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

This report is for the general public and the media.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period in Donetsk region on both 18 and 19 February. In Luhansk region, the SMM observed more ceasefire violations on 18 February but fewer on 19 February. The SMM confirmed civilian casualties in Avdiivka and Trudivske and observed infrastructure damage as a result of shelling in Avdiivka, Trudivske, Pikuzy, Novooleksandrivka, and Zolote. The SMM observed cuts to electricity and water supply in the areas of Avdiivka and Yasynuvata as a result of shelling. It monitored adherence to the ceasefire and facilitated the repair of critical infrastructure. The SMM recorded ceasefire violations in each of the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Petrivske and Zolote, and its access remained restricted.* Outside of the disengagement areas the sides also continued to restrict the Mission’s monitoring and in Debaltseve small-arms fire passed within 10-20m of an SMM member.* The SMM noted weapons missing from storage sites and in violation of withdrawal lines. The Mission continued to observe the blockade of railway tracks near Hirske, Bakhmut, and Shcherbynivka. It visited four border crossing areas not currently under government control. The Mission observed public gatherings in Kyiv in honour of the anniversary of events at Maidan and in support of the blockades of railway tracks.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region between the evening of 17 and 18 February, including nearly 300 explosions, compared with 200 during the previous reporting period, and more between the evenings of 18 and 19 February, including about 610 explosions.[1] Most of the explosions recorded by the SMM occurred in Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport area. On the evening of 18 February, the SMM recorded, within an hour, nearly 150 artillery explosions in areas of Horlivka and Svitlodarsk.

While in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city on the night of 17-18 February the SMM heard 90 undetermined explosions 7-8km north. From the same location on the night of 18-19 February, the SMM heard 127 undetermined explosions north, north-north-east, north-east, west and north-west.

During the evening and night of 17-18 February, the SMM camera at “DPR”-controlled Oktiabr mine (9km north-west of Donetsk city centre) recorded 14 undetermined explosions, 24 projectiles in flight from west to east, seven illumination flares in vertical flight and one illumination flare in flight from south to north, all 6-8km north-north-east, beginning with 13 projectiles from west to east. During the evening and night of 18-19 February, the same camera recorded an exchange of fire including 164 undetermined explosions, 11 illumination flares in vertical flight, 41 projectiles in flight from north-west to south-east, 34 projectiles in flight from south-east to north-west, 11 tracer rounds in flight from west to east, 19 projectiles in flight from west to east, 39 tracer rounds in flight from east to west, four projectiles from east to west, all 4-12km north-east, beginning with 11 tracer rounds in flight from west to east. The evening of 19 February, the camera recorded in sequence one projectile in flight from south to north, four undetermined explosions, two illumination flares in vertical flight, followed by an additional four undetermined explosions, 6-8km north-north-east.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) on 18 February the SMM heard 118 undetermined explosions and 16 bursts and 15 shots of heavy-machine-gun fire 3-10km south-west and west. Positioned in Yasynuvata the following day, the SMM heard 89 undetermined explosions, over ten minutes of uncountable and overlapping shots and bursts as well as 176 bursts and 189 shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire.

While in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk) on the evening of 17 February, the SMM heard four undetermined explosions and 31 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 3-7km south-east and south. The following day and evening, the SMM heard 52 undetermined explosions, 101 outgoing explosions assessed as artillery (unknown calibre), and nearly three hours of continuous, overlapping bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 10-12km south-west. The following day, the SMM heard four undetermined explosions, 12 outgoing explosions of automatic-grenade-launcher fire, five outgoing explosions of infantry fighting vehicle (IFV; BMP-1) cannon (73mm) fire, and one impact assessed as an 82mm mortar impact, all at distances 5-7km south-west.

While in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) during the evening of 17-18 February, the SMM heard 45 undetermined explosions 4-12km south-south-west and south-west. The evening of 18 February, the SMM heard 50 outgoing explosions assessed as artillery (unknown calibre), 4-6km south-east.

On the evening and night of 17-18 February the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded an exchange of fire including 11 undetermined explosions, three illumination flares, 109 tracer rounds and one rocket-propelled projectile in flight from east to west, 170 tracer rounds in flight from west to east, and 51 undetermined tracer rounds, all at undetermined distances to the north, north-north-east and north-east of the camera’s location, beginning with three illumination flares  in flight from east to west. The evening of and night of 18-19 February, the same camera recorded an exchange of fire including 22 undetermined explosions, three illumination flares in vertical flight, four rocket-propelled projectiles and 16 tracer rounds in flight from east to west, three rocket-propelled projectiles and 13 tracer rounds in flight from west to east, beginning with one rocket-propelled projectile in flight from east to west, all at unknown distances to the north.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, primarily comprised of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire and including eight explosions, compared with eight explosions in the previous reporting period. On 18 February, positioned about 1.4km north-north-east of government-controlled Trokhizbenka (32km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard one undetermined explosion 4-5km south.

The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties. On 18 February, a Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier in government-controlled Trudivske (47km south of Donetsk) told the SMM that there were civilian casualties from the town as a result of shelling that had occurred the night before (see damage to infrastructure below). At a hospital in government-controlled Volnovakha (53km south of Donetsk), the SMM spoke with a man (43 years old) and his son (15 years old), who told the SMM that they had been injured during shelling in Trudivske the night before. The SMM saw a bandage on the father’s arm, and the head surgeon told the SMM the man’s arm been lacerated by shrapnel and that there was still shrapnel embedded in his shoulder. The son was lying on a hospital bed, and head surgeon told the SMM the boy was suffering from a broken clavicle and scapula and had shrapnel removed from both areas.

On 18 February in Avdiivka, a man (in his late fifties) told the SMM that his sons had been injured after the wall of their apartment had collapsed on to them the night before following an explosion. At the Avdiivka city hospital, the surgeon who said he had treated the boys (about 15 and 20 years old) told the SMM that the older brother had bruises on his ribcage, nose and left leg and the younger brother had bruises on his face and head. The surgeon said he had treated and released the boys. Back at the site of the damage on 8 Yubileinyi Street (see damaged infrastructure section below) both the boys told the SMM that they had been sitting in a room near a window on 17 February when a wall had fallen on them following an explosion.

The SMM observed the results of shelling, including damage to infrastructure and direct artillery hits on residential houses on both sides of the contact line. On 17 February, in Avdiivka, the SMM observed a direct impact in the south-south-east wall of an apartment building on 1 Haharina Street, which the SMM assessed was caused by a 120mm or larger-calibre weapon. The projectile penetrated the outer building wall and exploded inside the building resulting heavy damage to five apartments on three different floors. One of the building residents told the SMM that following the explosion, which she had heard from inside her apartment, the electricity and water supply in the building had been cut off.

At a second building in Avdiivka on 12 Haharina Street, a projectile had exploded inside the building on the first floor after breaking through a window on the south-south-east wall, damaging a shop on the first floor. The SMM assessed shrapnel onsite to be from a 122 or 125mm calibre round. At a third building on 9 Kvartal Street, the SMM observed an impact on the outer south-south-east wall about 12m off the ground and saw damage to two apartments, on the fourth and fifth floors, respectively. A resident (a woman in her seventies) told the SMM that an explosion had occurred the night before and that following the explosions there was no heating or hot water in the building.

On 18 February, at a two-story apartment building in Avdiivka on 8 Yubileinyi Street, the SMM observed a crane outside and severe damage to apartments 43 and 44 located on the second floor of the building, where the walls between the apartments had been almost completely destroyed and two residents (as mentioned above and aged 15 and 20 years) had been injured. About 20 people were searching through the rubble for personal items. The ceiling and floor of apartment 43 had collapsed into the apartment located underneath, and several large blocks of concrete walls were visible, as well as structural beams, electrical wiring and pipes. 

On 18 February, in Trudivske, the SMM observed 14 impacts that it assessed as caused by artillery shells (122mm and 152mm) and mortar rounds (probable 120mm), fired from a north-north-easterly direction. The SMM observed four impacts 50-100m from a Ukrainian Armed Forces compound, while another impact was observed more than 100m south-east, which had cut power lines. While present, the SMM saw a repairman working on the power lines. On 1 Tsentralnaia Street, the SMM observed shrapnel damage to a house and destroyed shed 10m away, as well as two more impacts 100-200m from the house. The SMM assessed the damage as caused by 152mm artillery fire. About 200m east on the same street, the SMM saw a direct impact on the northern side of the roof of a house,  and a destroyed shed nearby, as well as two other impacts on the other side of the street. At 50 Molodizhna Street, the SMM observed an impact assessed as caused by a mortar (probable 120mm), damage to the roof and windows of a house and a destroyed shed 4m from the house, assessed as caused by 120mm or 122mm rounds fired from the north-north-east. The SMM assessed that an impact 50m south was caused by a 122mm artillery shell.

In Novooleksandrivka (65km west of Luhansk), the SMM observed an impact on the south-west wall and roof of a house on 7 Pervomaiskaia Street. The SMM assessed that the impact and damage was caused by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG-7) round, which had penetrated the wall and exploded inside the house. The SMM assessed the round was fired from a south-westerly direction.

In the backyard of a house on 42 Volnaia Street in Zolote, the SMM saw a crater (one metre diameter and about 40cm deep) and remnants of a rocket-propelled (RPG-7) grenade sticking out of the ground. The SMM assessed that the grenade was launched from a south-easterly direction. The resident of the house said it had hit his garden on 16 February at around 17:00.

On 19 February, in “DPR”-controlled Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, 23km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM saw five fresh impacts assessed as caused by artillery fire from southerly and south-westerly directions. One impact was located 20m from a house, which had broken windows along the south wall. The crater itself was approximately 1.5m wide and 50-60cm deep with no remnant inside.  The SMM assessed it as caused by a 122mm artillery shell. The second impact had destroyed a barn in a backyard of a house and the SMM assessed it as fired from a southerly direction. A third impact was just two metres west of a house, which had broken windows and damage to the roof and front door. At a fourth site about 70m away, the SMM could see two craters, a destroyed gate and fence and shrapnel damage on the outer walls of the house. The damage was consistent with a 122mm artillery round. At a fifth site, the SMM observed a crater near a house along with a damaged gate and fence covered with shrapnel marks, and assessed the damage as consistent with a 122mm artillery round explosion.

The SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire and facilitated dialogue in order to repair critical infrastructure. The evening of 18 February, staff at the Donetsk Water Filtration Station informed the SMM that the station was without electricity and had stopped operating. The SMM confirmed reports through other sources that electricity had been cut for up to 22,000 residents in Avdiivka the evening of 18 February and that as a result, water supply stopped to parts of Donetsk city (four districts) and Yasynuvata, Verkhnotoretske, Vasylivka, and Spartak.

On 19 February, from both sides of the contact line, the SMM was present with repair crews and monitored adherence to the ceasefire from multiple locations around Avdiivka and Yasynuvata. An electrical repair crew, which was planning to work on pylon 88 near “DPR”-controlled Kruta Balka told the SMM that they were concerned about the ongoing small-arms fire in the area around the damaged power lines and said they would not complete repairs before a ceasefire could be established. Positioned in Yasynuvata, from about 11:45-15:00 the SMM heard ceasefire violations, assessed as occurring in the area of Kruta Balka, including one undetermined explosion, over five minutes of continuous and overlapping bursts and shots of small-arms fire as well as 42 bursts and 33 shots of small-arms 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 there remained restricted but the Mission was able to partially monitor them.*

The night of 16-17 February, the SMM camera in Stanytsia Luhanska recorded 11 shots of small-arms fire, two projectiles in flight from north-west to south-east, one projectile in flight from south-east to north-west, four explosions assessed impacts (caused by three mortar rounds and one rocket), one outgoing explosion of a rocket-propelled grenade, and one airburst bursts, beginning with a single shot of small-arms fire, all 300m-1.7km south-east, south-south-east, south, south-west, and west-south-west of the camera’s location.

On 18 February, the SMM observed two fresh craters within the disengagement area about 25m east of the Ukrainian Armed Forces position north of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge and assessed that they had been caused by rocket-propelled grenades fired from a south-easterly direction. Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel at the last government checkpoint north of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, inside the disengagement area, said their position had been under fire the night before.

On 19 February, positioned inside the disengagement area in Zolote area, the SMM heard two undetermined explosions 2km south-west, assessed to be in or very near the disengagement area.  

On 18 February, while positioned in Petrivske, the SMM heard 12 undetermined explosions 1-3km west, which could not be assessed as inside or outside the disengagement area. The same day while positioned in government-controlled Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM heard one undetermined explosion at an unknown distance north-west, assessed as outside the disengagement area.

Despite the joint statement of 1 February by the Trilateral Contact Group and the consent reached on 15 February, the sides have not yet provided the baseline information requested by the SMM related to weapons to be withdrawn and locations of units and formations. During the reporting period, “DPR” and “LPR” provided information related to weapons they declared as already withdrawn.

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 in areas not under government control, the SMM saw four tanks (three T-64, one type unknown) in a forested area and an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV; BMP-2) with a mounted anti-tank guided missile system (9K111 Fagot, 120mm), all located about 3km north-west of Oleksandrivsk (10km west of Luhansk); a tank (T-64) and an IFV (type unknown) with a mounted anti-tank-guided missile system (type unknown) near Pryvitne (12km north of Luhansk); and a tank (T-64) near Lyman (12km north-west of Luhansk), all on 18 February. The following day the SMM observed two tanks (type unknown) and two IFVs (BMP-1) with mounted anti-tank guided missile systems (9K111 Fagot, 120mm) in Novosvitlivka (16km south-east of Luhansk); one tank in a dug-out position and two IFVs (BMP-1) with mounted anti-tank guided missile systems (9K111 Fagot, 120mm) in Pryvitne; and a tank (T-64) parked facing north in Lyman. 

In violation of the respective withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas the SMM saw: three anti-tank guided missile systems (9M113 Konkurs, 135mm), each mounted on IFVs (BMP-2) parked on the side of the road in Popasna (69km west of Luhansk) on 19 February.

Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside of storage sites, the SMM saw: 30-40 tanks (type unknown) inside an agricultural compound near a training area in “DPR”-controlled Ternove (57km east of Donetsk); and four tanks (T-64) at a training area near “LPR”-controlled Shymshynivka (27km south-west of Luhansk) on 19 February.

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 respective withdrawal lines, the SMM observed six anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) and noted as missing six anti-tank guns (MT-12). The SMM also noted that three areas continued to be abandoned with the following missing: 27 self-propelled howitzers (eight 2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm and 19 2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) and one surface-to-air missile system (9K35 Strela-10, 120mm).

The SMM revisited weapons permanent storage sites not controlled by the Government whose location corresponded with the withdrawal lines and observed as missing for the first time eight self-propelled howitzers (2S1) and 38 tanks (28 T-64 and ten T-72). The SMM also continued to observe as missing as 16 towed howitzers, (five 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm and 11 D-30, 122mm), ten multiple-launch-rocket systems (MLRS; BM-21 Grad, 120mm), nine self-propelled howitzers  (2S1), which had been observed missing for the first time on 17 February (see SMM Daily 18 February 2017). One MLRS (BM-21) which had first been observed as missing in May 2016 and seven towed howitzers (D-30) observed as missing in March 2016 all continued to be absent.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles[1] and communications vehicles in the security zone. In government-controlled areas the SMM saw: one stationary armoured personnel carrier (APC; BTR-4) together with two stationary R-330U communication vehicles near a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint in Avdiivka on 17 February; one IFV (BMP-1) and one stationary APC (BRDM-2) near Zolote, one APC (MTLB) heading west near Staryi Aidar (20km north-west of Luhansk), seven stationary IFV (BMP-2) near Novotoshkivske (53km west of Luhansk), on 18 February, three stationary IFV (BMP-2) near Krymske (42km north-west of Luhansk), two stationary IFV (BMP) near Nyzhnie (56km north-west of Luhansk), all on 18 February; and one stationary APC (MTLB) near Vrubivka (72km west of Luhansk), 17 stationary IFV (BMP-2) near Popasna, and one APC (MT-LB) and one R378A communication vehicle in the backyard of a house near  Troitske (69km west of Luhansk), where seven men in military uniform stood nearby; a military truck (KRAZ Cougar) fitted with a heavy machine-gun, two stationary IFVs (BMP-1 and BMP-2) Zolote (outside the disengagement area), all on 19 February.

In non-government-controlled areas, the SMM saw: six stationary IFVs (BMP-1) near Pankivka (16km north of Luhansk) on 18 February, three IFVs (BMP) and three armed “LPR” members south of the bridge in Stanytsia Luhanska on 19 February, and one APC (MTLB) driving east past the check point near Yuzhna-Lomuvatka (60km west of Luhansk) on 19 February.

In the vicinity of “LPR”-controlled Dovhe (22km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM observed five anti-tank mines on the west side of the road for the first time.

The SMM visited four border crossing areas currently not under government control in Donetsk region. At each of the border crossing points in Ulianivske (61km south-east of Donetsk), Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk), Marynivka (78km east of Donetsk), and Novoazovsk (101km south-east of Donetsk) the SMM was present for between 30-60minutes and observed a routine situation at each location.

The SMM continued to monitor blockades at railway tracks, which cross the contact line (see SMM Daily Report 17 February 2017). On both 18 and 19 February, government-controlled Hirske (63km west of Luhansk) the SMM observed that the railway track was still blocked with wooden barriers and barbed wire. On both 18 and 19 February, in government-controlled Bakhmut (formerly Artemivsk, 67km north of Donetsk) the SMM saw 25 men in camouflage fatigues, without weapons, at the site of the railway. They did not block passing vehicles or pedestrians. On the same days, in government-controlled Shcherbynivka (44km north of Donetsk), the SMM observed two military tents with ten persons (35-45 years old) wearing camouflage fatigues, two police officers and two stationary, empty cargo trains facing north and south respectively. Ukrainian and black-and-red flags were hanging from the tents.

The SMM observed numerous public gatherings in Kyiv. On 18 February, a four-day series of commemorations began to mark the third anniversary of Maidan events from 2013-2014. Throughout the day, the SMM observed between 350-600 people (mixed gender and age) attend various speeches at prominent sites during the events including Mykhailovskii and Sofiivskii squares and Maidan Nezalezhnosti, or Independence Square. The SMM saw large screens with images of the 100 men who died during the events, called the Heavenly Hundred, being projected and people gathering on Instytutska Street in front of memorials for each of the men along the side of the road. Police and National Guard of Ukraine were stationed throughout the city centre, and all entry/exit points to Independence Square and surrounding areas were equipped with portable walk-through metal. The SMM noted hundreds of police officers patrolling and some were accompanied by dogs. Throughout the day the SMM noted a peaceful situation.

In the afternoon on 19 February, approximately 1,000 people gathered (mixed gender and age, about ten per cent wearing camouflage and insignia of the former Donbas battalion) at Maidan Nezalezhnosti and walked up Instytutska Street to Bankova Street. The SMM observed people carrying Ukrainian and red-and-black flags and several activists and a politician gave speeches in front of the group on Bankova Street in favour of the current railway blockades in eastern Ukraine, which according to them have been undertaken to expose and halt what they said were corrupt business practices and profiteering.

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

*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 Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance.

Denial of access:

• On 18 and 19 February, at the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area a Ukrainian officer of the JCCC told the SMM that, with the exception of the main road, its safety could not be guaranteed in the surrounding areas due to the possible presence of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 18 and 19 February, armed men at an “LPR” checkpoint at the edge of the Zolote disengagement area told the SMM that its safety could not be guaranteed in fields and side roads due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. The Mission observed mine hazard signs in the area. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 18 February, a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer at the edge of the Zolote disengagement area told the SMM that no demining activities had been undertaken in the disengagement area. On 19 February, a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer at the JCCC told the SMM the same thing. Due to the possible presence of mines, the SMM did not proceed and informed the JCCC.
• On 18 February, Ukrainian Armed Force personnel stopped the SMM from traveling between Katerynivka and government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk), from two different locations, citing a lack of permission from their commander due to the area not having been demined. On 19 February, from one location Ukrainian Armed Force personnel stopped the SMM from traveling between Katerynivka and Popasna, citing the same reasons. The Mission informed the JCCC in all three cases.
• On 18 and 19 February, the SMM was unable to travel west from “DPR”-controlled Petrivske towards Viktorivka (42km south-west of Donetsk) due to a lack of security guarantees and the possible presence of mines. The Mission informed the JCCC.
• On 18 and 19 February, the SMM was unable to travel east from government-controlled Bohdanivka due to the lack of security guarantees and the presence of anti-tank mines on the road. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 18 and 19 February, the SMM could not travel across the bridge in government-controlled Shchastia as Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel said there were mines on the road south of the bridge. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 18 February while traveling on an unpaved road near “LPR”-controlled Zhovte (17km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM observed a mine sign on a wooden board attached to a tree 2m off the road, and written in Russian language “No entrance! Mines!” The SMM did not proceed and informed the JCCC.
• On 18 February, a Ukrainian Armed Forces commander denied the SMM access to a military compound near government-controlled Trudivske (47km south of Donetsk), stating that the SMM had no authorization to enter. The SMM informed the JCCC but a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer at the JCCC was unable to assist to ensure the SMM’s freedom of movement.
• On 19 February, armed “LPR” members stopped the SMM near “LPR”-controlled Oleksandrivsk (10km west of Luhansk) and prevented it from proceeding to the village, citing ongoing demining activities. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 19 February, armed “LPR” members stopped the SMM at a checkpoint in “LPR”-controlled Yuzhna-Lomuvatka (60km west of Luhansk) and prevented it from proceeding, citing ongoing demining activities. The SMM informed the JCCC.

-       In government-controlled Donske (57km south of Donetsk), Ukrainian Armed Forces commander denied SMM access to a military compound. The SMM informed the JCCC.

Delay:

• On 18 and 19 February, on the eastern edge of “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM was stopped by armed “DPR” members, who told the SMM each day that they could not proceed further. The SMM informed the JCCC on both occasions. On 19 February, a Russian Federation Armed Forces officer of the JCCC told the SMM that the JCCC had taken all possible measures but could not assist in ensuring the SMM’s freedom of movement. However, after nearly an hour and a half on 18 February and 45 minutes on 19 February, the armed “DPR” members allowed the SMM to proceed.

Other:

-       While at an observation post in “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve, the SMM heard 13 small-arms shots from west-north-west of its position. At least one of these shots passed approximately 10-20m from SMM patrol members. The SMM departed immediately and notified 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”.

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