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

This report is for the media and the general public.

In Donetsk region the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations, including more explosions, compared with the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations. The Mission observed damage to houses due to shelling in Pervomaisk. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* The SMM saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM facilitated and monitored repair works to a power line near Pervomaisk and a water pumping station in the northern outskirts of Luhansk city. The SMM monitored gatherings in Kyiv and Lviv.

In Donetsk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations[1], including more explosions (about 560), compared with the previous reporting period (about 300).

On the night of 29-30 May, while in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city centre, the SMM heard about 20 undetermined explosions 5-7km north-west.

On the evening and night of 29-30 May the SMM camera at the “DPR”-controlled Oktiabr mine (9km north-west of Donetsk city centre) recorded, in sequence, one projectile in flight from south-west to north-east, one projectile in flight from north-west to south-east, 40 tracer rounds in flight from north-west to south-east, 15 tracer rounds in flight from south-east to north-west, ten tracer rounds in flight from west to east, one projectile in flight from east to west, six projectiles in flight from west to east, one projectile in flight from east to west, 25 tracer rounds in flight from east to west, five tracer rounds in flight from west to east, one projectile in flight from east to west, five tracer rounds in flight from east to west, four illumination flares in vertical flight, 15 tracer rounds in flight from south-west to north-east, three undetermined explosions, and one projectile in flight from west to east, all 4-6km north-east. On the afternoon of 30 May the same camera recorded one undetermined explosion 4-6km north-east.

On the evening and night of 29-30 May the SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, two undetermined explosions, one airburst, two undetermined explosions, 14 explosions (13 assessed as impacts and one as undetermined), one airburst of a smoke projectile, two projectiles in flight from north-west to south-east, 19 airbursts of smoke projectiles, five projectiles in flight from south to north, one projectile in flight from west to east, and one projectile in flight from north to south, all 4-6km east-south-east. On 30 May, positioned in Avdiivka for about two hours, the SMM heard one undetermined explosion. On the afternoon of 30 May the same camera recorded one airburst and 27 undetermined explosions 4-6km east-south-east.

On the evening of 29 May, while in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 27 undetermined explosions 25km south-west, 69 explosions of mortar rounds (ten assessed as impacts and 59 as undetermined), 23 bursts of anti-aircraft cannon (ZU-23, 23mm) fire, 66 explosions of outgoing infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1) cannon (73mm) fire, 58 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, and ten shots of small-arms fire, all 6-12km west and south-west.

On the evening and night of 29-30 May, while in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 28 explosions assessed as impacts of artillery rounds, ten explosions assessed as tank rounds, 18 explosions (six assessed as outgoing and 12 as undetermined) of IFV (BMP-1) cannon fire, eight explosions assessed as mortar rounds, all 5-12km south and south-east. The SMM saw and heard ten bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 2-3km south-east and heard 12 outgoing explosions of artillery rounds 3km north and 12 consequent impacts 4-6km south-east.

On the evening and night of 29-30 May the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded, in sequence, one explosion assessed as an impact at an unknown distance north, three outgoing explosions at an unknown distance east-north-east, one outgoing explosion followed by a consequent impact, 11 tracer rounds in flight from east to west, 38 tracer rounds in flight from west to east, ten tracer rounds in flight from east to west, one undetermined explosion, two tracer rounds in flight from east to west, one undetermined explosion, two tracer rounds in flight from east to west, one tracer round in flight from west to east, eight tracer rounds in flight from east to west, 27 tracer rounds in flight from west to east, ten tracer rounds in flight from east to west, one rocket-assisted projectile in flight from east to west, 44 tracer rounds in flight from east to west, one rocket-assisted projectile in flight from west to east, all at unknown distances north and north-north-east.

On 30 May, positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) for about six hours, the SMM heard about 180 explosions, 18 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, about 100 bursts of small-arms fire, all 1-7km ranging from south-west to north.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, 23km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard two undetermined explosions and uncountable bursts of small-arms fire 1-2 km ranging from west-south-west to west-north-west.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Oleksandrivka (20km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM heard four undetermined explosions 2-3km west.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations, including a similar number of explosions (about 20), compared with the previous reporting period (25 explosions).

Positioned in government-controlled Putylyne (44km north-west of Luhansk) for about four hours, the SMM heard 20 undetermined explosions 10-15km south-east.

The SMM continued to follow up on allegations from the JCCC of damage in residential areas caused by shelling. On 29 May the SMM visited four impact sites in LPR”-controlled Pervomaisk (58km west of Luhansk).

In the northern outskirts of Pervomaisk the SMM observed one fresh crater (2.5 metres in diameter) in a ravine next to the main road to Zolote, 150m away from the nearest house. The SMM assessed it as caused by an artillery or mortar round of a calibre of at least 120mm fired from either a northerly or north-westerly direction.

At 2 Polova Street, about 300 metres north of the first crater, the SMM observed a fresh crater (two metres in diameter) and metal fragments in the garden of a house. The SMM observed that the house itself had sustained damage to its south-facing walls and south-facing windows, all of which were broken. The SMM assessed that the crater and the damage to the house had been caused by an artillery or mortar round of a calibre of at least 120mm fired from a northerly direction.

At 45 Luhova Street, the SMM observed a fresh crater in the garden of a house. The SMM observed that the east-facing wall of the house had collapsed. The SMM was unable to assess the type of weapon used or the direction of fire.

At 100 Luhova Street, the SMM observed a fresh crater (about three metres in diameter) in the garden of a house, as well as metal fragments. The SMM observed that the house itself had sustained damage to its north-facing wall with one broken window. The SMM assessed it as caused by a mortar or artillery round fired from a northerly 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.*

While present in Stanytsia Luhanska, government-controlled Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk), west of the Petrivske disengagement area, and 1km north-east of government-controlled Zolote, the SMM noted a calm situation.

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

In violation of the respective withdrawal lines, in government-controlled areas the SMM saw an anti-aircraft missile system (9K35 Strela-10, 120mm) near Vidrodzhennia (66km north-east of Donetsk).

In non-government-controlled areas, the SMM saw a tank (T-72) on a truck 6km east of Donetsk city centre heading south-east on road H21.

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites, in government-controlled areas the SMM saw a stationary anti-aircraft artillery system (2S6M Tunguska) near Lysychansk (75km north-west of Luhansk).

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles[2] and fresh tracks assessed as those of tanks, self-propelled artillery and anti-aircraft guns in the security zone.

In government-controlled areas, the SMM saw: an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (BTR-60) near Hnutove (20km north-east of Mariupol) heading north-east; fresh tracks assessed as those of an APC (MT-LB) and of an IFV (BMP-type) near Lebedynske (16km north-east of Mariupol) heading south-west to north-east and in the opposite direction; and fresh tracks assessed as those of a self-propelled howitzer (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) in Luhanske (59km north-east of Donetsk) heading north.

In non-government-controlled areas, the SMM saw fresh tracks assessed as those either of APCs (MT-LB) or self-propelled howitzers (2S1) near Zaichenko (26km north-east of Mariupol) some heading east to west and others west to east.

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to essential infrastructure, co-ordinated by the JCCC. On 29 and 30 May, positioned 3km north of Pervomaisk, the SMM monitored repair works to the Mykhailivka-Almazna power line. This line provides electricity to western parts of Luhansk region. The SMM saw one tractor and eight workers (employees of Luhansk Main Power Transmission Lines together with “LPR” members) conducting maintenance works to the power line. In co-ordination with the JCCC, the SMM also monitored to facilitate access to a water pumping station for an “LPR” demining team in the northern outskirts of Luhansk city for repair works to take place. (See SMM Daily Report 30 May 2017.)

The SMM monitored gatherings in Kyiv and Lviv. In Kyiv, the SMM monitored a gathering of about 400 people (women and men, 20-50 years old) outside the Ministry of Justice building at 10 Rylskyi Lane. Speakers requested the Ministry to allow them to rename their political movement “The Movement of the New Forces of Mikhail Saakashvili” and to cancel the registration of a similarly named party. The SMM saw a brief scuffle between about 30 participants and about ten riot police. At least 150 police and National Guard officers were present at the scene, which ended without further incidents.

In Lviv, on 29 May in Lychakivskyi cemetery, the SMM monitored a gathering of about 80 people (aged 30-50, 70 per cent wearing military fatigues) laying flowers in memory of General Serhiy Kulchytskyi, who was killed when a helicopter was shot down on 29 May 2014 near Sloviansk city. No police were present at the event, which ended peacefully. On 30 May the SMM monitored a gathering of 200-250 people (mostly men aged 18-55) in front of the regional council building, located inside the state administration building. Speakers requested the Lviv regional council to transmit a manifesto to authorities in Kyiv. About 20 police officers were present at the scene. A group of participants let off smoke flares and tear gas, while about 40 other participants entered the building. The police officers did not act to prevent the participants from entering. The SMM then heard patriotic chants from inside the building. Participants outside, as well as on the balcony of the building, lit four smoke flares, while others raised flags of Svoboda, National Corps, Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, and the Right Sector. The SMM departed when the regional council cancelled the session.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kharkiv, Kherson, Odessa, Ivano-Frankivsk, Dnipro and Chernivtsi.

*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, 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. 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.

Denial of access:

• 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 Mission’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.
• An armed “LPR” member told the SMM that that he 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.
• The SMM could not travel across the bridge in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) as Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel at the checkpoint north of the bridge said that no demining had taken place and that the road south of the bridge remained mined. The Mission informed the JCCC.
• An armed man denied the SMM access through a checkpoint in “DPR”-controlled Kozatske (36km north-east of Mariupol). The SMM informed the JCCC.

Delay:

• At a checkpoint on highway H-15 near the Kargil plant in “DPR”-controlled Kreminets (16km south-west of Donetsk), armed men delayed the SMM for 86 minutes. The SMM informed the JCCC.

 

[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.