Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 22 to 26 December 2016

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded fewer, but still a high number, of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region from the evenings of 22 to 23 December compared with the previous reporting period, including 1,150 explosions, mainly in the Svitlodarsk-Debaltseve area. The SMM evacuated its forward patrol base in government-controlled Svitlodarsk on 24 December due to the proximity of shelling on the evening of 23 December. While the SMM recorded a high number of explosions west of Horlivka on the night of 23 December, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations after a renewed commitment to the ceasefire starting on 24 December. The SMM returned to its forward patrol base in Svitlodarsk on 26 December. A similar situation was noted in Luhansk region, with more ceasefire violations recorded from the evenings of 22 to 23 December compared with the previous reporting period, followed by fewer explosions recorded from the evenings of 23 to 24 December, and no explosions recorded after noon on 24 December through the evening of 26 December. The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties in government-controlled Selidove and Bakhmut and of reports of shelling in, among other places, Svitlodarsk, Debaltseve, Novooleksandrivka and Pikuzy. The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and its access was restricted by the continued presence of mines and unexploded ordnance.* The SMM noted the removal of mine hazard signs in Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area and demining near the Shchastia bridge, both in “LPR” areas. The Mission observed proscribed weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. It noted water shortages in Troitske, Novozvanivka and Yasynuvata. The SMM monitored four border crossing points currently not under government control. The SMM’s freedom of movement was restricted on both sides of the contact line including at weapons storage sites and in a border area not controlled by the government.*

The SMM recorded fewer but still a high number of ceasefire violations[1] in the Donetsk region from the evenings of 22 to 23 December, including about 1,150 explosions, compared with about 2,300 in the previous reporting period. The majority of the explosions were recorded in the Svitlodarsk-Debaltseve area. The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations over the next 24 hours in the Donetsk region, including about 1,130 explosions, mainly to the west of Horlivka. The SMM evacuated its forward patrol base in Svitlodarsk on 24 December due to the proximity of artillery round impacts, on one occasion as close as 70m to the base on 23 December, which broke windows on the upper floors of the building. The SMM noted a sharp decrease in the number of ceasefire violations from the evening of 24 to the evening of 25 December, coinciding with a renewed commitment by the sides to adhere to the ceasefire starting from 24 December. (The SMM recorded fewer than 30 explosions.) The number of ceasefire violations recorded through the evening of 26 December increased compared with the previous day, with more than 170 explosions, mostly in areas east and north-east of Mariupol where the SMM also recorded intense exchanges of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire. The SMM returned to its forward patrol base in Svitlodarsk late in the morning on 26 December, from where it recorded only one explosion and two instances of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire in the afternoon of 26 December.

While in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk) on the evening and night of 22 December the SMM recorded nearly six hours of intense heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire and 219 explosions, including: 28 assessed as impacts of multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS) rounds 7km south, 98 assessed as impacts of 120mm mortar rounds and 13 assessed as outgoing tank rounds 3-4km south-south-east, and 25 assessed as outgoing 122mm artillery rounds and 14 as outgoing 152mm artillery rounds 4-5km north-north-east.

While in “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM heard 158 undetermined explosions 3-6km north-east on the evening of 22 December and the morning of 23 December.

Throughout the day on 23 December, while in Svitlodarsk the SMM heard a total of about 580 explosions, including: about 310 assessed as impacts of 120mm mortar rounds, 67 assessed as outgoing tank rounds and more than 70 assessed as outgoing 122mm artillery rounds, all 3-5km east-south-east.

While in Svitlodarsk on the evening of 23 December the SMM heard 28 explosions assessed as impacts 3-4km south-south-east, 28 explosions assessed as outgoing rounds of 122mm artillery 4-5km south-south-east, heard and saw two explosions assessed as impacts of 122mm artillery rounds 70-200m south of the forward patrol base, and heard one explosion assessed as an impact of a 122mm artillery round 200-300m north.

While in Debaltseve on the evening of 23 December the SMM heard 33 undetermined explosions 3-5km north-north-east, followed over 30 minutes later by 28 undetermined explosions in a two-minute period 8-10km north-north-west.

Positioned in Svitlodarsk for three hours on 25 December the SMM heard five to seven explosions assessed as impacts 3-5km west.

While in Svitlodarsk for at least five hours on the afternoon and early evening of 26 December the SMM heard one undetermined explosion 8-12km south-east, five minutes of intense heavy-machine-gun fire and 16 single shots of small-arms fire 3-5km south-east.

While in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) during the evening and night of 23-24 December, the SMM heard about 980 explosions, including: 16 salvos of three-five rounds each assessed as outgoing MLRS (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) rockets 3km west-south-west, 60 explosions assessed as impacts of mortar rounds 4-5km south-west; more than 700 undetermined explosions 4-6km south-west (including one episode in which the SMM recorded at least 160 explosions in 15 minutes), west and north-west; and more than 165 undetermined explosions 4-6km north-east.

While in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city centre early in the morning on 23 December, the SMM heard 56 undetermined explosions in just over 45 minutes 7-10km west-north-west.

Positioned 1km east of government-controlled Berdianske (18km east of Mariupol) on the morning of 23 December the SMM heard 23 explosions assessed as impacts 2-4km north and north-east, 11 explosions assessed as outgoing 2-3km north-north-west and north-east, and seven undetermined explosions 4-6km north.

On 24 December, positioned in “DPR”-controlled Sakhanka (24km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard more than 30 minutes of intense heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire and one explosion assessed as an impact of a mortar round, all 3-5km west-north-west.

In the afternoon and evening of 24 December, the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded an exchange that began with two undetermined explosions and one airburst and continued with 25 rocket-assisted projectiles in flight from west to east and 14 from east to west, all at unknown distances north.

On the evening of 25 December, the SMM camera in Shyrokyne recorded an exchange of fire which began with 21 rocket-assisted projectiles in flight from west to east. The ensuing exchange recorded by the camera lasted for about 30 minutes and included 11 rocket-assisted projectiles from west to east, two rocket-assisted projectiles from south to north, two rocket-assisted projectiles from east to west, nine explosions assessed as impacts and five undetermined explosions, all at unknown distances north of the camera.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, 23km north-east of Mariupol) on 26 December the SMM heard 33 explosions assessed as impacts of artillery rounds 3-5km south-south-east. Positioned in government-controlled Orlivske (23km north-east of Mariupol) the SMM heard at least 58 undetermined explosions and more than 30 minutes of intense small-arms fire at an undetermined distance south-east. Positioned in government-controlled Sopyne (16km east of Mariupol) the SMM heard nearly 30 minutes of intense small-arms, heavy-machine-gun and light-weapons fire 3km north.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations from the evenings of 22 to 23 December, including more than 630 explosions, compared with more than 330 in the previous reporting period. Most of the explosions were recorded in western parts of Luhansk region, closer to the Svitlodarsk-Debaltseve area. The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations over the next 24 hours, including more than 150 explosions, again mainly in western Luhansk region. The SMM noted a sharp decrease in the number of ceasefire violations starting on the evening of 24 December, with no explosions recorded through the evening of 26 December.

Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Verhulivka (61km west of Luhansk) on 23 December the SMM heard more than 250 explosions in just over two hours: about 180 assessed as impacts of artillery rounds 5-15km south-west, 40 assessed as outgoing artillery rounds 10km south-west, 24 undetermined explosions 10km north-west, and seven assessed as outgoing artillery rounds 500m south-west. 

Positioned in government-controlled Troitske (69km west of Luhansk) on 23 December the SMM heard 110 explosions assessed as artillery and mortar rounds 8-15km south-west and 10-20km south-south-east, 10-15 explosions assessed as impacts of MLRS rockets 1-2km south-south-west, and about 150 explosions assessed as both outgoing fire and impacts of artillery, mortar and MLRS rounds 3-15km east, south-south-east and west.

Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Yuzhna-Lomuvatka (61km west of Luhansk) on 23 December the SMM heard 16 explosions assessed as outgoing 152mm artillery rounds 3-4km south-west. Earlier in the morning the SMM had observed four towed howitzers (2A65 Msta-B, 152mm) being transported south near Verhulivka (see below).

Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Veselohorivka (64km west of Luhansk) on 24 December the SMM heard 30 explosions assessed as outgoing mortar rounds 5km north-east.

Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, 50km west of Luhansk) for nearly two hours on the evening of 23 December the SMM heard at least seven salvos lasting 3-4 seconds assessed as outgoing rounds of MLRS rockets (BM-21) and more than 130 explosions assessed as artillery rounds, all 5-10km north-west.

Positioned 1.4km south-west of “LPR”-controlled Kalynove (60km west of Luhansk) for 20 minutes on the morning of 24 December, the SMM heard eight explosions assessed as two outgoing volleys (four rounds each) of mortar rounds at an unknown distance west and two single shots of small-arms fire 500-600m west.

Positioned in Novooleksandrivka (65km west of Luhansk) on 25 December the SMM heard one single shot of small-arms fire 1km south-south-east.

Positioned near a checkpoint in “LPR”-controlled Molodizhne (63km north-west of Luhansk) on 26 December the SMM observed two armed “LPR” members firing eight single shots and two bursts from assault rifles (AK-47) at an unidentified unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flying from east to west at an altitude of about 100m. The fire did not appear to hit the UAV which flew away to the west.

The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties and shelling in residential areas. On 25 December, a police officer in government-controlled Selidove (41km north-west of Donetsk) told the SMM that an elderly woman had received shrapnel wounds between 18 and 19 December in government-controlled Opytne (12km north-west of Donetsk) and had been transferred to a neurosurgery department in government-controlled Mariupol (102km south of Donetsk). Medical personnel in Mariupol told the SMM that the woman had been transferred to Mariupol on 19 December and had been unconscious for 24 hours.

On 26 December a senior police representative and medical personnel at a hospital in government-controlled Bakhmut (formerly Artemivsk, 67km north-east of Donetsk) separately told the SMM that a man in his fifties from government-controlled Kodema (57km north-east of Donetsk) had severely injured his hand in an explosion while attempting to dismantle a grenade.

On 23 December in “DPR”-controlled Yasne (30km south-west of Donetsk), accompanied by a Russian Federation Armed Forces officer of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), the SMM observed a direct impact on the north-facing wall of a building. The SMM assessed the impact as having been caused by a 73mm round. A resident told the SMM that the impact had occurred early on the morning on 20 December.

On 24 December in Svitlodarsk, accompanied by a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC, the SMM observed 12 fresh impact sites in the south-eastern part of the settlement. The SMM noted broken windows and shrapnel damage to the walls of two shops in a market and two apartment buildings, which also had broken windows and burn marks on the façade of the buildings, affecting about 45 apartments. The SMM assessed the impacts as having been caused by one 152mm artillery round, six 122mm artillery rounds and three 120mm mortar rounds, all fired from southerly and the south-easterly directions. The SMM was unable to assess the direction of fire of two additional impact sites assessed as caused by 122mm artillery rounds. Two of the 120mm mortar rounds had hit a market about 400m north of the SMM forward patrol base, one 120mm mortar round and one 122mm artillery round had impacted about 70m from the forward patrol base and five 122mm and one 152mm artillery rounds had impacted 150-170m south of the forward patrol base. The base is located in a residential area within 100m of other houses.

On 24 December in Debaltseve, accompanied by a Russian Federation Armed Forces officer of the JCCC and a “DPR” member, the SMM observed six fresh impact sites. “DPR”-affiliated media followed the SMM to two of the sites. The SMM assessed three of the impacts as caused by 82mm mortar rounds (one of which impacted about 25m from a house) fired from northerly or the north-north-westerly directions, two as 122mm artillery rounds fired from a north-north-westerly direction and one 152mm artillery round fired from a north-north-westerly direction. The 152mm artillery round had impacted less than 100m from a kindergarten and about 10m from a house. A Sunday School building of a church had been destroyed due to a direct impact. The SMM observed shrapnel damage to the walls of at least eight houses, shrapnel damage to the walls of at least five booths in a market, two additional booths in the same market had been completely destroyed, shattered windows on at least two houses and one location where power lines had been severed. The SMM observed an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV; BMP-1) driving east on an adjacent street at one of the impact sites. Four residents separately told the SMM that five of the impacts had occurred at about 15:00 on 23 December and a group of local works told the SMM that one of the 122mm artillery round impacts had occurred around midnight that night.

On 24 December in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata, accompanied by a Russian Federation Armed Forces officer of the JCCC, the SMM observed one fresh impact site on Chkalova Street. The SMM observed two broken windows on a house located 3m from the site. The SMM assessed the impact as caused by a grenade round fired from a westerly direction. According to two residents, the impact had occurred on the afternoon of 23 December.

On 24 December in a southern part of Kalynove the SMM observed a fresh impact 10m from a house and observed shattered windows. The SMM assessed the impact as having been caused by an artillery round fired from a west-north-westerly direction. The resident of the house told the SMM that the shell had impacted at about 21:00 on 23 December.

On 25 December in Novooleksandrivka the SMM observed four fresh impact sites about 10-70m from the house and noted minor shrapnel damage to the roof of the house. The SMM assessed that one of the impacts had been caused by an artillery round and one by a mortar round both fired from a south-south-westerly direction, and one by a mortar round and one by a recoilless-gun (SPG-9) or a rocket-propelled-grenade (RPG-7) round both fired from a southerly direction. An elderly man told the SMM that his house had been shelled on the evening of 23 December

On 26 December in Pikuzy, accompanied by a Russian Federation Armed Forces officer of the JCCC and a “DPR” member, the SMM observed 12 fresh impacts. At the first site the SMM observed three impacts 70m from a house assessed as caused by 122mm artillery rounds fired from a west-south-westerly direction. At a second site, the SMM observed ongoing repairs to the south-west facing wall and part of the roof of a house. Three impacts about 15-20m from the house caused shrapnel damage to a metal fence. At a third site the SMM observed two direct impacts to the roofs of two abandoned houses. The SMM observed four additional impacts about 20m from the two houses, all assessed as caused by 120mm mortar rounds. Residents present at the second and third sites told the SMM that the shelling had taken place on the evening of 23 December.

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 relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September. The SMM’s access to all three areas remained restricted, but the Mission was able to partially monitor them.* The SMM noted no demining or fencing off of mines in Zolote or Petrivske during the reporting period.

On 26 December, a Russian Federation Armed Forces officer of the JCCC and an “LPR” member told the SMM that they had declared the area west of the Prince Ihor monument free of mines and unexploded ordnance The SMM did not observe any demining activities during the time it was there. “LPR” members filmed the SMM throughout the patrol.

On 25 December, while on the “LPR” side of the Zolote-Pervomaisk disengagement area, the SMM observed two wires running parallel on both sides of the road 10-15m long and suspended 1m above the ground. The SMM assessed that they were not communication cables. On 26 December, while speaking with two armed “LPR” members on the “LPR”-controlled side of the disengagement area, a third armed “LPR” member filmed the SMM.

Throughout the reporting period, the SMM observed a calm situation in the Petrivske disengagement area.

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

In violation of the withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas, the SMM observed: one self-propelled howitzer (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) north of Bakhmut; ten MLRS (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) in Kostiantynivka (60km north of Donetsk) near the railway station; and 13 self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122km) near Trudove (45km south-west of Donetsk), all on 23 December. On 25 December, the SMM observed: two trucks towing six pieces of towed artillery (D-20, 152mm) near Marynivka (39km north-west of Donetsk) heading west on road M-04; 12 MLRS (BM-21), and eight towed artillery pieces (D-20) near the railway bridge in Kostiantynivka, all on 25 December.

In violation of the withdrawal lines, near “LPR”-controlled Verhulivka (64km west of Luhansk) on 23 December the SMM observed four pieces of towed artillery (2A65 Msta-B, 152mm).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside assigned sites, in government-controlled areas, on 23 December, the SMM observed one tank (T-72, 125mm) near Selidove (41km north-west of Donetsk) and three tanks (T-72, 125mm) near Memryk (33km north-west of Donetsk). On 25 December, the SMM observed 12 tanks (T-72, 125mm) near Memryk and one tank (T-72, 125mm) being towed on a flatbed truck on road M-04 heading west near Selidove.

In areas not controlled by the  government, the SMM observed one towed howitzer (type undetermined) near “LPR”-controlled Sorokyne (formerly Krasnodon, 43km south-east of Luhansk) and one tank (T-64, 125mm) being towed on a flatbed truck near “LPR”-controlled Malomykolaivka (36km south-west of Luhansk) on 23 December.

The SMM observed weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage does not comply with the criteria set out in the 16 October 2015 notification.

In government-controlled areas, the SMM observed ten tanks (T-64, 125mm) including one for the first time on 24 December. On the same day, the SMM observed that one area was abandoned for the first time and noted as missing three anti-aircraft weapons (two 9K33/SA-8 Osa, 210mm; one 9K35/SA-13 Strela-10, 210mm). The SMM also noted that three areas continued to be abandoned with missing 18 self-propelled howitzers (six 2S1 and 12 2S19 Msta-S, 152mm), 12 towed howitzers (D-30, 122mm) and six mortars (2B11 Sani, 120mm).

In “DPR”-controlled areas, the SMM saw 11 MLRS (BM-21) and three anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) on 25 December and noted as absent five anti-tank guns (MT-12) for the first time the same day. At a “DPR” heavy weapons storage site on 25 December, armed “DPR” members initially denied the SMM access and told the SMM that it should provide written permission. The SMM informed the JCCC and after five minutes, the SMM was granted access.  On 26 December, the SMM observed six self-propelled howitzers (2S1) and six MLRS (BM-21).

The SMM revisited “LPR” heavy weapons permanent storage sites whose locations corresponded with the withdrawal lines. On 23 December, the SMM noted as absent: eleven pieces of towed artillery (D-30) (six noted as missing as of 5 March 2016, four as of 20 August 2016 and one as of 21 September 2016).

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles, an unmanned aerial vehicle, an anti-aircraft weapon[2], ammunition and armed men in the security zone. In areas outside government control the SMM observed, on 23 December, two IFVs (BMP-1) in Debaltseve as well as forty empty artillery shells and approximately 50 empty ammunition boxes, marked as 152mm calibre ammunition near Verhulivka. On 24 December the SMM saw one stationary IFV (BMP-2) at a checkpoint west of Kalynove; one IFV (BMP-2) heading east near Debaltseve and one IFV (BMP-1) in Debaltseve; and one anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) mounted on one stationary APC (MT-LB) near Verhulivka. On 25 December, the SMM saw two--three men collecting empty artillery casings near Verhulivka as well as a convoy consisting of two buses carrying armed “LPR” members on road M-04 near “LPR”-controlled Alchevsk (40km west of Luhansk) traveling south-west. The same day, the SMM observed two military-type trucks carrying armed men near “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city heading south-east on road H-21. On 26 December, the SMM observed one APC (BRDM-2) near Horlivka and an unmanned aerial vehicle flying east to west approximately 50-100m in the air over Molodizhne (see above).

In government-controlled areas, on 23 December the SMM observed one static APC (BRDM-2) near Vrubivka (72km west of Luhansk) and one recoilless gun (SPG-9, 73mm) on a truck next to the road in Berezove (31km south-west of Donetsk). On 24 December, the SMM observed one stationary IFV (BMP-2) at a government checkpoint in Popasna (69km north-west); and two IFVs (one BMP-1 and one BMP-2) and one armoured personnel carrier (BTR-1) near Mykhailivka (37km north-west of Donetsk). On 25 December the SMM observed four IFVs (BMP-1) in Stanytsia Luhanska (outside the disengagement area). On 26 December, the SMM observed one APC (BTR-70) near a government checkpoint in Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) and one APC (BTR-3) near a government checkpoint in Karlivka (25km north-west of Donetsk).

The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable the exchange of the bodies of deceased persons across the contact line in Shchastia. On 25 December, from a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint in Shchastia and an “LPR” checkpoint south-east of Shchastia, the SMM observed while two bodies of deceased men, which according to the JCCC were from the Ukrainian Armed Forces, were transferred by members of a civil society organization based in non-government-controlled areas to representatives of the civil-military administration. At the same time, two bodies of deceased men, which according to the JCCC were “LPR” members, were transferred in the opposite direction.

The SMM observed the removal of anti-tank mines at Shchastia bridge. On 26 December, the SMM observed “LPR” members removing anti-tank mines on the east side of the road located south of the bridge in Shchastia. A Russian Federation Armed Forces officer of the JCCC and an armed “LPR” member onsite told the SMM that approximately 1km of asphalt road leading to the Shchastia bridge had been demined. An “LPR” member filmed the SMM throughout the patrol.

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to essential infrastructure, co-ordinated by the JCCC. On 25 December, from both government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) and “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata, the SMM monitored repair work on electricity lines to the power station of the water filtration station. On the same day, a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC told the SMM that the repair work had been completed successfully. On 26 December, the SMM monitored repairs to damaged water pipes near “LPR”-controlled Krasnyi Lyman (30km north-west of Luhansk) that had reportedly been damaged during shelling.

The SMM continued to observe the situation of civilians living near the contact line. On 23 December, a male resident who had been injured on 7 December by shrapnel told the SMM that he needed further medical treatment for his injury and had wanted to go to “LPR”-controlled Pervomaisk (58km west of Luhansk) but could not pass the “LPR” checkpoint in a vehicle. (see SMM daily report 8 December 2016.) On 24 December, a female resident (in her forties) told the SMM that there had been no water or electricity in Troitske. The same day a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC told the SMM that there had been no electricity or water in the area for three days. On 25 December, the SMM observed the continued water shortage in Yasynuvata. On 25 December, a male resident (in his fifties) told the SMM that there had been no electricity in government-controlled Novozvanivka (70km west of Luhansk). On 25 December, while monitoring repair works in Avdiivka, the SMM observed 30-40 residents carrying buckets of well water to their residences. An elderly female resident (80 years old) told the SMM that the neighbourhood had been without water for three days and that since the pails of water were too heavy for her, she had been paying a young man to carry water to her house.

The SMM monitored four border areas currently not controlled by the Government. On 24 December, the SMM observed the border crossing point in Izvaryne (52km south-east of Luhansk); on 25 December the SMM visited border crossing points in Marynivka (78km east of Donetsk) and Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk); and on 26 December, the SMM  observed the border crossing point in Dovzhanskyi (84km south-east of Luhansk). The SMM conducted visits of approximately 40 minutes to an hour in each case. At each of the border crossing points there were pedestrians, as well as cars and trucks with Ukrainian and Russian Federation licence plates, exiting and entering Ukraine. At Izvaryne and Dovzhanskyi, the SMM observed one car with “LPR” plates at each of the border crossing points waiting to exit Ukraine.

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

*Restrictions of 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. They have also agreed that the JCCC should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance.

Denial of access:

• On 23 and 25 December, the SMM was not able to proceed on Donetska Street (outside the disengagement area) in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska as a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC present told the SMM that the area had not been demined. The SMM informed the headquarters of the JCCC.
• On 23 December, the SMM observed mine hazard signs south of the intersection of Moskva Donbas and Lermontova Streets in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska and could not proceed to the railway bridge due to the possible presence of mines or unexploded ordnance (UXO). The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 24 December, the SMM was unable to travel east or west of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge on the government-controlled side as Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel told the SMM that the area was mined. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 26 December, in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska the SMM was not able to access areas other than main road located in the disengagement area as Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC present told the he could not assist in ensuring the security of the SMM due to the possible presence of mines or UXO in those areas. The SMM informed the headquarters of the JCCC.
• On 23, 24, 25 December, the SMM observed a mine hazard sign south-east of an “LPR” checkpoint south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge and did not proceed east towards a summer cottage area (inside the disengagement area). Armed men at the “LPR” checkpoint told the SMM that the area had not been demined. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 23, 24 December, the presence of anti-tank obstacles on the road leading from the Prince Ihor monument south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge prevented the SMM from proceeding further west. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 23 and 25 December, the SMM was unable to travel further south into the Zolote-Pervomaisk disengagement area using secondary roads on the government-controlled side. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer at the JCCC told the SMM that no demining had taken place. The SMM informed the headquarters of the JCCC.
• On 26 December, while in government-controlled Zolote, the SMM was unable to approach the government checkpoint near the edge of the disengagement area due to the presence of concrete blocks and branches on the road. The SMM informed the JCCC. 
• On 23, 24, 25 December, the SMM was unable to access secondary routes in the Zolote-Pervomaisk disengagement area from the “LPR”-controlled side. An armed “LPR” member said they could not guarantee the SMM’s safety due to the threat from mines or UXO. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 23 December, in government-controlled Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk), a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC confirmed the presence of mines on the road north of the disengagement area, which prevented the SMM from travelling east to Petrivske.
• On 23, 24, 25 and 26 December, In “DPR”-controlled Petrivske the SMM noted that no demining had taken place on the road leading west towards the disengagement area, which prevented the SMM from continuing on. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 23, 24, 25 and 26 December, the SMM was prevented from travelling on the road toward government-controlled Katerynivka from government-controlled Popasna (64 and 69km north-west of Luhansk, respectively) due to the presence of anti-tank obstacles and mines on the road. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 25 December, the SMM was prevented from travelling on the road toward government-controlled Popasna from government-controlled Katerynivka due to the presence of anti-tank obstacles and mines on the road. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 23 December, the SMM was denied passage across the bridge in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) from both directions. North of the bridge, Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel told the SMM there might be mines or UXO in the area. South of the bridge, an armed “LPR” member told the SMM that the road had been partially demined but that there was a risk of sniper fire. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 24 December, the SMM was denied passage across the bridge in Shchastia from both directions. North of the bridge, Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel told the SMM there might be mines or UXO in the area. South of the bridge, a Russian Federation Armed Forces officer of the JCCC told the SMM that he could not confirm that the mines in the area had been removed. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 25 December, the SMM was denied passage across the bridge in Shchastia. North of the bridge, Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel told the SMM there might be mines or UXO in the area. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 24 December, the SMM was unable to cross between government-controlled Zolote-4 and “LPR”-controlled Zolote-5, as a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC told the SMM that there was the possibility of mines and UXO. The SMM informed the headquarters of the JCCC.
• On 24 December, the SMM did not proceed in “LPR”-controlled Berezivske (53km north-west of Luhansk), due to the presence of wooden mine hazard sign with the word “Mines” written on it. The SMM informed the headquarters of the JCCC.
• On 24 December, Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel denied the SMM permission to pass a checkpoint in government-controlled Berdianske (18km east of Mariupol) in the direction of government-controlled Sopyne (16km east of Mariupol). The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 24 December, a Ukrainian Armed Forces commander at a heavy weapons holding area told the SMM that he had no authority to give access to the SMM. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 26 December, while at the border crossing point in “LPR”-controlled Dovzhanskyi (84km south of Luhansk), armed “LPR” members demanded that SMM  members hand over their IDs and national passports in order for the SMM to enter the border crossing point. The SMM refused and observed the border crossing area from a distance.

Delay:

• On 25 December, at a “DPR” heavy weapons holding area, an armed “DPR” member delayed SMM access for 20 minutes until a “superior” arrived. 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.