Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 14 March 2017

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission observed damage to civilian property, possibly due to shelling, in Donetsk city and near Vuhlehirsk. The Mission monitored the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access remained restricted.* SMM cameras recorded ceasefire violations inside the Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote areas. The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. In two locations, armed “DPR” members threatened SMM monitors, with “arrest” in one case and with shooting in another. The SMM facilitated mine clearance of a railway track between Popasna and Zolote-5. It visited one border area currently not under government control. It monitored the continuing blockade of a railway near Hirske, observed that activists were no longer present at a blockade site near Shcherbynivka and monitored demonstrations in several cities in support of the blockade. It monitored continuation of a protest outside a bank office in Kyiv.

In Donetsk region the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, [1] including about 740 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 1,070 explosions). Most of the explosions were recorded in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport area and the Svitlodarsk-Debaltseve area.

On the night of 13-14 March, while in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city centre, the SMM heard 88 undetermined explosions (two 3-5km west and 86 4-6km north). The same night, the SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) recorded five airbursts 4-6km east-south-east, followed by a total of 26 undetermined explosions and 15 projectiles in flight (one east to west and 14 west to east), all 3-6km east and east-south-east. During the day on 14 March, the same camera recorded 104 undetermined explosions 4-6km east-south-east. The SMM camera at the Oktiabr mine (9km north-west of Donetsk city centre) recorded 24 undetermined explosions 6-10km north-east.

The same day, positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 15 undetermined explosions and nine bursts of small-arms fire, all 3-7km south-east and south-south-east, and three undetermined explosions 2-7km at directions ranging from west to north.

On the night of 13-14 March, while in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard about 220 undetermined explosions, approximately 70 bursts of anti-aircraft cannon (ZU-23, 23mm) fire, approximately 50 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire and around 70 bursts of small-arms fire, all 2-6km east-south-east and south-east. The SMM also heard 42 undetermined explosions 10-12km east-north-east. During the day on 14 March, while in the same location, the SMM heard one explosion assessed as an impact of an 82mm mortar round and 20 undetermined explosions, all 5-8km south-east.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, 29km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard two explosions assessed as outgoing 82mm mortar rounds 3-4km north-west (and the subsequent impacts 3-4km north-east) and three undetermined explosions 2km north.

Positioned in government-controlled Pavlopil (26km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard 36 undetermined explosions, ten bursts of anti-aircraft cannon (23mm) fire and 11 minutes of uncountable, overlapping shots of small-arms fire, all at unknown distances east and east-south-east.

Positioned north-east of government-controlled Hnutove (20km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard 63 undetermined explosions and five bursts of automatic-grenade-launcher fire, all at unknown distances in directions ranging from north-north-east to south-south-east. The SMM also heard eight bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 3km east and one undetermined explosion at an unknown distance west-north-west.

Positioned in government-controlled Sopyne (16km east of Mariupol), the SMM heard 22 undetermined explosions and two shots of small-arms fire, all at unknown distances in directions ranging from north to east.

On the night of 13-14 March, the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded 165 tracer rounds in flight from east to west at an unknown distance north-north-east of the camera, followed by an exchange of 98 tracer rounds in flight (72 west to east and 26 east to west) and one undetermined explosion, all at unknown distances in northerly directions.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 65 explosions, compared with the previous 24-hour period (about 100 explosions).

Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Malomykolaivka (36km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard four undetermined explosions, six explosions assessed as automatic-grenade-launcher (AGS-variant) fire, around 30 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire and 23 shots of small-arms fire, all 5km east-north-east and assessed as a live-fire exercise.

Positioned in government-controlled Popasne (60km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 11 undetermined explosions 5km south-east. Positioned in government-controlled Katerynivka (64km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard one explosion assessed as an artillery round 5km south.

The SMM observed damage to civilian property, possibly due to shelling. Accompanied by a Russian officer of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), the SMM saw a damaged wall 1.5m north-east of a house at 210 Artemivska Street in Donetsk city and three DTEK energy company workers repairing a nearby power line. The house’s owner (man in his fifties) told the SMM that three explosions had occurred near the house at 17:45 on 13 March and that falling debris had caused a 2cm wound on the back of his neck, which the SMM observed. He said the explosions had also damaged the power line. North-west of “DPR”-controlled Vuhlehirsk (49km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM saw a car with a shattered rear window and trunk damaged by shrapnel. The owner (woman, aged 50-60) said the car had been damaged by an explosion in Lozove (52km north-east of Donetsk) the morning of 11 March.

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 remained restricted but the Mission was able to partially monitor them.*

On the evening of 12 March, the SMM camera in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska recorded, in sequence, seven shots of small-arms fire 2.2km south-south-east and one undetermined explosion 300m south-south-east, all assessed as outside the disengagement area. This was followed by violations assessed as inside the disengagement area, consisting of four explosions assessed as 120mm mortar rounds (one outgoing and three impacts), three explosions assessed as impacts of 82mm mortar rounds, and two undetermined explosions, all 350-1,800m away, in directions ranging from south-east to south-south-west. During this exchange the camera recorded additional violations assessed as outside the disengagement area, consisting of one explosion assessed as the impact of an 82mm mortar round 1.2km north-west and four undetermined explosions 300-400m south-west and west.

On the evening of 12 March, the SMM camera in government-controlled Zolote recorded one explosion assessed as an artillery round at least 4km south, assessed as outside the disengagement area.

On 14 March, positioned at the western edge of government-controlled Zolote-4 (60km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard one explosion assessed as automatic-grenade-launcher fire 1.5-2km south-south-east, assessed as inside the disengagement area. Positioned in the town, the SMM heard two explosions assessed as impacts of an undetermined weapon 3-5km north-east, assessed as outside the disengagement area. Positioned in “LPR”-controlled Zolote-5, the SMM heard ten shots of small-arms fire 3km north-east, assessed as outside the disengagement area.

On the evening of 10 March, the SMM camera in “DPR”-controlled Petrivske recorded 12 projectiles in flight from south-west to north-east 1-3km west of the camera, assessed as outside the disengagement area.

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, in implementation of the Package of Measures, its Addendum, and the Memorandum. [2]

In addition to the numerous weapons referred to above, the SMM directly observed weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines. In areas currently not controlled by the Government, the Mission saw one stationary tank (type undetermined) in north-western Verkhnoshyrokivske, one towed howitzer (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm) in Stepove (27km west of Luhansk) and ten multiple-launch rocket systems (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) near Khrustalnyi (formerly Krasnyi Luch, 56km south-west of Luhansk). In government-controlled areas the SMM saw one stationary towed howitzer (2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm) about 2km north-east of Vyskryva (76km west of Luhansk) on 12 March (the same weapon was spotted by an SMM middle-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on 14 March), one stationary anti-tank guided-missile system (9M113 Konkurs, 135mm) 2km east of Novotoshkivske (53km west of Luhansk) on 13 March, and two stationary towed howitzers (2A65 Msta-B, 152mm) near Pryvilne (31km north of Mariupol) on 14 March.

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside storage sites the SMM saw, in non-government-controlled areas, three stationary tanks (T-72) near Kruhlyk (31km south-west of Luhansk) and a tank (possibly T-72) on a transporter heading south near Heorhiivka (15km south of Luhansk); in government-controlled areas the SMM saw eight stationary self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) near Kalynove (formerly Kalinine, 65km south-west of Donetsk).

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, the SMM observed five towed howitzers (2A36) and 20 self-propelled howitzers (2S3) and noted that two towed howitzers (2A36) and 31 self-propelled howitzers (2S3) were again missing. The SMM observed one site to be abandoned, as previously observed, and noted that 14 towed howitzers (eight 2A65 and six 2A36) remained absent.

The SMM revisited an “LPR” permanent storage site whose location corresponded with the withdrawal lines and noted that six towed howitzers (one 2A65 and five D-30) and three self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) remained missing.

The SMM also observed armoured combat vehicles and an anti-aircraft gun, [3] as well as tracks of military-type vehicles, in the security zone. In government-controlled areas the SMM saw two static armoured personnel carriers (APCs) (MT-LB) near Mykolaivka (77km west of Luhansk) on 12 March and five static infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) (BMP-2) near Novotoshkivske (53km west of Luhansk), one static IFV (BMP-2) near Nyzhnie (56km north-west of Luhansk), and four IFVs (BMP-2) (three static and one traveling west) near Krymske (42km north-west of Luhansk) on 13 March. On 14 March, the Mission saw one APC (BTR-70) travelling north near Stanytsia Luhanska (outside the disengagement area), as well as three IFVs (BMP-2) and a truck with a covered anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) heading south near Shevchenko (59km south of Donetsk). An SMM mini UAV spotted one static APC (MT-LB) and five static IFVs (two BMP-2 and three BMP-variant) near Popasna (69km west of Luhansk). Aerial imagery revealed two armoured vehicles at the western edge of Avdiivka on 11 March.

On 12 March, the SMM observed two sites assessed as recently abandoned artillery firing positions near government-controlled Druzhba (76km west of Luhansk). One position faced south-east and the other faced east.

On 14 March, the SMM saw tracks assessed to be those of tanks (T-64) heading west on a highway north of government-controlled Mariupol (102km south of Donetsk), as well as tracks of two tanks (T-64) heading east in “LPR”-controlled Oleksandrivsk (10km west of Luhansk) and tracks of an unknown number of IFVs (BMP-variant) and one tank (T-64) in “LPR”-controlled Lyman (12km north-west of Luhansk).

The SMM monitored and facilitated adherence to the ceasefire, co-ordinated by the JCCC, to enable demining and repair of essential infrastructure. The SMM observed four unarmed members of a Ukrainian Armed Forces demining unit clear mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) from a railway line north-east of Popasna. The unit’s officer-in-charge said that it had cleared 1,500 metres of track.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation of civilians at entry-exit checkpoints. In the morning, at the “LPR” checkpoint south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, the SMM saw about 1,700 pedestrians queuing to walk toward government-controlled areas. Later in the morning, at the government checkpoint north of the bridge, the SMM saw about 250 people queuing to enter government-controlled areas and about 600 people queuing in the opposite direction. About 1km south of the “LPR” checkpoint, the SMM observed armed men stopping vehicles and requiring people to walk to the checkpoint. By early afternoon, the number of people queuing at the “LPR” checkpoint to walk toward government-controlled areas had decreased to about 600, while 20-30 pedestrians were queuing in the opposite direction.

The SMM monitored a border area currently outside government control. During visits of about 30 minutes each at two pedestrian border crossing points near Krasnodarskyi (58km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed 24 people enter and 16 people leave Ukraine.

The SMM continued to monitor the blockade of railway routes across the contact line. In government-controlled Hirske (63km west of Luhansk), the SMM saw that the wooden barriers with barbed wire were still blocking the tracks. Seven activists wearing military-style clothes were present. On a nearby road, the SMM saw a new checkpoint with two police vehicles and five police officers, one of whom told the SMM they were conducting routine vehicle checks. The SMM saw a civilian vehicle leave the checkpoint and then arrive at the blockade site. At the Kryvyi Torets railway crossing near government-controlled Shcherbynivka (44km north of Donetsk), the SMM followed up on media reports that activists had been dispersed. At the site, the SMM saw about 20 armed police officers, a canvas military-type tent, a green military-type truck, and a bus containing camouflage uniforms and equipment bags. No activists were present. Concrete blocks and wooden fencing remaining from the blockade partly obstructed the road on each side of the rail crossing, but vehicles could pass by. On the tracks, two cargo trains passed by traveling north during the 45 minutes the SMM was present. The Mission could not see the contents.

In several cities, the SMM monitored gatherings to protest the removal of blockade activists from the site near Shcherbynivka. In Kyiv on the evening of 13 March, the SMM observed about 500 people (mostly men aged 30-50) gathered on Maidan Nezalezhnosti. About 50 police officers were present. In Chernivtsi on 14 March, the SMM observed 40-50 protesters in front of the regional council building. About ten police officers were present. Some of the protestors burned tyres and shouted at the officers. The SMM was denied access to the regional council meeting.* In Lutsk (137km north-east of Lviv) the SMM observed 11 activists (ten men and one woman) wearing military-style clothes in front of the Regional State Administration building. They identified themselves to the Mission as members of the Azov, Donbas and Aidar volunteer battalions. In Lviv, the SMM observed a city council meeting in which the deputies approved an appeal to the national government in support of the blockade. In Kherson the SMM observed about 50 people gathered by the Regional State Administration building. The governor and the chair of the Regional Council addressed the crowd. Two police officers were present. In Ivano-Frankivsk, the SMM monitored an extraordinary Regional Council session concerning the break-up of the blockade. About 150 people – including representatives of about six political parties, who gave short speeches – demonstrated near the building. Four police officers were present.

In Kyiv the SMM continued to monitor a protest outside a bank. (See SMM Daily Report 14 March 2017.) The Mission observed about 20 activists (all young men) with jackets of the National Corps party and a small tent with the National Corps logo. The building’s vehicle entrance was blocked by about 40 sandbags and a roll of razor wire guarded by two activists. One police officer was standing near the bank early in the morning, but later in the day there was no law enforcement presence. In early afternoon, the SMM observed that the vehicle entrance had been partly unblocked, allowing pedestrians to enter, but by late afternoon it was again completely blocked. Flyers in blue, red and white referring to the bank as an “aggressor state bank” were glued to the building’s walls, shutters and windows.

The SMM continued monitoring in Odessa and Dnipro.

*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:

• At the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, a Ukrainian officer of the JCCC told the SMM that its safety could still not be guaranteed in the areas surrounding the main road due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• The possible presence of mines and UXO prevented the SMM from travelling further south-east into the Zolote disengagement area from Katerynivka. The SMM again informed the JCCC.
• At an “LPR” checkpoint at the edge of the Zolote disengagement area, armed men told the SMM that its safety could still not be guaranteed in the fields and side roads due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel again stopped the SMM on the road between Katerynivka and Popasna and told the Mission that the road was mined and it could not proceed without authorization from senior Ukrainian Armed Forces officers. The Mission again informed the JCCC.
• The SMM was again unable to travel west from “DPR”-controlled Petrivske due to a lack of security guarantees and the possible presence of mines and UXO. The Mission again informed the JCCC.
• The SMM could still not travel south of the bridge in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) as Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel said there were mines on the road south of the bridge. The SMM again informed the JCCC.
• Three armed “LPR” members at a recently established checkpoint in Veselohorivka (64km west of Luhansk) denied the SMM access to the village. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• Six armed “LPR” members denied the SMM access to a compound in Stepove where the Mission had observed a heavy weapon in violation of withdrawal lines (see above). The SMM informed the JCCC.
• North-west of “DPR’’-controlled Vuhlehirsk, four unidentified armed men in camouflage clothing approached the SMM as it was speaking with a woman (see above) and said they would not allow the Mission to continue north due to security concerns. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• A Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier denied the SMM access to a compound near Starohnativka (51km south of Donetsk). The SMM informed the JCCC.
• An armed “DPR” member ordered the Mission to leave the site of an SMM camera positioned in a tower near the “DPR”-controlled Oktiabr mine. When the Mission reached the ground floor of the tower, another armed “DPR” member told the Mission members they would be “arrested”. The SMM was detained for 11 minutes, after which one of the armed men received a phone call and the SMM was allowed to depart.
• In Chernivtsi, guards denied the SMM access to the regional council building, where the council was discussing an appeal regarding the trade blockade in eastern Ukraine. A representative of the international department of the regional administration told the SMM that, based on a decision the previous week, the SMM must submit a written request to attend such meetings.

Other impediments:

• Between the entry-exit checkpoint at Verkhnoshyrokivske and a “DPR” checkpoint to the west, four armed “DPR” members angrily addressed the SMM, blaming it for an alleged shelling one hour earlier. They said they would shoot the next SMM patrol that entered the village.  

[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] 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.

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