OSCE SMM Spot Report 14/2021: Long-range unmanned aerial vehicle damaged in emergency landing due to dual GPS signal interference

On 17 May, the SMM was conducting an announced SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight. The UAV had taken off from its base in government-controlled Stepanivka (54km north of Donetsk) at 12:00 and had immediately experienced dual GPS signal interference, assessed as caused by jamming, which continued uninterrupted for the remainder of the flight. At 12:55, near Bakhmutske (government-controlled, 77km north of Donetsk), the SMM enabled the Emergency Control Mode over the aircraft and commanded it to return to base in Stepanivka due to the persistent dual GPS signal interference.

At 13:45, due to the risk of a loss of spatial control, the SMM conducted an emergency landing of the UAV in a field about 200m north-east of its designated landing spot at Stepanivka. As a result of the impact, the aircraft sustained damage to its tailfin and rear fuselage. The SMM retrieved the UAV. Long-range UAV flights are now suspended pending a technical assessment, including to identify any additional damage to the aircraft.

The Mission again highlights that since 21 March 2021 the SMM’s long-range UAVs have been experiencing increased levels of GPS signal interference on take-off and landing, affecting both of their GPS receivers, in areas near their base in Stepanivka (See SMM Spot Reports of 7 April 2021, 9 April 2021, 24 April 2021 and 6 May 2021). The Mission notes that, in each case, the source of GPS signal interference could have originated from anywhere within the radius of tens of kilometres from the UAVs’ positions.

The SMM yet again notes that OSCE Permanent Council Decision No. 1117 specifies that the SMM shall have safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. Unrestricted and unconditional access to all areas is essential to ensure effective monitoring and reporting of the security situation, the ceasefire, the withdrawal of weapons, demining, as well as disengagement. The mandate also tasks the Mission to report on any restrictions of its freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate.

These incidents hinder the Mission’s ability to conduct effective monitoring and reporting of the security situation in line with its mandate. Long-range UAVs are an essential part of SMM operations, especially at night and in areas where the Mission’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted. While the SMM cannot identify the precise source of jamming, it has observed the presence of jamming equipment on both sides of the contact line.