Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 15 January 2017

This report is for the media and the general public.

The security situation remained tense both in Donetsk and Luhansk regions over the weekend. The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations both in Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 13 and 14 January compared with the previous reporting period. On 15 January the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in each region. The SMM camera in Stanytsia Luhanska recorded, on the night of 11 January, ceasefire violations assessed as inside the disengagement area. The Mission followed up on reports of a civilian casualty in Kurakhove and observed damage to civilian infrastructure on both sides of the contact line, including in the neighbouring areas of Novozvanivka, Kalynove and Irmino in Luhansk region, as well as in Pikuzy and Vuhlehirsk in Donetsk region. The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske but its access remained restricted.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of respective withdrawal lines and continued to monitor weapons’ withdrawal. The SMM monitored the resumption of water supply in Avdiivka. The Mission visited one border crossing point currently not under government control. 

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations[1] in Donetsk region between the evenings of 13 and 14 January, including around 500 explosions, compared with 365 in the previous reporting period. The SMM cameras in Avdiivka, at the Oktiabr mine and Shyrokyne recorded exchanges of fire, including more than 300 undetermined projectiles. On the night of 14-15 January and during the day on 15 January the SMM recorded around 200 explosions and more than 200 tracer rounds.

On the night of 13-14 January, while in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city centre the SMM heard 16 undetermined explosions 5-10km west and north-west. On the night of 14-15 January, the SMM heard 91 undetermined explosions 7-10km north-west.

Between the evenings of 13 and 14 January, the SMM camera at the “DPR”-controlled Oktiabr mine (9km north-west of Donetsk city centre) recorded an exchange of fire starting with one projectile of an undetermined weapon from south-east to north-west, and followed by a total of 12 projectiles of undetermined weapons (five from south-east to north-west and seven from north-west to south-east), five undetermined explosions and four airbursts, all 4-10km north-east of the camera. On the night of 14 January, the same camera recorded an exchange of fire starting with five projectiles of undetermined weapons from west-north-west to east-south-east, followed by a total of about 160 projectiles of undetermined weapons (about 120 from north-west to south-east and 40 from south-east to north-west) and 12 undetermined explosions, all 7-10km north-east of the camera.

In the evening of 13 January, while in “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard three undetermined explosions 5-8km north-west. The following evening the SMM heard, within one hour, 45 undetermined explosions 5-10km north-west.

In the evening of 13 January, while in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 112 undetermined explosions and 77 bursts and nine shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, 6-9km south-east, south-west and west. The next day, while in Horlivka the SMM heard ten undetermined explosions 5-8km south-west.

On 14 January, the SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) recorded an exchange of fire starting with projectiles of undetermined weapons from west-north-west to east-south-east. In total the camera recorded 162 projectiles of undetermined weapons (34 from west-north-west to east-south-east, 11 from east-south-east to west-north-west, 49 from north-east to south-west, 11 from north-west to south-east, 50 from south to north and seven from north to south) and 12 undetermined explosions, all 0.5-6km east-south-east and south-east of the camera. Positioned in Avdiivka on 14 January the SMM heard 12 undetermined explosions 2-4km south.

In the evening and night hours of 13 January, while in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard six explosions assessed as outgoing infantry fighting vehicle (IFV; BMP-1) cannon (73mm) fire and five assessed as impacts of mortar (82mm) rounds, six undetermined explosions, as well as 20 shots of IFV (BMP-1) cannon (30mm) fire 3-4km south-east. The next day, while in Svitlodarsk the SMM heard 162 explosions (125 assessed as outgoing rounds of artillery fire, 31 assessed as impacts - including of mortar and artillery rounds - and six undetermined), as well as more than 100 bursts of anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23-2, 23mm), heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 3-8km south-east. The SMM also heard 45 explosions assessed as outgoing rounds of artillery fire and 25 assessed as impacts of artillery rounds 3-5km north-east.

On 14 January, positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM heard 12 undetermined explosions 3-5km north-west. On 15 January, in Yasynuvata the SMM heard 14 explosions assessed as outgoing rounds of unknown weapon 1km south-south-east, and four undetermined explosions 3-5km south-west and north-west.

On the night of 13-14 January, the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (16km east of Mariupol) recorded an exchange of fire starting with two rocket-assisted projectiles from south-east to north-west. This was followed by a total of 14 tracer rounds (seven from west to east and seven from east to west), and three undetermined explosions, all north-north-east and north-east of the camera. On the night of 14-15 January, the same camera recorded in sequence 40 tracer rounds from west to east, 123 from east to west, and two from west to east, all at undetermined distance north of the camera.

On 15 January, the SMM camera in Avdiivka recorded four projectiles of undetermined weapons in flight from north-west to south-east, 4-6km east-south-east of the camera. This was followed by aggregated totals of 73 tracer rounds (23 from north to south and 50 from south to north), five undetermined explosions and five tracer rounds from west to east, all 3-5km east-south-east of the camera.

In the evening of 15 January the SMM camera at the Oktiabr mine recorded two projectiles of undetermined weapons in flight from south to north, followed by a total of 17 undetermined explosions, all 3-5km north-north-east of the camera.

On 15 January, while in Svitlodarsk the SMM heard 54 explosions (47 undetermined, one assessed as outgoing round of artillery (122mm) fire and six as impacts of artillery rounds, all at locations ranging 2-8km from south to west.

In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations between the evenings of 13 and 14 January than in the previous reporting period, including 284 explosions compared with 130. On 15 January, the Mission recorded 21 ceasefire violations in the region.

Within two hours in the evening of 13 January, while in “LPR”-controlled Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, 50km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 168 undetermined explosions 10-15km west and 16 explosions assessed as outgoing rounds of artillery fire 5-10km west followed by 12 impacts (assessed to be of the same outgoing rounds) 20-25km west. The following evening, while in Kadiivka the SMM heard, within one hour, 65 undetermined explosions 15-20km west-north-west.

On 14 January, positioned in “LPR”-controlled Kalynove (60km west of Luhansk) for about 2.5 hours, the SMM heard 30 undetermined explosions 10km south. On 14 January, positioned in government-controlled Troitske (69km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard five explosions assessed as impacts of mortar (82mm) rounds 1.5-2.5km east.

On 15 January, positioned at the edge of the disengagement area in Zolote (60km north-west of Luhansk) the SMM heard, within one hour, 21 undetermined explosions 10-15km south-south-west.

The Mission followed up on reports of civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. On 14 January, a police officer at the police station in government-controlled Kurakhove (40km west of Donetsk) told the SMM that a 64-year-old woman had been injured in her chest by shrapnel while at her house in government-controlled Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk) on 12 January. At the hospital in Kurakhove, medical staff informed the SMM that there had been no admissions in the last three days. On 14 January, in “LPR”-controlled Irmino (54km west of Luhansk) residents and “LPR” members told the SMM that a man had been killed by shrapnel while going to the basement of his house. The SMM also spoke to family members of the man, who confirmed the reports.

On 13 January, accompanied by a Russian Federation Armed Forces officer of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), the SMM observed two impacts in Kalynove. One was in the middle of the street, 10m from the garage of an inhabited house on Zhukovskoho Street, and another 15m from an inhabited house on Tekhnicheskaia Street. Both impacts were covered with snow, therefore, the SMM could not assess if they were fresh, the kind of weapon used or the direction of fire. Near the first impact there were broken windows in the south-west facing wall of the house. The residents of the house reported fighting the evening before. The SMM also noted broken windows in the west-facing wall of a house near the second impact. No injuries were reported. On 14 January, also in Kalynove, the SMM observed two fresh impacts on Lomonosova Street and two on Menshynskoho Street. The SMM assessed all four craters as caused by fire from a westerly direction.

On 14 January, in government-controlled Novozvanivka (70km west of Luhansk), the SMM observed three fresh impacts. The first two were about 10m apart and some 30m from the asphalt road. The nearest house was about 100m to the east-north-east. The third impact was about 1km south-east of the other two, some 50m west from the road and about 80m from the nearest house. The SMM assessed two of the craters as caused by artillery (152mm) rounds and one by a mortar (82mm) round from an easterly direction. Two residents (men in their forties) said that they had heard explosions on the night of 13 January which, they said, had also damaged electric lines. Two workers of an electric company told the SMM that four sections of the electric line had been damaged but three of them had been already fixed. According to the workers, two houses and some military positions in Novozvanivka had no power.

On 14 January, in Irmino the SMM observed a house and a garage that had sustained severe damage, especially the west-facing walls. The gate of the house was lying on the ground 10m from its normal location facing west. The SMM observed two other craters on the slope of an old coal tailings pile near Irmino, but could not reach the site as it was off the main road.

Accompanied by a Russian Federation Armed Forces officer of the JCCC and a “DPR” member in Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove; 23km north-east of Mariupol) on 15 January, the SMM observed a hole in the flat roof of a barn located 5m from a house, the tailfin of a mortar (82mm) round on the floor inside the barn. Two windows of the house nearby were broken. At a second site the SMM saw the tailfin of a mortar (82mm) round on the floor of a house whose roof had suffered damage and two windows were broken, but no crater. At a third site, the SMM observed a fresh crater 20m east of a residential house assessed as caused by a mortar (82mm) round fired from a westerly direction. According to residents and the officer of the JCCC, shelling had occurred on 13 January at midnight. No casualties were reported.

On 15 January in “DPR”-controlled Vuhlehirsk (49km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM observed a crater some 15m from a house on Pershotravneva Street, as well as shrapnel damage to the north-facing side of a concrete wall in front of the house. According to residents shelling had also damaged a gas pipeline, but an emergency response team informed the SMM that the gas supply had been fully restored to the area.

On 15 January in “LPR”-controlled Smile (31km north-west of Luhansk) several civilians reported shelling the night before, some of them adding that their houses had been shaking. However, none of them reported any casualties or damage. A similar situation was reported by several civilians in government-controlled areas of Krymske and Lobacheve (42 and 17km north-west of Luhansk, respectively). The SMM did not observe any impacts or damage in any of the areas.

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.*

A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC present in Stanytsia Luhanska told the SMM that disengagement would still not take place due to firing from the “LPR”-controlled side in the evening of 14 January. Armed “LPR” members south of the disengagement area also reported firing from the government-controlled side on the same evening.

On the evening and night of 11 January the SMM camera in Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk) recorded 15 explosions assessed as impacts of mortar rounds 0.75-1.65km south-south-west, two assessed as outgoing mortar rounds 0.8-1.1km south, and one explosion assessed as an impact of a mortar or artillery round at an undetermined distance south (all assessed as inside the disengagement area). The camera also recorded two explosions assessed as outgoing rounds of automatic-grenade-launcher-fire 0.81km south-west, eight explosions assessed as outgoing rocket-propelled-grenade fire 1km south-south-east, four explosions assessed as impacts of automatic-grenade-launcher rounds or rocket-propelled-grenade fire 1.7km south, three explosions assessed as IFV (BMP-1, 73mm) cannon fire and 59 explosions assessed as impacts of IFV (BMP-1) cannon rounds 1.7km south, three explosions assessed as impacts of IFV (BMP-1) rounds or recoilless-gun-fire  1.33km south-south-east (all assessed as inside the disengagement area). The same camera also recorded ceasefire violations assessed as outside the disengagement area.

The Mission observed a calm situation at the Zolote and Petrivske disengagement areas.

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 respective withdrawal lines an SMM mini unmanned aerial vehicle observed three self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) south of Yasynuvata on 15 January.

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside storage sites in government-controlled areas, the SMM observed, on 15 January, an anti-tank gun (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) towed by a truck heading east and a stationary towed howitzer (2A65 Msta-B, 152mm) near Sievierodonetsk (74km north-west of Luhansk), as well as one tank mounted on a truck moving west near Kostiantynivka (60km north of Donetsk).

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 beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM observed 18 multi-launch rocket systems (MLRS; BM-27 Uragan, 220mm); 12 self-propelled howitzers (2S1); and 14 tanks (T-64). The SMM also noted one tank (T-64) present for the first time.

The SMM noted as missing from such areas: 11 MLRS (BM-27) as first noted missing on 20 September 2016 (eight) and on 11 November 2016 (three); 18 howitzers 2S1, first observed missing on 13 December 2016; and 28 tanks (T-64), as previously observed missing.

The Mission saw armoured combat vehicles and an anti-aircraft gun[2] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas the SMM observed: one IFV (BMP-2) mounted on the trailer of a heavy weapon transporter east of Mariupol, heading east; one IFV (BMP-1) stationary in a bunker in Stanytsia Luhanska (outside the disengagement area); one armoured personnel carrier (MTLB) near Lobacheve, moving north; and one anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) towed by a truck in Berdianske (18km east of Mariupol). Aerial imagery revealed eight armoured vehicles in “DPR”-controlled Vasylivka (48km south-west of Donetsk) on 13 January.

In Svitlodarsk the SMM observed tracks of an IFV (BMP) pointing south-east. Near Kadiivka the SMM saw several fresh tracks of IFV (BMP). Near Smile the SMM observed what it assessed as recent tank (T-64) tracks.

A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC informed the SMM that the repair work to restore power to the water supply system in Avdiivka (see SMM Daily Report 13 January) had been finished and water supply had been restored to the village on 14 January. The SMM observed that there was running water in the area.

The Mission visited one border area currently not under government control. At a border crossing point in Izvaryne (52km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed 58 cars (including two with “LPR” plates), six covered trucks and two buses with Ukrainian licence plates queuing to leave Ukraine. During a one-hour stay, the SMM saw two buses, eight cars, and one truck with Ukrainian licence plates leaving Ukraine, while seven cars, two covered trucks, and five pedestrians entering Ukraine.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk 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 (UXO), 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:

• Both on 14 and 15 January, the SMM was unable to access areas other than the main road in the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, as a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC present told the SMM that no demining had taken place. The SMM informed the JCCC headquarters.
• On 14 the SMM approached a path 50m west of the heating container near an “LPR” checkpoint south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge but could not proceed further due to the possible presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the area from recent shelling. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 15 January, the SMM observed that the entrance to a path behind a heating container near an “LPR” checkpoint south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, leading to a summer houses area, continued to be cordoned off by a ribbon. The mine hazard signs were still there. Due to the threat of mines and UXO the SMM did not proceed further. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 14 January, the SMM was unable to travel south-east into Zolote-Pervomaisk disengagement area using a secondary road east of government-controlled Katerynivka (64km west of Luhansk), as a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC present said he could not assist in ensuring the security of the Mission due to the possible presence of mines. The SMM informed the JCCC headquarters.
• Both on 14 and 15 January, on the “LPR” side of the Zolote-Pervomaisk disengagement area, armed “LPR” members said no demining had taken place on the secondary roads and/or adjacent fields in the disengagement area. Due to the possible presence of mines and UXO the SMM could not access these areas. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 15 January the SMM noted no mine hazard signs at the end of the road leading from Katerynivka (64km west of Luhansk) to the Zolote-Pervomaisk disengagement area. However, the SMM could not proceed as a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC said that mines and UXO could be present.
• Both on 14 and 15 January, an armed “DPR” member in Petrivske could not ensure safety for the SMM to travel west from the village. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 14 January, mines still present on the road prevented the SMM from travelling from government-controlled Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk) towards Viktorivka. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC present in the area said he did not know when the mines would be removed.

-       On 14 January, armed “DPR” men stopped the SMM at a checkpoint east of “DPR”-controlled Sosnivske (35km north-east of Mariupol) and denied SMM access to the village. A few minutes later, two unarmed “DPR” members also said that access would only be provided if the SMM co-ordinated visits with their superiors or showed its patrol plan. The SMM informed the JCCC.

• Both on 14 and 15 January, Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel at a checkpoint prevented the SMM from travelling between Katerynivka and government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk). The road was blocked with anti-tank obstacles. The SMM noted mine hazard signs. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• Both on 14 and 15 January, the SMM could not travel across the bridge in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) as Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel said there were mines in the area. The SMM informed the JCCC.

Conditional access:

• On 14 January in Petrivske, armed “DPR” members told the SMM that it would not be allowed to access the camera site without an escort. Ten minutes later, “DPR” members arrived and escorted the SMM while monitors accessed the SMM camera.
• On 14 January, armed men at a checkpoint in “DPR”-controlled Kreminets (16km south-west of Donetsk) allowed the SMM to proceed only after checking SMM members’ IDs and passports, as well as inspecting the trunks of the SMM vehicles. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• The SMM faced a similar situation at another “DPR”-checkpoint near Kreminets where an armed “DPR” member who smelled of alcohol inspected the trunk and one of the backpacks to check its content. 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. 

* Please see the section at the end of this report entitled “Restrictions of SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate”.

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