Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 27 January 2017

This report is for the general public and the media.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period, but fewer explosions in Luhansk region. The Mission saw a civilian casualty in Kalynove and damage from shelling to homes in Kalynove, Brianka and Zolote. It continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske but its access remained restricted.* The SMM monitored weapons withdrawal and observed weapons in violation and outside of storage sites. The Mission saw a new crack across a section of asphalt, which extends the full width of the bridge in Stanytsia Luhanska. It visited two border areas currently not under government control. The SMM experienced freedom of movement restrictions on both sides of the contact line, and in non-government-controlled Amvrosiivka and Debaltseve, armed men in an aggressive manner temporarily prevented it from leaving both areas.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations [1] in Donetsk region, including about 520 explosions, compared with 420 in the previous reporting period.

While in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city centre on the night of 26 January the SMM heard 38 undetermined explosions 3-10km north-north-east, north-west, and north-north-west.

While in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk) on the night of 26-27 January, the SMM heard 14 undetermined explosions, 42 explosions of automatic-grenade-launcher rounds (38 assessed as impacts and five assessed as outgoing),  ten outgoing explosions of infantry fighting vehicle (IFV; BMP-1) cannon (73mm) fire, nine outgoing explosions of recoilless gun (SPG-9, 73mm) fire, eight explosions assessed as impacts of 82mm mortar rounds, ten explosions assessed as impacts of artillery rounds (type and calibre unknown), five bursts of anti-aircraft cannon fire (ZU-23, 23mm), and about 38 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 4-8km east-south-east and south-east.

During the evening of 26 January while in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM heard four undetermined explosions, 12 explosions assessed as impacts of 120mm mortar rounds, three explosions assessed as recoilless gun (SPG-9, 73mm) fire, two bursts of cannon fire (type unknown), and five bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, 3-6km north-north-east.

While in “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk) on the night of 26-27  January, the SMM heard two undetermined explosions, two bursts of heavy-machine-gun and about 50 shots of small-arms fire, 3-7km north-west. The following day, the SMM heard 27 undetermined explosions and eight shots of heavy-machine-gun fire 5-7km west and west-north-west.

During the evening of 26 January, the SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north-east of Donetsk) recorded one undetermined explosions, and in total 25 projectiles in flight from north-east to south-west and three projectiles in flight from north to south, all 3-6km east-south-east and south-east. The following evening, the same camera recorded four undetermined explosions 3-4km east-south-east. Positioned in Avdiivka on 27 January, the SMM heard seven undetermined explosions 5km east.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), over approximately 4.5 hours, the SMM heard 261 undetermined explosions, 29 outgoing explosions of unknown weapon system fire, 43 bursts and 55 shots of heavy-machine-gun and 502 bursts and 50 shots of small-arms fire, as well as nine minutes of intense heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 2-7km west-south-west, south-west, west, west-north-west and north-west.

The SMM camera at “DPR”-controlled Oktiabr mine (9km north-west of Donetsk) recorded 23 undetermined explosions, three illumination flares, and an exchange of fire including  266 undetermined projectiles in flight (150 east-south-east to west-north-west, 86 west-north-west to east-south-east, 22 from north-west to south-east, seven from south-east to north-west, and three from north to south), all beginning with one undetermined explosion and one undetermined projectile in flight from east-south-east to west-north-west, all 6-11km north-east of the camera’s location.

During the night 26-27 January the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded 22 undetermined explosions and 16 explosions assessed as impacts of unknown weapon systems fire at undetermined distances to the north, north-north-east and north-east of the camera’s location.

Positioned in government-controlled Sopyne (16km east of Mariupol), the SMM heard eight undetermined explosions at unknown distances to the north and north-east.

Positioned approximately 3km north-east of “DPR”-controlled Zaichenko (26km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard nine undetermined explosions, one outgoing explosion of unknown weapons system fire and two bursts of small-arms fire at unknown distances to the north-north-east, south-west and west.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, 23km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard one explosion assessed as an impact of unknown weapon systems fire at an unknown distance to the east followed by four explosions assessed as impacts to the west.

In “DPR”-controlled Sakhanka (24km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard four undetermined explosions at unknown distances to the south-south-west.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations but fewer explosions compared with the previous reporting period, including about 85 explosions compared with 143.  At a checkpoint south of “LPR”-controlled Smile (31km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard one explosion assessed as outgoing artillery fire (type and calibre unknown) approximately 5km north.

While in “LPR”-controlled Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, 50km west of Luhansk) on the evening 26 January the SMM heard 12 undetermined explosions 10-15km north-north-east.

On 27 January, positioned in “LPR”-controlled Kalynove (60km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard nine undetermined explosions over 12-13km west. Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Brianka (46km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 20 undetermined explosions and 12 bursts of machine-gun fire, over 13-15km south-east. While positioned in “LPR”-controlled Donetskyi (49km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard two explosions about 10km south-west.

Positioned in government-controlled Novozvanivka (70km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard two undetermined explosions and four bursts of small-arms fire approximately 7km south-south-west. Positioned in government-controlled Troitske (69km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard four explosions assessed as 120mm mortar rounds approximately 3km south-west.

The SMM followed up on civilian casualties and reports of damage in residential areas due to shelling. At a hospital in Brianka, the SMM spoke with a 57-year-old man who had two toes amputated, which a surgeon at the hospital said was due to injuries the man had sustained during shelling the night before. The injured man told the SMM that his wife had sustained injuries to her back but had already been discharged from the hospital. The man said that the shelling had happened around 23:00 the night before and that he and his wife had been injured in their house because they could not make it to the shelter in the garden. In Brianka, the SMM observed six fresh impacts, all located between 3-15m from the nearest houses, including the house of the injured man. There was damage to four houses near impacts, including the house of the injured man (above) and the roof and top floor of an apartment building, all including shrapnel damage to outer walls and broken windows. The SMM assessed that the craters and damage were caused by 122mm artillery fired from a north-westerly direction.

In Kalynove, the SMM observed two fresh impacts – one on Gagarina Street and another impact 25m away from a house on Furmanova Street. The SMM assessed that both impacts were caused by 120mm mortar rounds fired from a westerly direction. At the house on Furmanova, the SMM also saw that a door on the storage shed was damaged by shrapnel and observed broken windows on the nearby house. The two residents living in the affected houses separately told the SMM that the shelling had occurred around 22:00 on 26 January.

A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) led the SMM to three fresh impact sites in government-controlled Zolote (60km west of Luhansk). The SMM observed damage to a house caused by shrapnel as well as broken windows. The SMM saw that a water pipe had been broken and water was pouring out of it and residents told the SMM that as a result, their access to water was interrupted. The SMM could not assess the type of weapon or direction of fire.

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 observed no de-mining activities or disengagement in the three areas.

On the night of 23-24 January, the SMM camera at Stanytsia Luhanska recorded an exchange of fire including: 13 explosions, all assessed as inside the disengagement area; 32 flashes (28 assessed as outside the disengagement area, five assessed as within); seven projectiles in flight from north to south (six assessed as inside the disengagement area and one as outside); ten projectiles in flight from north-east to south-west (eight assessed as inside the disengagement area and two outside); 38 projectiles fired from south to north (15 assessed as inside the disengagement area, 22 as outside and one unable to determine); and one projectile in flight from south-south-west to north-north-east, assessed as inside the disengagement area.

On the night of 25-26 January, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded 15 undetermined explosions assessed as artillery rounds approximately 8km south-south-east of the camera’s location (assessed as outside the disengagement area).

On 27 January, the SMM noted a calm situation while present in all three 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 withdrawal lines, the SMM observed 13 multiple-launch rocket system (BM-21 Grad, 120mm) near “LPR”-controlled Khrustalnyi (formerly Krasnyi Luch, 56km south-west of Luhansk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside assigned sites, approximately 4km north of government-controlled Volnovakha (53km south of Donetsk), the SMM saw two tubes assessed to be either mortar or artillery tubes and a portable weapons system (unable to identify).

In non-government-controlled areas the SMM observed three tanks (T-64) near “LPR”-controlled Kruhlyk (31km south-west of Luhansk) and two anti-tank guided missile systems (9K111 Fagot, 120mm) near “LPR”-controlled Myrne (28km south-west of Luhansk).

Aerial imagery revealed on 22 January 13 tanks near government-controlled Spirne (96km north of Donetsk).

The Mission revisited a Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent storage site, whose location corresponded with the relevant withdrawal lines and observed that 64 tanks (41 T-72 and 23 T-64)  and six mortars (2B9 Vasilek, 82mm) were missing, as previously noted.

The SMM observed the presence of armoured combat vehicles [2] in the security zone and military-type trucks and other hardware outside the security zone. The SMM saw an armoured personnel carrier (APC; MTLB) near government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk). In areas not controlled by the Government the SMM observed two IFVs (BMP-1), driving near Yasynuvata.

On 27 January, an SMM mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted 45 military-type trucks, assessed as what appeared to be modern models of Kamaz and/or Ural trucks, parked in a courtyard near “DPR”-controlled Amvrosiivka (56km south-east of Donetsk, 18km from the Ukrainian-Russian Federation border). Six passenger cars and a fuel truck were also present in the area, located approximately 500m from a railway station. When the SMM had finished the UAV flight, “DPR” members approached the SMM and blocked its vehicles with their cars, preventing the patrol from leaving the area for over 30 minutes.*

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. (See SMM Daily Report 19 January.) The JCCC did not report any progress on mine clearance.

The SMM continued to observe entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line. At the northern end of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge the SMM observed a 0.5cm crack across the full width of the bridge just north of the the last “LPR” checkpoint, which had appeared in the last 24 hours. The SMM also observed continued deterioration of the wooden section of the broken bridge, noting that the planks and hand rails of the wooden ramps were unstable. The SMM saw and elderly man slip but catch himself before falling and two elderly women slip and fall down the ramp; neither reported injuries.

The SMM visited two border crossing areas currently not under the control of the Government. Over 60 minutes in Novoazovsk (40km east of Mariupol), the SMM observed five vehicles with Ukrainian licence plates, four vehicles with Russian Federation licence plates, and one vehicle with “DPR” plates queued to exit Ukraine. Six vehicles with Ukrainian licence plates, four vehicles with Russian Federation licence plates, three vehicles with “DPR” plates, one vehicle with Polish licence plates and two pedestrians entered Ukraine. Over 40 minutes in Sievernyi (50km south-east of Luhansk), at the pedestrian border crossing point, the SMM observed a calm situation.

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:

• A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC told the SMM that no demining activities had taken place during the previous 24 hours in the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area and that, with the exception of the main road, the SMM’s safety could not be guaranteed in the surrounding areas due to the possible presence of mines and/or UXO. The SMM did not consider it safe and informed the JCCC.
• Ukrainian Armed Forces told the SMM that no demining activities had taken place during the previous 24 hours in the Zolote disengagement area. Due to the danger of mines the SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC.
• An armed “LPR” member told the SMM that no demining activities had taken place during the previous 24 hours in the Zolote disengagement area. Due to the danger of mines the SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC.
• Due to the lack of security guarantees and possible threat from mines, the SMM could not travel west from “DPR”-controlled Petrivske. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On the road between government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk) and Katerynivka (64km west of Luhansk), the SMM could not proceed due to the presence of anti-tank obstacles in the road. Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel at the checkpoint also told the SMM that the area is mined. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• The SMM could not cross the bridge in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) as Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel said there were still mines on the bridge. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• In “DPR”-controlled Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, 23km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM could see seven anti-tank mines and armed men said they had no orders to let the SMM pass. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• At a checkpoint west of Pikuzy, the SMM saw seven anti-tank mines on the road and Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel said they could not guarantee the safety of the SMM due to the mines on the road. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• In “DPR”-controlled Markyne (94km south of Donetsk), six armed “DPR” members spoke offensively to the SMM and denied it access to an industrial compound stating that the SMM does not have access without permission from their “commander” and that he was not present.
• Near “DPR”-controlled Uzhivka (formerly Leninske, 24km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM was prevented from proceeding further east into the village by two armed “DPR” members who told them that they were acting on orders from their “commander”. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• Near “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk), armed “LPR” members began insulting the SMM with vulgar words and demanded that the SMM leave the area. When the SMM tried to move to their vehicles, the “LPR” members began filming the SMM, even opening the door to the vehicle to film inside. The armed “LPR” members aggressively and repeatedly demanded to know the nationality of the SMM patrol members, which the SMM provided. After 18 minutes, the SMM left the area. The SMM informed the JCCC.         

Delay:

• Near “DPR”-controlled Amvrosiivka (56km south-east of Donetsk), armed “DPR” members prevented the SMM from leaving the area after the SMM finished a mini-UAV flight in the area by blocking the SMM’s exit with their vehicles. After 31 minutes, they allowed the SMM to leave. 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.