Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 18 November 2016
This report is for media and the general public.
The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of shelling in Pikuzy. The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and faced restrictions of its freedom of movement in all three areas.* The SMM monitored the withdrawal of weapons. It observed long queues at entry-exit checkpoints on both sides of the contact line. The SMM heard small-arms fire in the area where it was flying an unmanned aerial vehicle in Vyskryva. In Kyiv, the Mission continued to monitor a peaceful public gathering outside the National Bank of Ukraine.
The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations[1] in Donetsk region, including more than 600 explosions compared with 460 during the previous reporting period. On the night of 17 November, while in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 13 undetermined explosions, 30 explosions assessed as impacts (including of mortar (120 and 82mm) rounds), and two assessed as outgoing fire from undetermined weapons, all 3-10km north-east and south-east. Between 06:30 and 07:00 the next day, the SMM heard 40 explosions assessed as outgoing mortar (82mm) rounds, followed by 25 explosions assessed as impacts of mortar (82mm) rounds, 3-4km east-south-east.
During the evening and night hours of 17-18 November, while in “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM heard 106 undetermined explosions 5-12km north. During the day of 18 November, positioned 3km north-east of Debaltseve the SMM heard two explosions assessed as outgoing fire 1-2km north-west, and one assessed as an impact of a round from an undetermined weapon, 8-12km north-west. In the evening of 17 November, while in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 77 undetermined explosions, 7-12km west-south-west, west, and north-west.
Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM heard, throughout the day, 61 undetermined explosions, as well as intense uncountable overlapping bursts and single shots of small-arms fire, all 1-7km north, south-west, west and north-west. The SMM camera in Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) recorded throughout the day on 18 November one undetermined explosion and ten undetermined projectiles in flight from east to west, 3-5km east-south-east. The SMM camera at the Oktiabr mine (9km north-west of Donetsk city centre) recorded two undetermined projectiles in flight from south to west, followed by another one in flight from north to south, 2-3km north-north-east.
During the night of 17-18 November, while in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city the SMM heard 50 undetermined explosions 9-15km north-west. During one hour on 18 November, the SMM heard 13 undetermined explosions 5-8km north, west and north-west. While in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk central railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk city centre) the SMM heard, within two hours, 51 undetermined explosions, as well as uncountable overlapping bursts and single shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, at locations ranging 3-9km from north to west.
During the evening and night hours of 17-18 November, while in government-controlled Mariupol (102km south of Donetsk), the SMM heard 39 undetermined explosions (18 at 8-12km and 21 at an undetermined distance) north-east and east-north-east. During the day, the SMM heard 12 undetermined explosions at an undetermined distance east.
The SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded in two hours, a sequence of: 29 explosions assessed as impacts of artillery rounds 4km east-north-east, nine indirect rocket assisted-projectiles (assessed as Grad-P rocket launcher or multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS) rockets) in flight from south to north, 1-2km east-north-east, and five indirect rocket-assisted projectiles in flight from west to east, at an undetermined distance north.
While in “DPR”-controlled Bezimenne (30km east of Mariupol), within 30 minutes, the SMM heard 45 undetermined explosions at an undetermined distance north-west. Positioned in government-controlled Hnutove (20km north-east of Mariupol), during the day, the SMM heard 53 explosions (51 undetermined and two assessed as impacts of rounds from undetermined weapons), as well as uncountable overlapping explosions and bursts, mostly at undetermined distances north-north-east, east-south-east, south-east, south and south-west.
In Luhansk region the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including 42 explosions, compared with 59 in the previous reporting period. While in “LPR”-controlled Kadiivka (50km west of Luhansk), on the evening of 17 November, the SMM heard within 15 minutes 13 undetermined explosions about 5-10km north and north-west. Positioned 1km south of government-controlled Mykolaivka (77km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard nine undetermined explosions 15km north, east and west.
Positioned south of government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard ten undetermined explosions 15-20km west. Positioned 1km south of government-controlled Novozvanivka (70km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard five undetermined explosions 8km west.
The SMM continued to follow up on firing and shelling incidents in “DPR”-controlled Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, 23km north-east of Mariupol). (See SMM Daily Report 18 November.) At Kirova Street, the SMM observed a fresh impact and fragments of a shell south-east of the garden in front of a house, assessed as caused by an infantry fighting vehicle (BMP-1) cannon or recoilless gun (SPG-9) projectile fired from a north-north-westerly direction. The SMM observed an IFV (BMP-1) parked in the edge of the field a hundred meters west of the damaged house.
The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process and to pursue full access to the areas near 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 Mission’s access remained restricted to most of these areas, although it was able to travel along the road between Zolote and “LPR”-controlled Pervomaisk (58km west of Luhansk).
The SMM did not note any signs of disengagement in the Stanytsia Luhanska area. Notwithstanding the obligation in the Framework Decision to remove or fence off explosive hazards in these areas, a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer told the SMM that there were no plans for demining on 18 November. An “LPR” member said that demining had not taken place on the road leading towards the railway bridge west of the southern end of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge.*
The SMM crossed on the main route in the disengagement area from Zolote to Pervomaisk and back. The SMM camera in Zolote recorded one explosion assessed as outgoing grenade launcher fire, 3km south-east (within the disengagement area), near the Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint located on the edge of the disengagement area, south of Zolote-4.
In Petrivske the SMM saw one mine hazard sign (red background with a skull and “Mine” written on it) south of the crossroad leading towards the disengagement area. Armed “DPR” members nearby said that a short segment of that road towards the disengagement area was not mined. In government-controlled Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk) Ukrainian Armed Forces officers of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) told the SMM that mines were still present on the road between Viktorivka (42km south-west of Donetsk) and Petrivske.
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 in government-controlled areas: four towed howitzers (2A36 Giatsint-B,152mm) in Aslanove (16km north of Mariupol), and nine tanks (T-64) near Nyrkove (77km west of Luhansk).
Beyond withdrawal lines but outside storage sites the SMM observed two surface-to-air missile systems (9k33 Osa, 120mm) 3km south-east of government-controlled Marynivka (39km north-west of Donetsk) heading east, and nine tanks (T-64) stationary at a training area near “LPR”-controlled Kruhlyk (31km south-west of Luhansk).
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 observed six mortars (M120-15, 120mm). Six mortars (2B11, 120mm) were missing, as first noted missing on 14 October 2016.
The SMM revisited an “LPR” heavy weapons permanent storage site whose location corresponds with the withdrawal lines. The SMM noted that five towed howitzers (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm) were missing, as first noted on 5 March 2016.
While in government-controlled Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk) the SMM noticed fresh tracks assessed as from a tank.
The SMM continued to observe the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). Along the road in government-controlled Katerynivka (64km west of Luhansk), the SMM observed five anti-tank mines (TM-62M), laid openly 5m east of the main road.* At the “LPR” checkpoint south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge the SMM observed that previously reported pieces of UXO east of the broken part of the bridge were still present, posing serious threat to civilians. East of Popasna, about 100m from some road obstacles (“Czech hedgehogs”) on the road across the contact line, the SMM observed an anti-tank mine on the asphalt 1.5m from the road.*
The SMM monitored the situation of civilians living close to the contact line. In Marinka and Krasnohorivka (21km west of Donetsk) several residents (women in their fifties) separately told the SMM that even though the gas pipeline had been repaired, the gas supply had not been restored due to fear of shelling. In a “DPR”-controlled part of Zaitseve (50km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM observed that the largest part of the village remained without power, which had been interrupted since February.
In government-controlled Kalynove (35km north of Donetsk) the SMM saw a military vehicle leaving a school building area and a military barrier in front of it. A resident said that the local school and the cultural centre had been used by the military since the beginning of the conflict.
The SMM continued to observe long queues at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line. At 08:08 on 17 November, at a government checkpoint in Berezove (31km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM observed 232 civilian vehicles, six buses and approximately 400 pedestrians queuing to enter government-controlled areas. At 09:10, the SMM noted still more than 248 civilian vehicles and 350 pedestrians waiting to cross towards government-controlled areas. At the government checkpoint in Maiorsk (45km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM observed 152 vehicles and nearly 400 pedestrians queuing to travel towards non-government-controlled areas. The SMM observed no queue in the opposite direction.
At the government checkpoint north of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, the SMM saw some 200 pedestrians waiting to enter government-controlled areas and a similar number of people waiting to walk in the opposite direction. The SMM saw six and eight operational windows, respectively, for processing of documents, and noted a smooth process. At 07:30 at the “LPR” checkpoint south of the bridge, the SMM observed about 900 people waiting for the checkpoint to open. The SMM saw that people with disabilities and elderly people had difficulties crossing the wooden ramp that goes across the broken part of the bridge. The SMM also saw a 65-year-old man who fell down while crossing the wooden ramp.
The SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs, co-ordinated by the JCCC, to the electric power lines between “LPR”-controlled Raivka (16km north-west of Luhansk) and Vesela Hora (16km north of Luhansk), which were completed successfully.
In Kyiv the Mission continued to monitor a public gathering outside the National Bank of Ukraine. The SMM saw that about 1,200 people (about 50-70 years old, and of these about 60 per cent women) protested to, as they said, give an end to corruption in the banking sector and called on the Government to reimburse people for lost deposits. About 100 law enforcement officers were present and had cordoned off the area. The protest remained peaceful.
The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Chernivtsi.
*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:
- While south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (inside the disengagement area), the SMM was not able to proceed west on the road leading from Prince Ihor Monument south of the bridge due to a steal-barrier on the road. The SMM informed the JCCC.
- The SMM was not able to proceed further to the railway bridge south of Stanytsia Luhanska from the parking lot east of an “LPR” checkpoint south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, as it saw mine hazard signs. The SMM informed the JCCC.
- At an “LPR” checkpoint at the southern edge of the Zolote-Pervomaisk disengagement area, an armed man told the SMM that fields and areas other than roads located in the disengagement area had not been cleared of mines. The SMM was therefore denied full access to the area. The SMM informed the JCCC.
- In “DPR”-controlled Petrivske (41km south of Donetsk) the SMM observed a mine hazard sign close to its observation post. Due to no progress in demining and lack of security guarantees by “DPR” members the SMM could not observe directly the disengagement area. The SMM informed the JCCC.
- In government-controlled Bohdanivka (41km south of Donetsk) the SMM could not proceed on the road to Viktorivka (42km south of Donetsk) as mines were still on the road. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC had no information about demining.
- The SMM could not travel on the road leading from government-controlled Popasna to government-controlled Katerynivka, as Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint personnel said the road was mined. The SMM informed the JCCC.
- The SMM could not proceed across the bridge south of government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) from either side to the other. Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel present at a checkpoint told the SMM that the bridge was still mined. Armed men at the “LPR” checkpoint south of the bridge said the same. The SMM informed the JCCC.
- Ukrainian Armed Forces members at a heavy weapons holding area demanded the SMM to show a patrol plan, their national passports and a list of weapons to be inspected. Consequently they denied the SMM access upon its refusal to comply with such demand. The SMM informed the JCCC.
- Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel denied SMM access to a heavy weapons holding area, citing lack of permission from superiors. The SMM informed the JCCC.
Other impediments:
- In government-controlled Vyskryva (76km west of Luhansk), while flying a mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) the SMM heard three-five rounds of small-arms fire 300m south-east, near the UAV. The SMM managed to land the UAV without any damage. The SMM informed the JCCC. The SMM had also informed the JCCC about the UAV flight in advance.
[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.
* Please see the section at the end of this report entitled “Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate”.