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

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations. Between the evenings of 12 and 13 May the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period, while between the evenings of 13 and 14 May it recorded fewer ceasefire violations – including fewer explosions – compared with the previous 24-hour period. In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 12 and 13 May, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations – including more explosions - compared with the previous reporting period, while between the evenings of 13 and 14 May it recorded fewer ceasefire violations compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM followed up on multiple reports of shelling and civilian casualties in Avdiivka, Chermalyk, Dokuchaievsk, Donetsk, Pikuzy, Sentianivka and YasynuvataThe Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* The SMM monitored the situation of civilians travelling across the contact line at the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. The Mission visited three border areas currently not under government control.

Between the evenings of 12 and 13 May the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations[1] in Donetsk region, including about 560 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 300 explosions). Between the evenings of 13 and 14 May it recorded fewer ceasefire violations – including fewer explosions (about 500) – compared with the previous 24-hour period.

On the evening and night of 12-13 May the SMM camera at the “DPR”-controlled Oktiabr mine (9km north-west of Donetsk city centre) recorded, in sequence, one airburst, three projectiles in flight from west to east, one airburst, ten tracer rounds in flight from west to east, ten projectiles in flight from west to east, nine explosions assessed as impacts, two projectiles in flight from west to east and two consequent explosions, ten tracer rounds in flight from west to east, three projectiles in flight from west to east and two from east to west, all 10-12km north-east. In the ensuing exchange, the camera recorded aggregate totals of about 280 tracer rounds (about 140 in flight from west to east and about 140 east to west), 55 projectiles (44 in flight from west to east and 11 east to west), five undetermined explosions, all 6-8km north-east. On the evening and night of 13-14 May the camera recorded, in sequence, ten tracer rounds in flight from east to west and ten west to east, two projectiles in flight from east to west, one illumination flare in vertical flight, followed by aggregate totals of 60 tracer rounds (35 in flight from east to west and 25 west to east) and 215 projectiles (107 in flight from east to west and 108 west to east), all 4-8km north-north-east. 

On the evening and night of 12-13 May the SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, one projectile in flight from north-west to south-east, three undetermined explosions, four projectiles in flight from south-west to north-east, ten tracer rounds in flight from west to east, one undetermined explosion, four projectiles in flight from south-west to north-east, one undetermined explosion, one illumination flare in vertical flight, one undetermined explosion and one projectile in flight from west to east, all 3-5km east-south-east. The camera also recorded, in sequence, two undetermined explosions 4-6km south-east, 25 tracer rounds in flight from south-west to north-east, five from south-west to north-east, 20 from east to west, ten from west to east, two undetermined explosions, one airburst, six projectiles in flight from east to west, all 3-6km east-south-east.

On 13 May, positioned in Avdiivka, the SMM heard 12 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 2-3km south-east and four undetermined explosions 4-6km from a south-easterly direction. On the night of 13-14 May the camera recorded, in sequence, seven undetermined explosions, one airburst, two undetermined explosions and two projectiles in flight from north-west to south-east 2-6km from a southerly direction.

While in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk) on the evening and night of 12-13 May, the SMM heard 730 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, 110 explosions of rocket-propelled grenade, about 290 bursts of automatic grenade launcher, about 60 outgoing explosions of recoilless gun (SPG-9, 73mm) fire, heard and saw 11 tracer rounds in flight from south-west to north-east of infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1) cannon (73mm) fire, heard uncountable and overlapping bursts of small-arms fire and about 250 undetermined explosions, all 4-7km at a southerly direction. On the evening and night of 13-14 May the SMM heard 152 explosions assessed as outgoing rounds of multiple launcher rocket system (MLRS) fire 5-10km south-west and west, 18 explosions assessed as outgoing mortar (82mm) rounds 3-5km south-east, ten explosions of artillery (152mm) rounds 7-10km ranging from south-west to north-west, 16 explosions assessed as outgoing artillery (152mm) rounds 8-12km south-west, and 14 explosions assessed as impacts 5-6km west, eight explosions assessed as outgoing artillery (152mm) rounds 3-5km north-west and eight consequent impacts 10-15km west, 38 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, seven bursts of automatic grenade launcher, eight bursts of IFV (BMP-2) cannon (30mm) fire, and uncountable and overlapping bursts and shots of small-arms fire, all 2-5km at a southerly direction.   

On the evening and night of 12-13 May the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded, in sequence, three projectiles in flight from west to east, 27 tracer rounds in flight from east to west, three projectiles in flight from west to east, one tracer round in flight from east to west at unknown distances at a northerly direction. In the ensuing exchange the camera recorded aggregate totals of six undetermined explosions, eight airbursts, about 60 tracer rounds (about 40 in flight from south-east to north-east, about 20 south-west to north-east), all at unknown distances at a northerly direction. On the evening and night of 13-14 May the camera recorded, in sequence, 20 rocket-assisted projectiles in flight from south-west to north-east, 25 tracer rounds in flight from north-east to south-west, three rocket-assisted projectiles in flight from north-east to south-west, 12 tracer rounds in flight from north-east to south-west, two tracer rounds in flight from south-west to north-east, followed by aggregate totals of 87 tracer rounds (28 in flight from north-east to south-west and 26 south-west to north-east, 33 east-south-east to west-north-west and six west-north-west to east-south-east) and 46 undetermined explosions, all at an unknown distance north-north-east.

On the evening of 12 May, while in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard about 50 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, uncountable and overlapping shots of small-arms fire, 4-6km south-west. On the evening of 13 May the SMM heard 80 explosions assessed as outgoing rounds of MLRS (type unknown) fire 5km south-east.

On 13 May, positioned in government-controlled Mariupol (102km south of Donetsk), the SMM heard about 30 undetermined explosions at unknown distances east-north-east and east.

On 13 May, positioned 7km north-east of “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 13 undetermined explosions 20-25km west. 

On 13 May, positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) for about four hours, the SMM heard three shots of small-arms fire 2-4km west, three undetermined explosions 4-6km north-north-west, two undetermined explosions 2-4km at a south-easterly direction, two undetermined explosions 4-6km north, three undetermined explosions 2-6km west-south-west, three shots and one burst of heavy-machine-gun fire 2-4km south-west.

On 14 May, positioned 3km north-north-east of government-controlled Hnutove (20km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard a total of ten explosions, of which four were assessed as outgoing, four as consequent impacts and the remainder undetermined), all 3-5km south-south-east.

Positioned 1km south-south-east of government-controlled Pavlopil (26km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard 14 undetermined explosions at an unknown distance south-south-east and two airbursts 4-5km south-south-east and south-east.

Positioned about 2km north-east of “DPR”-controlled Zaichenko (26km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard about 60 undetermined explosions at an unknown distance ranging from south-south-west to north-west.

Positioned in government-controlled Bakhmut (formerly Artemivsk, 67km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard three undetermined explosions 5-6km south-east.

Between the evenings of 12 and 13 May the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region, including more explosions (about 370), compared with the previous reporting period (80 explosions). Between the evenings of 13 and 14 May it recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 40 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours.

On the evening of 12 May, while in “LPR”-controlled Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, 50km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard five salvos of about 40 outgoing explosions each of MLRS (BM-21 Grad, 122mm), 90 undetermined explosions 8-10km south-west, 81 undetermined explosions 10-15km at a westerly direction, two explosions assessed as impacts of artillery rounds 5-10km north-west. On 13 May the SMM heard seven undetermined explosions 7-10km west-south-west.

On 13 May, positioned at the northern outskirts of government-controlled Muratove (51km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard five explosions assessed as impacts of artillery rounds of unknown calibre 5-7km south-east. 

On 14 May, positioned in government-controlled Muratove, the SMM heard about 40 shots of IFV (BMP-2) cannon fire 2km east-south-east.

The SMM followed up on reports of shelling and civilian casualties in residential areas. On 12 May, positioned 2km north of “LPR”-controlled Sentianivka (formerly Frunze, 44km west of Luhansk), the SMM observed a fresh crater 10m west of a road 200m south of an “LPR”-checkpoint. The SMM assessed it to have been caused by an artillery (122mm) round fired from an unknown direction.

On 13 May the SMM spoke separately to residents of government-controlled Chermalyk (31km north-east of Mariupol), who told the SMM that a resident (59-year-old woman) had sustained shrapnel injuries to her lower left leg. They added that she had been transported to a hospital in Mariupol. On 14 May the SMM spoke with medical staff at a hospital in Mariupol who confirmed that a 59-year-old woman with shrapnel injuries had been admitted to the hospital on 12 May and had undergone surgery.

On the same day the SMM followed up on reports of a civilian casualty in “DPR”-controlled Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, 23km north-east of Mariupol). The SMM visited the hospital in “DPR”-controlled Novoazovsk (40km east of Mariupol), where medical staff told the SMM that a man had been admitted to the hospital with wounds and died during surgery. The medical staff added that the body of the man was in the city morgue.  

The SMM saw a fresh crater on the asphalt road near Viktora Hiugo Street 21 in Petrovskyi district of “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city (15km south-west of Donetsk). The SMM was unable to assess the cause of the impact or the direction of fire. At Viktora Hiugo Street 29, the SMM saw damage to the roof of an outside kitchen. The SMM was unable to assess the cause of the impact or the direction of fire.

On 14 May the SMM followed up on a report by the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) about civilian casualties in Avdiivka. At Sapronova Street 53 the SMM saw a fresh impact on the roof, a hole in the south-facing wall, broken windows and door. The SMM assessed the damage as caused by an artillery (122mm) round fired from a southerly direction. The SMM spoke with the police, who told the SMM that out of the five people who had been situated near the impact site on 13 May four had died. At the Avdiivka hospital medical staff told the SMM that four people had died and their bodies were in the morgue of the hospital. Medical staff told the SMM that one person had survived the impact and had been transferred to a hospital in Dnipro.

On the same day, at the central hospital in Yasynuvata, medical staff told the SMM that a resident of Kashtanova Street 31 in Yasynuvata (78-year-old woman) had been admitted to the hospital on 14 May with injuries caused by a bullet in her back which had penetrated the liver.  

At Krepkoho Street 45/1 in “DPR”-controlled Dokuchaievsk (30km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM saw a resident (man, approximately 30 years old) with an injury to his head. He told the SMM that he had been alone in his house when a fragment of a projectile had hit him. The SMM observed damage to the kitchen in the inner yard of the property, including a hole in the brick wall, as well as broken tiles and holes in the kitchen’s roof. The SMM also saw damage to east- and south-facing sides of the roof, four shattered windows, while the east-facing gate and fence in front of the property were destroyed. The SMM also visited four houses located at Krepkoho Street 43/3, 16, 18 and 20 and noticed that those were also damaged. The SMM assessed all these impacts as caused by artillery (122mm) rounds fired from a south-westerly direction.

At Suvorova Street 30/1 in Dokuchaievsk, the SMM saw a small storage house destroyed, a broken fence and damage to the door of the basement, all in the north-western side of the house. The SMM also visited three houses located at Suvorova Street 7, 6 and 5 and noticed that those were also damaged. The SMM assessed all these impacts as caused by artillery (122mm) rounds but it could only assess the direction of fire (west-south-west) for the impact at the house at Suvorova Street 5.

The SMM observed also two fresh craters on Kotovskoho Street (one on the tarmac and the other on the soft ground next to the road). The SMM assessed both craters as caused by artillery (122mm) rounds fired from a south-westerly direction.

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 2016. The SMM’s access remained restricted but the Mission was able to partially monitor them.*

On the evening of 11 May the SMM camera in “DPR”-controlled Petrivske the SMM recorded one illumination flare 2-4km west-north-west, assessed as outside the disengagement area. On 13 May, positioned in Petrivske, the SMM heard about 150 shots and uncountable overlapping and shots of small-arms fire 1-3km east-south-east and ten undetermined explosions 2-4km south-south-east, assessed as outside the Petrivske disengagement area.

On 14 May, positioned in government-controlled Zolote, the SMM heard 31 undetermined explosions 8-12km south-south-west and south-west assessed as outside the disengagement area.

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

Beyond withdrawal lines, but outside storage sites the SMM saw on 13 May in government-controlled areas: three tanks (T-64) on flatbed trailers in Sievierodonetsk (74km north-west of Luhansk) heading east; three tanks (T-64K) on flatbed trailers in Novoaidar heading south; two tanks (T-64) on flatbed trucks near Dmytrivka (43km north of Luhansk) heading south on road H21.

The SMM observed weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage does not comply with the criteria set in the 16 October 2015 notification. In non-government-controlled areas, the SMM observed four MLRS (BM-21), six towed howitzers (2A65 Msta-B, 152mm) and two surface-to-air missile systems (9K33 Osa). The SMM observed that three howitzers (two self-propelled 2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm and one towed 2A65) continue to be absent.

The SMM revisited a “DPR” permanent storage site whose location corresponded with the respective withdrawal lines, and continued to note that 21 tanks (T-72) were missing.

The SMM revisited a “LPR” permanent storage site whose location corresponded with the withdrawal lines, and observed that two tanks (one T-64 and one T-72) continued to be missing.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles,[2] fresh tracks assessed as those of tanks and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the security zone. On 12 May, in government-controlled areas, the SMM observed two armoured personnel carriers (APC) (MT-LB chassis) heading south 1km west of Voitove (33km north-west of Luhansk).

On 14 May the SMM saw fresh tracks of a tank (T-72) near a checkpoint in “DPR”-controlled Trudovskyi district of Donetsk city (19km south-west of Donetsk).  

On 13 May the SMM saw a UAV (Orlan-10) flying over the road from Makiivka (12km north-east of Donetsk) to Donetsk city.  

On 13 May near the “LPR” checkpoint 3km south-east of a bridge in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) the SMM observed that armed “LPR” members had re-occupied forward positions located 200m north of the checkpoint.

The SMM observed the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the security zone. On 12 May 2km north of “LPR”-controlled Sentianivka the SMM saw two pieces of UXO, assessed as fragments of artillery and anti-aircraft (ZU-23, 23mm) guns. On 14 May the SMM saw again the tail fin of one 120mm mortar protruding from the pavement at the eastern edge of the road (covered by a piece of metal) 100m south-west of the Prince Ihor Monument, outside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement areas. (See SMM Daily Report 13 May 2017.)

The SMM monitored the situation of civilians travelling across the contact line at the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. On 14 May, positioned at the “LPR” checkpoint south of the bridge in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM observed long queues of civilians. At 7:15 the SMM saw about 1,000 people waiting in a queue to travel towards government-controlled areas, and no queue in the opposite direction. Two hours later, the SMM observed about 2,000 people waiting in a queue to travel towards government-controlled areas, and no queue in the opposite direction.

The SMM visited three border areas currently not under government control. At the Izvaryne border crossing point (52km south-east of Luhansk), in about an hour, the SMM saw 40 civilian vehicles (23 with Ukrainian licence plates, five with Russian Federation licence plates and two with “LPR” plates; the SMM could not determine the licence plates of the remaining vehicles), two buses (with Ukrainian licence plates and signs on the window indicating respectively “Moscow” and “Kyiv”) and approximately 50 pedestrians in a queue to exit Ukraine. The SMM saw 30 civilian vehicles (24 with Ukrainian licence plates, four with Russian Federation licence plates and two with “LPR” plates) and about 100 pedestrians entering Ukraine.

The same day, at the Uspenka border crossing point (73km south-east of Donetsk), in about 45 minutes, the SMM 39 civilian vehicles (20 with Ukrainian licence plates, 13 with Russian Federation licence plates and six with “DPR” plates) four trucks and four vans (all with Ukrainian licence plates) in a queue to exit Ukraine. The SMM saw 12 civilian cars with Ukrainian licence plates entering Ukraine.

At the Marynivka border crossing point (78km east of Donetsk), in about an hour, the SMM saw four civilian vehicles (three with Ukrainian licence plates and one with Russian Federation licence plates) and five vans (with Ukrainian licence plates) in a queue to exit Ukraine. The SMM also saw three civilian vehicles (one with Ukrainian licence plates, one with Russian Federation licence plates and one with “DPR” plates) entering Ukraine.

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:

• On 13 May Armed “LPR” members told the SMM that that they could not guarantee the safety of the Mission in the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC.
• On 13 and 14 May a Ukrainian officer of the JCCC told the SMM that no demining activities had taken place during the previous 24 hours in the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area and that, with the exception of the main road, the SMM’s safety could not be guaranteed in the surrounding areas due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC.
• On 13 and 14 May the SMM could not travel across the bridge in government-controlled Shchastia as Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel said no demining had taken place and that the road south of the bridge remained mined. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 13 May the SMM could not travel west from “DPR”-controlled Petrivske due to a lack of security guarantees and the possible presence of mines. The SMM informed the JCCC.

• On 13 May armed “DPR” members denied the SMM access to a compound near Makiivka. The SMM informed the JCCC.   
• On 13 May armed “LPR” members denied the SMM access through a checkpoint 2km north of “LPR”-controlled Sentianivka. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 13 May armed “DPR” members denied the SMM access through a checkpoint in “DPR”-controlled Petrovskyi district of Donetsk city, citing orders not to allow the SMM through. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• On 13 May in Myrne (28km south-west of Luhansk) an armed “LPR” member told the SMM to leave the area as they were preparing for training.
• The SMM was denied access to one heavy weapon holding area by armed “DPR” members. The SMM was unable to access a second heavy weapon holding area as no “DPR” member was present to ensure access. The SMM informed the JCCC on both occasions.  
• On 14 May the SMM revisited an “LPR” permanent storage site but it was unable to access one of the compounds as it was locked and the only person who “LPR” members said could open it was not present.
• On 14 May “DPR” armed members denied the SMM access through a checkpoint in the “DPR”-controlled Trudovskyi district of Donetsk city.  

Conditional:

• On 14 May the SMM returned to the checkpoint in “DPR”-controlled Trudovskyi district of Donetsk city. “DPR” members at the checkpoint allowed access at the condition that an armed “DPR” member would accompany the SMM on foot.

[1] Please see the annexed table for 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.