recorded 14 shots, six bursts of direct fire and one cannon burst fired from east-south-east to west-north-west and six rocket-assisted projectiles in flight from east-south-east to west-north-west, all at unknown distances.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region, including 974 explosions on 12 November and fewer ceasefire violations on 13 November, including 52 explosions, as compared with approximately 530 explosions during the previous reporting period, mainly in western Luhansk region.

During the evening and night hours of 11-12 November, while in “LPR”-controlled Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, 50km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 94 explosions (outgoing and impacts) assessed as artillery and multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS) fire 5-10km west-north-west, 355 undetermined explosions assessed as artillery and MLRS fire, of which at least 16 were assessed as impacts, 26 outgoing rounds of 152mm artillery fire and respective impacts, and 25 were explosions of MLRS rounds, at distances 5-15km west-south-west, 180 explosions assessed as impacts of artillery rounds of unknown calibre, 150 outgoing explosions of artillery rounds of unknown calibre, 100 explosions (outgoing and impacts) assessed as artillery of unknown calibre, and 13 undetermined explosions all at distances ranging 5-20km north, west-south-west, west and west-north-west. On 13 November, while in Kadiivka, the SMM heard 17 undetermined explosions approximately 10km west-south-west and south-west.

On 12 November positioned in “LPR”-controlled Slovianoserbsk (28km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 73 undetermined explosions 3-4km north-west. On 13 November, positioned in “LPR”-controlled Zhovte (17km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard ten undetermined explosions at approximately 5-10km west-north-west. On 13 November, positioned in government-controlled Staryi Aidar (20km north-west of Luhansk) the SMM heard six undetermined explosions 8-10km south.

The SMM followed up on reports of shelling in residential areas and both civilian and non-civilian casualties. On 12 November, the SMM observed significant damage to five houses in government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk) consistent with shelling. Two houses on the north-western side of the street were heavily damaged, including the roofs and walls. The north-western side of one of the houses had been directly hit by a round. Three houses on the opposite side of the street had shrapnel damage and broken windows. The SMM assessed the damage to have been caused by 120mm mortar fire.

On 12 November in “LPR”-controlled Brianka (49km west of Luhansk), Russian Federation Armed Forces officers at the JCCC led the SMM to the severely wounded body of an elderly man (85 years old) who had died from injuries sustained during shelling the night before, according to the Russian Federation Armed Forces officers at the JCCC and a local female resident. On the northern side of a street the SMM saw the house where the man had reportedly lived, which had sustained a direct hit on the northern wall, which caused a hole 2m in diameter and destroyed everything in the room. The SMM saw that the neighbouring house had shrapnel damage and broken windows. Across from the latter house on the southern side of the street, the SMM observed shrapnel damage to the wall and roof of a house, as well as damaged gas pipes and electricity lines between the houses. At a nearby electricity substation the SMM observed two destroyed transformers, a large impact nearly 3m in diameter and significant shrapnel damage to the walls of the substation. The substation was not working but a repair crew was on site. The SMM assessed that the impacts and shrapnel damage were caused by 152mm artillery shells fired from a westerly and north-westerly direction.

In Novooleksandrivka (65km west of Luhansk), the SMM observed shrapnel damage and a hole on the western side of the roof of a house which had been patched closed. The SMM saw the family which included two children, three and four years old. Residents of the house told the SMM that the damage had been caused by shelling on 8 November.

On 13 November, the SMM saw at least 21 fresh impacts in and around a grain storage and processing complex in government-controlled Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk). The SMM observed 16 impacts on the asphalt and five impacts in soil surrounding the buildings, as well as damage to the northern part of the roof of the warehouse in multiple places and a nearby electrical post which had been knocked down. The SMM assessed the impacts and damage as caused by artillery fire (122 and 152mm calibre) fired from an easterly and east-south-easterly direction.

In “DPR”-controlled Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, 23km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM observed fresh shrapnel damage to three nearby houses in the north-western part of the village which included shattered windows and shrapnel damage to nearby trees, a concrete fence and a gas pipeline. The SMM assessed that the damage was caused by 120mm mortar rounds as well as IFV (BMP-1) cannon (73mm) fire fired from a north-north-westerly direction.

On 13 November in government-controlled Kurakhove (40km west of Donetsk), the police showed the SMM the police logbook with information about two Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers who reportedly sustained head injuries during shelling on 12 November in Marinka.

The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process and to pursue full access to the disengagement areas of Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk), Zolote (60km west of Luhansk) and Petrivske (41km south of Donetsk), as foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas,* but the Mission was able to partially monitor them. Contrary to the requirement of the TCG’s decision, the SMM noted no demining or fencing off of mines in any of the three areas during the reporting period.

In government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk), 5-10m south-east of the Ukrainian position on the northern side of the bridge, the SMM observed a fresh impact which it assessed as caused by automatic-grenade-launcher fired from a southerly direction. Near the “LPR” forward position north of the river, the SMM observed a fresh impact assessed to be from an under-barrel-grenade fired from a west-north-westerly direction.

At the SMM observation point in government-controlled Zolote (60km north-west of Luhansk) just outside of the Zolote/Pervomaisk disengagement area, the SMM continued to observe three Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel onsite (see SMM Daily Report 11 November). A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer at the JCCC told the SMM that the soldiers would be stationed at the observation post for ten-day rotations. Near the government checkpoint the SMM observed the construction of queuing lanes and control posts which Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel told the SMM was in preparation for the opening of the civilian entry-exit checkpoint.

In the Petrivske (41km south of Donetsk) disengagement area, a Russian Federation Armed Forces officer at the JCCC told the SMM that demining in the area had not taken place.

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

In violation of withdrawal lines the SMM observed one self-propelled howitzer (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) travelling south near government-controlled Bakhmut (69km north of Donetsk) and three pieces of towed artillery (howitzers, type unknown) near government-controlled Khersones (15km north of Mariupol).

The SMM revisited an “LPR” heavy weapons permanent storage site and noted that one multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS; BM-21 Grad, 122mm) was missing as first observed on 13 June, in addition to five towed artillery pieces (D-30, 12mm) (four observed missing as of 5 August and one observed missing as of 21 September).

The SMM revisited one Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent storage site whose location corresponded with the withdrawal lines. The SMM observed that seven tanks (T-64) were missing, as first noted on 24 April 2016. The SMM also observed as present new weapons not previously recorded.

The SMM observed armoured combat and personnel vehicles, anti-aircraft weapons and other hardware in the security zone.[2] In “DPR”-controlled Makiivka (12km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM observed ten fuel trucks, some of which were towing additional fuel trailers, traveling west toward Donetsk city. Near “DPR”-controlled Styla (34km south of Donetsk), the SMM observed an IFV (BMP-1). Near “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM saw an IFV (BMP-1) being transported on a trailer. The SMM saw one armoured personnel carrier (APC; MT-LB) near “LPR”-controlled Slovianoserbsk (28km north-west of Luhansk).

In government-controlled areas, the SMM saw one stationary IFV (BMP-1), one APC (BTR-70) and two anti-aircraft guns (ZU-23, 23mm) being towed north near Stanytsia Luhanska (outside the disengagement area), one armoured combat vehicle (ACV; BRM-1K)  and two IFVs (BMP-2) near government-controlled Zolote (60km west of Luhansk), one APC (BTR-70) and three anti-aircraft guns (ZU-23, 23mm) near Nyzhnoteple (25km north of Luhansk), three IFVs (BMP-2, 30mm) near Popasna and one APC (BTR-80) near a government checkpoint near Berezove (31km south-west of Donetsk).

At 15:10 on 13 November, four men, two of them in military attire, approached the SMM’s place of accommodation at its forward patrol base in government-controlled Volnovakha (53km south of Donetsk). They smelled of alcohol and refused to identify themselves. One of them waved a wooden stick in a threatening manner and they asked an SMM security assistant present why SMM members were not present at the contact line. One of them took pictures of the SMM member and of the SMM vehicle parked outside the building. Five minutes after their arrival, the four men left the scene in a private vehicle (a white minibus van - licence plate could not be observed), in which they had arrived. In the meantime, police were called and they arrived after the four men had left.

The SMM continued to observe long queues at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line and ceasefire violations near civilian crossing areas. On both 12 and 13 November, the SMM observed long lines of civilians waiting to cross in both directions at the “LPR” and government entry-exit checkpoints at Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, with queues ranging from 100-1,000 people waiting to travel toward government-controlled areas and 150-400 people waiting to travel in the opposite direction. The SMM saw fresh impacts near both government and “LPR” positions north of the bridge (see above). On 12 November at the “DPR” checkpoint in Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM observed a long queue of cars traveling toward government-controlled areas and spoke with several civilians who said they had been waiting between two and three days to cross to government-controlled areas. While at the same “DPR” checkpoint, the SMM heard ten shots of small-arms fire 3-4km north-north-west of its position. During the daytime on 13 November, during 35 minutes while at the entry-exit checkpoint in government-controlled Maiorsk (45km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard four undetermined explosions 1-3km north-east and east of its position. A woman travelling with her child who she said has a disability and respiratory problems told the SMM that it took her two days to cross from Maiorsk into “DPR”-controlled areas. At the entry-exit checkpoint in Berezove, the SMM observed over 400 vehicles and 300 pedestrians queuing to travel toward government-controlled areas and fewer than ten vehicles queuing to travel in the other direction. While in Berezove, the SMM heard two undetermined explosions and eight bursts of small-arms fire 1-7km south-south-east and north-north-west.

The SMM continued to observe the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) in populated areas. Near a “DPR” entry-exit checkpoint in Olenivka (27km south-west of Donetsk) a civilian man waiting in line pointed out to the SMM an explosive device secured to a tree on the right side of the road. The SMM informed the JCCC.

On 13 November, while monitoring adherence to the ceasefire for electrical infrastructure repair work in “LPR”-controlled Zhovte (17km north-west of Luhansk) the SMM heard an explosion 200-300m west of its position. The SMM observed “LPR” members carrying stretchers in the direction of the sound of the explosion and was told that an “LPR” demining engineer and a civilian electrician had stepped on an anti-personnel mine while conducting repairs on the power line.

The SMM monitored two border areas currently not under government control. At the border crossing point in Izvaryne (54km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed 16 cargo trucks including three fuel tankers with Russian Federation licence plates. At Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, 65km south-east of Luhansk) border crossing point, the SMM observed 48 cars queuing to leave Ukraine (40 Ukrainian licence plates, seven Russian Federation licence plates and one “LPR” plate). The SMM observed that the traffic flowed smoothly and took less than five minutes to cross outside and into Ukraine.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Chernivtsi and Kyiv.

*Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines, unexploded ordnance, 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:

• On 12 November, while in “DPR”-controlled Petrivske (41km south of Donetsk), a “DPR” member told the SMM that it could not travel west to Viktorivka (42km south-west of Donetsk) due to the possible presence of mines and the absence of security guarantees. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On both 12 and 13 November, the SMM could not travel on the road from Bohdanivka east to Viktorivka (42km south-west of Donetsk) as a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer at the JCCC present said the road was still mined and he could not assist in ensuring security for the SMM to travel.
• On 12 November, the SMM was unable to proceed into an area near Donetska street north of the bridge and, separately, to travel towards the railway bridge in Stanytsia Luhanska due to the lack of guarantees from the Ukrainian Armed Forces that the area had been cleared of mines and UXO. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 12 November, south of the bridge near Stanytsia Luhanska, an SMM patrol was stopped from travelling toward the railway bridge by armed men who told the SMM that the area had not been demined. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 12 and 13 November, the SMM could not proceed further towards a summer cottage area (neighbouring the railway bridge south of Stanytsia Luhanska) as it observed a mine hazard sign east of the parking lot near the “LPR” checkpoint immediately south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (inside the disengagement area). An armed “LPR” member at the checkpoint told the SMM that the road towards the railway bridge had not been demined. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• Anti-tank obstacles (“Czech hedgehogs”) blocked the SMM from proceeding towards an “LPR” observation point on the top of a hill south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. An armed man told the SMM that that area had not been demined. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 12 and 13 November, the SMM was unable to travel down a road between government-controlled Katerynivka (64km west of Luhansk) and government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk) due to the presence of an anti-tank mine and anti-tank obstacles (“Czech hedgehogs”) blocking the road. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 12 and 13 November, the SMM could not proceed across the bridge south of government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) as Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel told the SMM that the bridge was still mined. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 13 November, the SMM was unable to access secondary routes in the Zolote-Pervomaisk disengagement area (58km west of Luhansk) as a mine hazard sign on the “LPR’-controlled side of the disengagement area warned of the presence of mines and/or unexploded ordnance (UXO). An “LPR” member told the SMM that he could not guarantee the safety of the SMM due to possible threat of mines/UXO. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 13 November, Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel denied SMM access to two military compounds near government-controlled Khersones (15km north of Mariupol).  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.   

[2] This hardware is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.