Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 19 April 2016
This report is for media and the general public.
The SMM recorded a lower level of violence in Donetsk region compared to the previous reporting period. It noted weapons in violation of withdrawal lines and others absent from storage sites. The SMM observed long queues at checkpoints along the contact line. The Mission attempted to monitor in border areas outside government control but was repeatedly prevented from doing so. The SMM’s freedom of movement was restricted further in areas not controlled by the Government.*
The SMM noted a decrease in the number of ceasefire violations recorded in Donetsk region compared to the previous reporting period [1]. It did, however, hear 22 undetermined explosions 10km north-west of its position in Donetsk city centre between 19:08 and 02:50hrs on 18/19 April. Between 09:00 and 13:00hrs the following morning, positioned in a “DPR”-controlled area 6km north-west of the city centre, the SMM heard two undetermined explosions and one outgoing explosive burst, observed three airbursts and heard 20 bursts and six single shots of small-arms fire, all 1-5km west and north-north-west of its position. At 09:40hrs, positioned in a “DPR”-controlled area 11km south-west of the city centre, the SMM observed four explosions, assessed as caused by rocket-propelled grenade launcher rounds, 100m south of its position. Between 12:26 and 14:00hrs, while in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard two bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 5km south-east; two mortar impacts (120mm), one artillery round impact (122mm), five bursts of small-arms fire, one explosion of a mortar round (120mm) 5km south; one airburst from an anti-aircraft gun 7km south; three bursts of automatic-grenade-launcher fire, one mortar round impact (82mm), two undetermined explosions of self-propelled grenade rounds (SPG-9 Kopye, 73mm), ten bursts of small-arms fire, one airburst of anti-aircraft gun 3km south-east; three bursts of small-arms fire 4km south; and, one undetermined mortar explosion 4-5km south. Later in Avdiivka between 17:00 and 17:30hrs, the SMM observed 20 airbursts from an anti-aircraft gun; and heard six artillery impacts (122mm), 22 undetermined explosions and constant exchanges of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire. In nearby “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM observed violence throughout the day. Of note, it heard ten undetermined explosions 2-3km west at 16:28hrs, 31 undetermined explosions 2km west at 16:29hrs, 40 undetermined explosions 1km south-west at 17:24hrs, and, 40 explosions 3-4km south at l17:24hrs.
The wider Horlivka area remained volatile, too, with the SMM positioned in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), hearing between 18:02 and 21:00hrs on 18 April at least 103 undetermined mortar and artillery explosions of which three were assessed as 122mm or 152mm artillery explosions, at least 100 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, and shots and bursts of small-arms fire, all 1-6km south-east, south or west-south-west. On 18 April, positioned in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard between 20:10 and 21:50hrs 56 explosions, of which 20 were assessed as mortar rounds (17 of 120mm and three of 82mm calibre), 20 bursts from a 30mm cannon on an armoured combat vehicle (BMP-2), seven bursts of anti-aircraft-gun fire, 32 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire and four bursts and ten single shots of small-arms fire, all 2-10km south-south-west, west and north of its position.
A number of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas to the north-east of government-control Mariupol (102km south of Donetsk). Between 11:10 and 11:25hrs, while in government-controlled Hnutove (20km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard two undetermined explosions 7km west of its position. Between 11:21 and 11:29hrs, while in government-controlled Kremenivka (27km north-west of Mariupol), the SMM heard five undetermined explosions east of its position.
Luhansk region remained relatively quiet, with the notable exception of government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk). On 18 April, positioned in the town, the SMM heard between 20:19 and 22:25hrs approximately 150 incoming and outgoing explosions (assessed to be a mixture of automatic grenade launcher (AGS-17) and 30mm cannon) and approximately 130 rounds of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire 3-5km to the south and south-west. The SMM recorded a number of ceasefire violations elsewhere in the region, namely, four explosions while positioned in government-controlled Staryi Aidar (21km north-west of Luhansk); one explosion while positioned in “LPR”-controlled Pervomaisk (58km west of Luhansk); and one explosion while positioned near the government-controlled part of Zolote (60km north-west of Luhansk).
In relation to the implementation of the Addendum to the Package of Measures, the SMM revisited a Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent storage site whose location corresponds with the withdrawal lines and noted that seven tanks (T-64, 125mm) and two mortars (2B9 Vasilek, 82mm) were missing.
In violation of the respective withdrawal lines the SMM observed seven tanks (T-72) in “LPR”-controlled Luhansk city; a tank near “DPR”-controlled Michurine (63km south-east of Donetsk); and an engineering tank (T-64), without a barrel, near government-controlled Voitove (30km north-west of Luhansk).
The SMM continues to monitor the withdrawal of heavy weapons foreseen in the Minsk Package of Measures. The SMM has yet to receive the full information requested in the 16 October 2015 notification.
In violation of the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM saw seven multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS; BM-21 Grad, 122mm), seven self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm), and ten towed howitzers (five 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm, and five D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm) in “LPR”-controlled Luhansk city; five surface-to-air missile systems (9K35 Strela-10, 120mm) at a military-type compound in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city*; and, one anti-tank guided missile system (9K111 Fagot, 120mm) near government-controlled Toshkivka (61km north-west of Luhansk).
The SMM observed the presence of armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. In areas not controlled by the Government the SMM saw an infantry fighting vehicle (BMP-1), a combat engineer vehicle (IMR-2), and two armoured personnel carriers (APC; BTR-type and MT-LB) in a compound near the railroad station in “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk);* and, an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) near “DPR”-controlled Obilne (20km south of Donetsk of Donetsk).
In government-controlled areas, the SMM observed an APC (BTR-70) near Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk).
The SMM continues to observe the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). At a “DPR” checkpoint west of “DPR”-controlled Kominternove (23km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM noted mines on the road. Two female residents told the SMM that the cemetery located to the north-west was no longer accessible because of mines and booby-traps. Near government-controlled Novotoshkivske (53km north-west of Luhansk), the head of an agricultural company told the SMM that his company rented approximately 2,000 hectares, half of which, he said was unusable because of the fear of mines and UXOs.
The SMM continued to observe long queues at entry-exit checkpoints across the contact line. At Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoints close to government-controlled Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM observed 382 civilian cars heading west, and 188 civilian cars and two buses heading east. At the “DPR” checkpoint close to “DPR”-controlled Oktiabr (29km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM observed two civilian buses and 66 civilian vehicles standing in line to enter government-controlled areas to the west, while 15 civilian vehicles were waiting to go east.
The SMM attempted to monitor border areas outside government control, but was prevented from doing so.*
The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnepropetrovsk, Chernivtsi and Kyiv.
*Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to the fulfilment of its mandate
The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by the parties and security considerations, including mine threats, damaged infrastructure, and the unpredictability of the situation in Donbas. “LPR” members continue to prevent the SMM from monitoring many areas alongside the border in parts of Luhansk region not controlled by the Government, and consistently demand to review SMM patrol plans.
Denial of access
- In “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk), armed “DPR” members outside a compound in which they said military hardware was being repaired refused to allow the SMM to enter.
- In Donetsk city, armed “DPR” members refused to allow the SMM enter a courtyard in which the SMM could see from outside five surface-to-air missile systems (9K35 Strela-10, 120mm).
- In "LPR"-controlled Chervonopartyzansk (64km south-east of Luhansk), an armed “LPR” member refused to allow the SMM to get closer than 150m to the border crossing point.
- At Krasnaia Mohyla cargo train station, 5km north of “LPR"-controlled Chervonopartyzansk (64km south-east of Luhansk), an armed “LPR” member insisted the SMM leave the area.
- At the border crossing point in “LPR”-controlled Izvaryne (53km south-east of Luhansk), an armed “LPR” member insisted the SMM leave the area.
[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.