Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 16 January 2017

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM observed more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region during the reporting period compared with the previous 24 hours. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations. The Mission followed up on reports of casualties and observed damage to civilian infrastructure on both sides of the contact line. 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 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 15 and 16 January, including around 362 explosions, compared with 200 in the previous 24 hours.

Throughout the evening on 15 January while in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 37 artillery fire explosions overall, including two assessed as impacts 5-8km west, five assessed as impacts 3-6km south, and 30 undetermined 5-6km south. The SMM also heard 22 explosions assessed as impacts of 120mm mortar rounds, 14 outgoing explosions assessed as tank fire, three outgoing explosions of recoilless gun (SPG-9, 73mm) fire, ten bursts and six shots of infantry fighting vehicle (IFV; BMP-2) cannon (30mm) fire, and intermittent small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, including nearly 60 minutes of intense firing, all 3-6km south.

Over a six-hour period during the night of 15-16 January, while in “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 25 undetermined explosions 5-10km north-west.

Over three hours during the evening of 15 January while in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 82 undetermined explosions assessed as artillery fire 7-9km north-east, as well as 64 undetermined explosions, 64 explosions of automatic-grenade-launcher fire, 59 bursts of IFV (BMP-2) cannon (30mm) fire, and around 140 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 3-6km south-west.

While in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city centre on the evening of 15 January, over 2.5 hours the SMM heard 18 undetermined explosions 5-10km north-north-west.

On the evening of 15 January, the SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) recorded two illumination flares and 20 undetermined explosions 4-6km east-south-east and south-east, followed by seven undetermined explosions north, north-east and north-west.

The SMM camera at Oktiabr mine (“DPR”-controlled, 9km north-west of Donetsk) recorded three undetermined explosions, one illumination flare, and four undetermined projectiles in flight from north-west to south-east, all 4-10km north-east of the camera.

On the evening of 15 January, the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (16km east of Mariupol) recorded 57 tracer rounds in flight from south-east to north-west, all at unknown distances north-east.

In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations between the evenings of 15 and 16 January compared with the previous 24 hours, including 24 explosions compared with 21.

On 16 January, positioned in “LPR”-controlled Kalynove (60km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard four undetermined explosions and about 30 shots of heavy-machine-gun fire 5-10km south-west.

Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Slovianoserbsk (28km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard eight explosions assessed as mortar rounds (type unknown) and 12 explosions assessed as automatic-grenade-launcher fire, as well as 12 bursts and five shots of small-arms fire, 2-3km east-north-east.

Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Veselohorivka (64km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 45 shots of small-arms fire 3-5km west of its position.

The Mission followed up on reports of civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. In Horlivka, the SMM spoke with an injured three-year-old boy and his mother at a hospital, where two doctors told the SMM that the boy was being treated for a fracture to his left femur and shrapnel injuries to the left leg. The mother told the SMM that shelling had taken place during the evening of 15 January in “DPR”-controlled Dolomitne (53km north-east of Donetsk), when she had heard an explosion while in her living room and noticed afterwards that one of her two sons was bleeding from his left leg. The chief paediatric surgeon told the SMM that the boy had undergone surgery during the night.

In “LPR”-controlled Irmino (54km west of Luhansk), the SMM followed up on a reported death of a 27-year-old civilian man. (See SMM Daily Report 16 January) The SMM saw a crater about 2m in diameter inside a fenced area around the house where the family said the man had died, as well as plastic sheets covering broken windows and dozens of holes assessed as shrapnel damage on the outer, primarily west-facing walls. The father of the deceased told the SMM that the family, including the mother and wife of the deceased, had taken cover in the basement when shelling had begun but that his 27-year-old son had gone outside to check the direction of shelling when a projectile had impacted in the garden.

In Yasynuvata, a Russian Federation Armed Forces officer of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) led the SMM to a crater approximately 1.5m in diameter and half a metre deep. The SMM assessed that the crater was consistent with an impact of an artillery round, but could not determine the calibre or direction of fire or whether it was fresh, as it was covered by snow.

In “DPR”-controlled Sakhanka (24km north-east of Mariupol), a Russian Federation Armed Forces officer of the JCCC led the SMM to an impact site on the eastern side of the village, next to a brick driveway in front of a house. Some of the bricks were dislodged. The SMM assessed that the crater was fresh and caused by an anti-tank wire-guided missile fired from a westerly direction. The Russian Federation Armed Forces officer of the JCCC also led the SMM to a nearby site where it observed a fine copper wire coiled up. The SMM also spoke with a civilian repair worker nearby who told the SMM that the electricity and water supply in the village had been disrupted when the missile had passed near or through high voltage electricity lines, but that he expected both would be restored within six-eight hours.

In government-controlled Lopaskyne (24km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM observed shrapnel damage to the north and north-eastern corner of a house and nearby trees. On the western side of the house, the SMM observed some copper wires assessed as from an anti-tank wire-guided missile that it assessed was fired from close by. At a nearby location, the SMM noted fresh indents into the soil, which the SMM assessed as traces left by the recoil of mortars being fired.  

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.*

While at the disengagement area in Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM noted a calm situation but no progress on disengagement.

The SMM crossed from Zolote to “LPR”-controlled Pervomaisk (58km west of Luhansk) through the main road and back again. Positioned near Pervomaisk, south of the Zolote-Pervomaisk disengagement area, the SMM heard five bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 5km south-west (assessed as outside the disengagement area), followed by two shots of small-arms fire 500m west-south-west (assessed as inside the disengagement area).

While in government-controlled Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM heard three undetermined explosions at an undetermined distance south-south-east (assessed as outside the 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 respective withdrawal lines the SMM observed two surface-to-air missile systems (9K35 Strela-10, 120mm) near government-controlled Popasna (69km north-west of Luhansk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside storage sites in government-controlled areas, the SMM observed, four anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) being towed by a truck heading east near Sievierodonetsk (74km north-west of Luhansk), three tanks being transported east near government-controlled Pokrovsk (formerly Krasnoarmiisk, 55km north-west of Donetsk), two tanks (T-72) stationary on flatbed trucks about 15km north-east of Pokrovsk, two tanks (T-72) being towed by trucks heading north-east about 15km south-west of Kostiantynivka (60km north of Donetsk), three tanks (T-80) being transported on road M04 between government-controlled Memryk (33km north-west of Donetsk) and government-controlled Halytsynivka (28km north-west of Donetsk), and what appeared to be two surface-to-air missile systems (9K33 Osa, 120mm) near government-controlled Kasianivka (22km north of Mariupol).*

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 eight self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm), nine mortars (PM-38, 120mm) and 13 towed howitzers (D-30, 122mm). The SMM noted as missing from such areas: 11 self-propelled howitzers (2S3, six missing as of 19 May 2016, one missing as of 19 September 2016 and four missing for the first time); 20 self-propelled howitzer (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm, missing since 19 May 2016); five towed howitzers (D-30, 122 mm), two missing as of 19 October 2016  and three missing as of 14 December 2016); three pieces of towed artillery (D-44, 85mm, missing as of 6 April 2016); four surface-to-air missile systems (9K35, missing as of 13 August 2016); 30 mortars (2B11 Sani, 120mm, missing as of 13 August 2016); and six mortars (PM-38, 120mm, three missing since 27 September 2016, two missing as of 19 October 2016, and one 14 September 2016).

The Mission saw armoured combat vehicles and armoured personnel carriers [2] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas the SMM observed: two IFVs (BMP-1) near government-controlled Troitske (69km north-west of Luhansk), an armoured personnel carrier (APC; MT-LB) moving north near Lobacheve (17km north-west of Luhansk), and one APC (BTR-60) north of a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint in Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk). On 13 January an SMM mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted an APC (BRDM) in a government-controlled area about 4km west of Yasynuvata.

On 13 January, an SMM mini-UAV observed a manned position that encompassed part of the H20 road and part of an adjacent wooded area, in a government-controlled area approximately 4km west of Yasynuvata.

The SMM asked the JCCC for an update on its co-ordination of mine clearance along several roads with a view to removing long-standing restrictions to the freedom of movement of SMM monitors and other civilians, including the following roads: E58 between government-controlled Mariupol (102km south of Donetsk) and “DPR”-controlled Novoazovsk (102km south-east of Donetsk); T0519 between “DPR”-controlled Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, 92km south of Donetsk) and Mariupol; H20 near Yasynuvata northbound to government-controlled Kamianka (20km north of Donetsk); E40/M03 between Svitlodarsk and Debaltseve; the road connecting government-controlled Verkhnotoretske (23km north-east of Donetsk) and “DPR”-controlled Betmanove (formerly Krasnyi Partizan, 23km north-east of Donetsk), a municipal road connecting Zhovanka with the town of Zaitseve (50km north-east of Donetsk); and H21 across the bridge in Shchastia. The JCCC offered no evidence of coordinated mine clearance. 

The Mission visited one border area currently not under government control. Over 45 minutes, at a border crossing point in Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, 65km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed two pedestrians and 11 passenger vehicles (nine with Ukrainian and two with Russian Federation licence plates) leaving Ukraine and five passenger vehicles (three with Ukrainian and two with Russian Federation licence plates) entering 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 (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:

• 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 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.
• An armed “DPR” member in Petrivske could not ensure safety for the SMM to travel west from the village. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• 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 could not ensure safety and security and did not know when the mines would be removed.
• Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel told the SMM that it could not proceed on a road leading from government-controlled Katerynivka (64km west of Luhansk) to government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk). The SMM observed mine hazard signs and the road was blocked with anti-tank barriers. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• 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.
• A Ukrainian Armed Forces commander denied SMM access to a military site near government-controlled Kasianivka (22km north of Mariupol), saying that he did not have permission to let the SMM into the site. The SMM could see what appeared to be two surface-to-air missile systems (9K33) from outside the compound. The SMM informed the JCCC.

Conditional access:

• In Petrivske, an armed “DPR” member escorted the SMM while monitors accessed the SMM camera site.

[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.