Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 11 January 2017
This report is for the media and the general public.
Fewer ceasefire violations were recorded in Donetsk region and in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission observed weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines near “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata and near government-controlled Karlivka. The SMM was restricted in its movement in the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.* Civilians on both sides of the contact line told the SMM about water supply problems. The SMM monitored infrastructure repairs on both sides of the contact line. The Mission visited two border crossing points currently not under government control.
The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, including 320 explosions compared with over 700 in the previous reporting period.[1]
While in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city centre on the night of 10-11 January the SMM heard 48 undetermined explosions 7-10km north-west.
On the night of 10-11 January the SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka (16km north of Donetsk) recorded two undetermined projectiles in flight from south to north in areas 4-6km east-south-east. During the afternoon of 11 January the same camera recorded 28 undetermined explosions, four undetermined projectiles in flight from west to east and three airbursts, all in areas 4-6km east-south-east of the camera.
Positioned in Avdiivka the SMM heard 42 undetermined explosions 1-5km south or south-east and uncountable bursts of automatic-grenade-launchers, heavy-machine-gun and small-arms-fire. Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM heard 19 undetermined explosions 1-5km west-south-west or west-north-west, one undetermined explosion 2-3km north-west, and uncountable bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire 1-3km and 3-5km south-east.
While in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) on the evening of 10 January the SMM heard eight explosions assessed as outgoing mortar rounds 5-9km west and 21 outgoing explosions 3-7km west or west-south-west, and 18 undetermined explosions 5-9km west and heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire 3-5km and 5-7km west.
While in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk) on the same evening, the SMM heard 70 explosions, including 34 assessed as outgoing mortar rounds (six assessed as 82mm mortar), ten assessed as impacts of mortar rounds, 13 assessed as outgoing artillery rounds, five impacts assessed as artillery rounds, and heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all in areas 2-4km south-east.
While in “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM heard 64 undetermined explosions and bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire 6-10km north-west.
In the early hours of 11 January the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km north-east of Mariupol), recorded seven projectiles in flight from east to west, 18 projectiles in flight from east to west assessed as heavy-machine gun fire, a total of 44 tracer rounds from east to west and two tracer rounds from south-west to north-east, all at undetermined distances north of the camera.
In Luhansk region the SMM recorded a decrease in the number of ceasefire violations, including 87 explosions, compared with almost 600 in the previous reporting period. Positioned near “LPR”-controlled Bile (22km west of Luhansk) the SMM heard 53 explosions assessed as artillery rounds 5-8km south-west, which probably originated from a known live-fire training area. Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Shymshynivka (27km south-west of Luhansk) the SMM heard eight impacts assessed as artillery rounds 3km west, which probably originated from a known live-fire training area. The SMM recorded undetermined explosions near the Zolote disengagement area.
The SMM assessed an impact site in “LPR”-controlled Sentianivka (formerly Frunze, 44km west of Luhansk). A resident (male, mid-thirties) showed the SMM a fresh crater in the back garden of his house that he said was caused when a shell struck at around 07:00 on 10 January. A nearby fence was damaged by shrapnel. The man showed a piece of an anti-tank missile that he said he had recovered from the impact site. The SMM assessed the crater was caused by an anti-tank missile fired from the north. According to the man, no one was injured.
In government-controlled Syze (23km east of Luhansk) the SMM, accompanied by Ukrainian Armed Forces, observed an alleged impact site at a military camp. The SMM observed a large hole with scorched tree trunks in it but could not determine if it was caused by a shell. The Ukrainian Armed Forces said that all shrapnel had been removed from the site on 10 January.
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.*
Positioned inside the Zolote disengagement area near “LPR”-controlled Pervomaisk (58km west of Luhansk) the SMM heard four undetermined explosions 10km west (assessed as outside the disengagement area). Later the SMM heard 13 undetermined explosions 10km south-south-west and two undetermined explosions 5-10km south-east (assessed as outside the disengagement area). Armed “LPR” members near the Zolote disengagement area told the SMM that they had no information regarding demining in the area.
At the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge Ukrainian Armed Forces officers of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) told the SMM that no disengagement nor demining would take place on 11 January.
Positioned in Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM heard one shot of small-arms fire at an undetermined distance 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 three covered self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm), close to a residential area 5km south-south-east of “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata. In government-controlled Karlivka (25km north-west of Donetsk) the SMM observed mortars on military trucks heading west.
Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside assigned areas the SMM observed three tanks in “LPR”-controlled Myrne (28km south-west of Luhansk).
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 four MLRS (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) and 12 self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm). Eleven 2S3 were absent, ten of which were observed as such for the first time on 26 July 2016 and one observed missing for the first time on 20 May 2016.
The SMM was denied access to a heavy weapons holding area by Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel and thus could not verify the presence of 12 MLRS (9P140, Uragan, 220mm), which the SMM last observed on 8 November.
The SMM revisited permanent storage sites, whose locations corresponded with the withdrawal line. In “DPR”-controlled areas, the SMM revisited one such location and observed that all weapons previously observed as withdrawn to the site were present. The SMM revisited one such location in “LPR”-controlled areas and observed that all weapons previously observed as withdrawn to the site were present.
The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles and anti-aircraft weapons[2] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas the SMM observed: 11 armoured personnel carriers (APC; BTR) and two anti-aircraft guns (ZU-23, 23mm) in Karlivka and one APC (MTLB) near government-controlled Lobacheve (17km north-west of Luhansk).
The SMM monitored repairs to essential infrastructure, co-ordinated by the JCCC. Near the Petrivka water pumping station in government-controlled Artema (26km north of Luhansk) the SMM observed repair workers making preparations to replace a damaged section of pipe, which they said should take place on 12 January (see SMM Daily Report 11 January 2017). The pipe is the main water line supplying around 250,000 people.
In government-controlled Orikhove (59km north-west of Luhansk) the SMM facilitated and monitored repairs, co-ordinated by the JCCC, of a 1km section of the Shepilovo-Sentianivka railway track that crosses the contact line.
The SMM visited two border areas currently not under control of the government. At the border crossing point in “LPR”-controlled Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, 65km south-east of Luhansk) the SMM observed, over a period of about 80 minutes: four covered trucks and two minivans (Ukrainian licence plates), 24 passenger cars (18 Ukrainian licence plates, six Russian Federation licence plates) a bus carrying 25 passengers marked “Gukovo-Sverdlovsk” leaving Ukraine. Over the same period, the SMM counted 17 passenger cars (15 Ukrainian licence plates, two Russian Federation licence plates) and one minivan (no passengers, Ukrainian licence plate) entering Ukraine. At the “LPR”-controlled Verkhnoharasymivka (57km south-east of Luhansk) pedestrian border crossing point the SMM, over about an hour, saw eight people leave Ukraine and two enter.
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 could not travel on the road between government-controlled Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk) and Viktorivka (42km south-west of Donetsk) as Ukrainian Armed Forces officers of the JCCC said they could not assist in ensuring security for the SMM as they said the Ukrainian Armed Forces do not control the road. Mines were visible on the road. The Ukrainian Armed Forces officers of the JCCC said they did not know when these mines would be removed.
- An armed “DPR” member in Petrivske (41km south of Donetsk) could not ensure safety for the SMM to travel west from the village. The SMM informed the JCCC.
- The SMM was unable to access areas other than the main road in the Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk) disengagement area, as a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC present told the SMM that no demining had been taken place. The SMM informed the head of the local JCCC office.
- The SMM observed mine warning signs on two paths covered in dense vegetation near an “LPR” checkpoint next to the ICRC tent south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. Due to the threat of mines, the SMM did not proceed further. The SMM informed the JCCC.
- The SMM was unable to access all secondary routes in the Zolote-Pervomaisk disengagement area (58km west of Luhansk) due to the threat from mines, as “LPR” members said they had no information regarding demining. The SMM informed the JCCC.
- Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel stopped the SMM at two locations near government-controlled Katerynivka (64km west of Luhansk) and denied further travel towards government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk). 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 soldier stopped the SMM on approach to an observation point in Shyrokyne and denied access. The SMM informed the JCCC.
- Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel at a heavy weapons holding area denied access to the site after the SMM declined to show national passports. The SMM informed the JCCC.
- Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers stopped the SMM at a checkpoint near Svitlodarsk and denied further travel to the village of Myronivka (64km north-east of Donetsk).
Delay:
- In Petrivske, an armed “DPR” member told the SMM to wait before being escorted to the SMM camera. The “DPR” member delayed the SMM for 17 minutes.
Conditional access:
- In Petrivske, an armed “DPR” member insisted on escorting the SMM while monitors accessed the SMM camera.
[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.