Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 11 July 2018
This report is for the media and the general public.
The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, compared with the previous reporting period, and no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it again observed military presence inside the Zolote disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas.* Its access was also restricted near Khrustalnyi, Zaichenko and Kozatske, as well as near Izvaryne and Sievernyi, near the border with the Russian Federation, and near Druzheliubivka in Kherson region.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Starolaspa, Novooleksandrivka and Khrustalnyi. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station, including through monitoring the security situation around the station, as well as repairs and maintenance works to other essential civilian infrastructure near Zalizne, Artema, Stanytsia Luhanska, Novotoshkivske and Raivka. The SMM monitored two gatherings in Kyiv, a gathering in Dnipro and followed up on court cases in Kharkiv region related to the fishing ship Nord.
In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations[1], including about 25 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 90 explosions).
On the evening and night of 10-11 July, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) (15km north of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, an illumination flare in vertical flight, three projectiles in flight from east to west and five undetermined explosions, all 2-6km south.
On the evening and night of 10-11 July, the SMM camera at the entry-exit checkpoint in Maiorsk (government-controlled, 45km north-east of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, 16 projectiles in flight from south-east to north-west and five projectiles from north-west to south-east, followed by totals of eight undetermined explosions and 134 projectiles (82 from south-east to north-west and 52 from north-west to south-east), all 6-10km north-east.
On the evening of 10 July, while in Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 14 shots of small-arms fire 1-1.5km west. During the day on 11 July, while at the same location, the SMM heard about 75 shots and bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire 1-1.5km north-west. Positioned in the north-western outskirts of Horlivka, the SMM heard about 100 shots and bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire 0.2-3km north-west.
In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded no ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded ceasefire violations, including about 50 explosions.
The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process and to pursue full access to the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) and Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk)[2], 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.*
Positioned in the Zolote disengagement area, the SMM saw a van with military licence plates, a red cross on a white background on both sides of the vehicle, and three people in military clothing inside enter the disengagement area from its northern edge and travel south-west in the direction of Katerynivka (government-controlled, 64km west of Luhansk). About 15 minutes later, the SMM saw the same vehicle with three people in military clothing inside travel back along the same route and exit the disengagement area.
Positioned in the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the SMM observed a calm situation.
The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Memorandum and the Package of Measures and its Addendum.
In violation of withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas, on 10 July, an SMM mid-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted four probable self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) near Starolaspa (51km south of Donetsk) (see SMM Daily Report 6 July 2018). On 11 July, the SMM saw 13 stationary towed howitzers (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm) west of Novooleksandrivka (75km south-east of Donetsk) and three stationary multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) near Khrustalnyi (formerly Krasnyi Luch, 56km south-west of Luhansk).*
The SMM observed weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage did not comply with the criteria set out in the 16 October 2015 notification from the SMM to the signatories of the Package of Measures on effective monitoring and verification of the withdrawal of heavy weapons. In non-government-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines in Donetsk region, the SMM noted that a towed howitzer (D-30) and 15 mortars (PM-38, 120mm) were again missing.
The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles (ACVs) and anti-aircraft guns[3] in the security zone. In government-controlled-areas, on 10 July, an SMM mini-UAV spotted an infantry fighthing vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1) and two anti-aircraft guns (ZU-23-2), one of which was mounted on an armoured personel carrier (APC) (MT-LB), near a residential area of Trokhizbenka (32km north-west of Luhansk). On the same day, an SMM long-range UAV spotted two IFVs (BMP variants) near Pivnichne (formerly Kirove, 44km north-east of Donetsk), three IFVs (a BMP-2 and two BMP variants), an APC (BTR-80), an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRM-1K) and an artillery reconnaissance vehicle (PRP-4 Nard) near Novhorodske (35km north of Donetsk), as well as an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRM-1K), an IFV (BMP variant) near Krasnohorivka (21km west of Donetsk), two APCs (BTR-80) near Verkhnotoretske (23km north-east of Donetsk) and an ACV near Pisky (11km north-west of Donetsk).
In non-government-controlled areas, on 10 July, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted two IFVs (BMP-2) near Starolaspa and three IFVs (BMP-1) near Bila Kamianka (51km south of Donetsk).
The SMM continued to observe mines. On 10 July, an SMM mid-range UAV again spotted 12 anti-tank mines (TM-62) laid in two rows on a road about 800m north-west of Bila Kamianka (see SMM Daily Report 2 July 2018) and again spotted eight anti-tank mines (TM-62) laid across a road about 2km east of Starohnativka (government-controlled, 51km south of Donetsk) (see SMM Daily Report 4 April 2018).
The SMM continued to facilitate the operation of the DFS, including through monitoring adherence to the ceasefire. Positioned in areas near the DFS, the SMM heard ceasefire violations, despite explicit security guarantees (see above and table below for details). The SMM also continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to the phenol sludge reservoir near Zalizne (formerly Artemove, government-controlled, 42km north-east of Donetsk), to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk), a water channel in Stanytsia Luhanska, a water pipeline in Novotoshkivske (government-controlled, 53km west of Luhansk) and a power line near Raivka (non-government-controlled, 16km north-west of Luhansk).
The SMM continued to monitor the situation of civilians living close to the contact line. In Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), the SMM saw about 15 people (11 women and four men, aged 55-70) waiting to collect water from a plastic reservoir in the centre of the village. A man (aged 60-70) told the SMM that many residents rely on public reservoirs for potable water.
The SMM also noted 15 Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel repairing a broken bridge south-west of Popasna on road T0504. (See SMM Daily Report 15 June 2018.)
The SMM visited two border areas not under government control. While at a border crossing point near Izvaryne (52km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw 30 cars (14 with Ukrainian and 13 with Russian Federation licence plates, and three with “LPR” plates), two covered cargo trucks (with Ukrainian licence plates) and 16 pedestrians in a queue to exit Ukraine. The SMM also saw three cars (one with Ukrainian and two with Russian Federation licence plates), a bus (with Ukrainian licence plates) and 13 pedestrians entering Ukraine. After ten minutes, a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.*
While at a border crossing point near Sievernyi (50km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw eight pedestrians entering Ukraine. After about 15 minutes, an armed member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.*
The SMM monitored two gatherings in Kyiv. It saw a group of about 4,000 people (mostly men, mixed ages) and about 700 cars (all with foreign licence plates, mostly Polish and Lithuanian) blocking the street between the Parliament building at 5 Mykhaila Hrushevskoho Street and the Cabinet of Ministers building at 12/2 Mykhaila Hrushevskoho Street, as well as about 500 yellow-and-blue and black-and-white “Auto Euro Power” flags and posters related to a “lack of affordable cars in Ukraine”. In the area, the SMM saw about 360 police and 90 National Guard officers, nine military trucks, a police van, an ambulance, a fire truck, as well as ten police and National Guard buses parked nearby. In front of the Cabinet of Ministers building, the SMM saw a group of male protestors burning flares and a smoke-canister and, later in the day, the SMM observed that some of the protesters threw smoke flares in the direction of the National Guard officers. Around 14:00, the SMM noted that many people had started to disperse. No further incidents were observed while the SMM was present.
In a separate gathering in front of the Cabinet of Ministers building, the SMM saw about 600 people (mostly men, mixed ages), many of whom were wearing orange plastic work helmets and some were holding Ukrainian flags. The SMM heard those gathered expressing their support for the continued operation of a chemical factory in Ukraine. The gathering ended peacefully.
The SMM monitored a gathering in Dnipro of about 70 people (men and women, mixed ages), including representatives of religious communities, in a park near the Regional Council building at 2b Oleksandra Polia Avenue. The SMM heard speakers expressing support for freeing prisoners of war detained in the Russian Federation. The SMM also saw five young men (aged 14-20) wearing clothing with C-14 (Sich) insignia. The SMM did not see any police present and the gathering ended peacefully.
The SMM followed up on court cases related to the fishing ship Nord at a district court in Kharkiv region. According to the district court in Dergachi (16km north-west of Kharkiv) informed the SMM that the court cases related to the eight crew members of the fishing ship Nord had been closed on procedural grounds in accordance with Articles 38(2) and 247(7) of Code of Administrative Offences of Ukraine. (For previous reports, see SMM Daily Report 10 April 2018.)
The SMM continued monitoring in Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk 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, 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 Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance. Nonetheless, the armed formations in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions frequently deny the SMM access to areas adjacent to Ukraine’s border outside control of the Government (see below). The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April 2017 near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations.
Denial of access:
- At a border crossing point near Izvaryne, a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.
- At a border crossing near Sievernyi, an armed member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.
- A member of the armed formations denied the SMM access to a compound near Khrustalnyi. From the outside, the SMM saw three MLRS inside the compound (see above).
- Two armed members of the armed formations at a checkpoint near Zaichenko (nongovernment-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol) again prevented the SMM from accessing Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, non-government-controlled, 23km north-east of Mariupol) and Sakhanka (non-government-controlled, 24km north-east of Mariupol) citing “security concerns” and an “ongoing anti-terrorist operation”.
- At a checkpoint east of Kozatske (nongovernment-controlled, 36km north-east of Mariupol), two members of the armed formations, one of whom was armed, denied the SMM passage towards Porokhnia (non-government-controlled, 40km north-east of Mariupol), citing that authorization was needed from their “superiors”.
- At a checkpoint south of Druzheliubivka (121km southeast of Kherson), while monitoring the administrative boundary line between Kherson region and Crimea, a member of the Ukrainian Armed Forces prevented the SMM from accessing the dam citing orders “not to allow the OSCE to pass”.
Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:
- The SMM was prevented from accessing parts of the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, with the exception of the main road, due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC told the SMM by phone that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC.[4]
- The SMM was prevented from accessing secondary roads in the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC told the SMM by phone that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC.
- The SMM was prevented from accessing secondary roads south of the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. An unarmed formation member positioned on the southern side of the Zolote disengagement area told the SMM that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed.
[1] Please see the annexed table for a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations as well as a map of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions marked with locations featured in this report. The SMM camera at the entry-exit checkpoint in Marinka was not operational during the reporting period.
[2] Due to presence of mines, including those on a road between Bohdanivka and Petrivske, the SMM’s access to its camera in Petrivske remained limited; therefore, the review of the camera footage may take place days later.
[3] This hardware is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.
[4] The SMM informed Ukrainian Armed Forces officers of the JCCC. Russian Federation Armed Forces officers of the JCCC have withdrawn from the JCCC as of 18 December 2017.