Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 22 July 2018

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region between the evenings of 20 and 21 July compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 21 and 22 July, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas as well as, again, near Zaichenko and Bezimenne in non-government-controlled areas of southern Donetsk region. The SMM observed a weapon in violation of withdrawal lines near Vrubivka. 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 critical civilian infrastructure near Nelipivka and Novotoshkivske. In Dnipropetrovsk region, the SMM observed 30 young adults participating in a parade aimed at promoting human rights regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 20 and 21 July, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations[1], including about 130 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 110 explosions). Between the evenings of 21 and 22 July, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including 34 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours.

On the evening and night of 20 July, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) (15km north of Donetsk) recorded an impact explosion less than 400m south-west of its location and three undetermined explosions less than 600m south-south-west of its location, as well as seven further explosions (five impacts and two undetermined) and 38 projectiles in flight, all 0.4-3km in southerly directions. On the evening and night of 21-22 July, the same camera recorded an impact explosion approximately 80m south of its location (within the perimeter of the DFS) as well as 11 further explosions (seven impacts, two airbursts, and two undetermined), 47 projectiles in flight, ten muzzle flashes, six illumination flares and two bursts, all 3-4km at south-westerly directions.

On the evening and night of 20-21 July, the SMM camera at the entry-exit checkpoint in Marinka (government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk) recorded 29 explosions (one impact and four outgoing, the remainder undetermined), about 100 projectiles in flight, an illumination flare and about fifty bursts of undetermined weapons, all 2-4km north-north-east. On the evening and night of 21-22 July, the same camera recorded two undetermined explosions, 30 projectiles in flight, two muzzle flashes and two illumination flares, all 2-4km north-east and north-north-east.

On the evening and night of 20-21 July, while in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard about 50 undetermined explosions and about the same number of bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all 1-6km south and south-east. The following night, while in the same location, the SMM heard about 20 undetermined explosions and 14 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 2-6km at southerly directions.

In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 20 and 21 July, the SMM recorded one ceasefire violation (an explosion); during the previous reporting period it recorded 14 explosions. Between the evenings of 21 and 22 July, the SMM recorded three ceasefire violations (all explosions), compared with the previous 24 hours.

The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process and to pursue full access to the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk), Zolote (60km west of Luhansk) and Petrivske (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.*

On 20 July, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-2) at a previously observed position of the Ukrainian Armed Forces within the Petrivske disengagement area (see SMM Daily Report 10 July 2018). Infrared imaging revealed the vehicle’s barrel to have been hot, indicating recent use.

On 21 July, the SMM again saw personnel in military-type clothing in Katerynivka (government-controlled, 64km west of Luhansk), inside the Zolote disengagement area. (See SMM Daily Report 18 July 2018.)

On the early morning of 21 July, while on the eastern edge of Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion 8-10km west-south-west. That evening, while at the same location, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion 2-3km south-west. Early the following morning, while at the same location, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion 5-7km south-west. All explosions were assessed as outside the disengagement area. During the day on 22 July, positioned south-east of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (15km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM heard two undetermined explosions 1-3km north-north-west, assessed as outside the disengagement area.

Positioned in the disengagement area near Zolote on 21 and 22 July, the SMM did not observe ceasefire violations. Positioned near the Petrivske disengagement area on 22 July, the SMM did not observe ceasefire violations.

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 Vrubivka (government-controlled, 72km west of Luhansk) the SMM saw a surface-to-air missile system (9K33 Osa) travelling south on 22 July.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles and anti-aircraft weapons[3] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, an SMM long-range UAV spotted two IFVs (a BMP-2 and another BMP variant) near Marinka, an IFV (BMP-2) near Mykolaivka (40km south of Donetsk), two IFVs (BMP-2) near Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk), an IFV (BMP-2) near Vodiane (94km south of Donetsk), an IFV (BMP-2) near Pyshchevyk (25km north-east of Mariupol) and an IFV (BMP-2) in Hnutove (20km north-east of Mariupol) on 20 July. On 21 July, the SMM saw an IFV (BMP variant) in Zolote and a self-propelled anti-aircraft system (ZSU-23-4, 23mm) near Sopyne (16km east of Mariupol). On 22 July, the SMM saw an IFV (BRM-1K) in Zolote-4/Rodina (59km west of Luhansk) and three armoured reconnaissance vehicles (BMP-1) in Volnovakha (53km south of Donetsk).

In non-government-controlled areas, an SMM long-range UAV spotted three IFVs (BMP-1) in Bila Kamianka (51km south of Donetsk) and four IFVs (BMP-1) and an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (BTR-80) in the Kirpoty neighbourhood of eastern Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, 23km north-east of Mariupol) on 20 July. On 21 July, the SMM saw an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) mounted on a military-type truck in western Makiivka (12km north-east of Donetsk). On 22 July, the SMM saw an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) loaded on a truck near Korsun (21km north-east of Donetsk).

The SMM observed three mine hazard signs (red rectangles with white skull-and-crossbones and text warning “Danger! Mines!” in Russian) in Taramchuk (government-controlled, 29km south-west of Donetsk) on 21 July for the first time. The signs were placed at 50m intervals between a checkpoint of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the town’s cemetery.

The Mission observed unexploded ordnance (UXO) – a mortar shell – stuck in the asphalt approximately 1.2km south-east of a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint near Maiorsk (government-controlled, 45km north-east of Donetsk).

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 the table below).

The SMM also continued to facilitate and monitor repairs and maintenance works to water pipelines near Novotoshkivske (government-controlled, 53km west of Luhansk) and high-voltage power lines in Nelipivka (government-controlled, 40km north-east of Donetsk).

On 22 July, in Kryvy Rih (130km south-west of Dnipro) the SMM observed the “Kryvbas Pride” parade aimed at promoting human rights with a particular focus on ending discrimination against the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) community. It saw some 30 young adults (mixed genders) walking down Sicheslavska Street in Pokrovski District and holding banners with messages that included “Right to freedom” and “Free People, Free rights”. On the spot, the Mission also observed around 600 police officers from the national, patrol and rapid reaction riot police who had cordoned off the area where the parade was taking place, as well as about 60 police vehicles including 15 buses and ten minibuses. The deputy chief of the national police in Dnipropetrovsk region told the SMM the large police presence was to ensure public safety and the rights of the participants, based on previous experiences related to LGBT events. Throughout the event, the Mission observed a calm situation.

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

*Restrictions of the 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 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 (for example, see SMM Daily Report 19 July 2018). 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:

• On 21 July, at a checkpoint north of Zaichenko (non-government-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol), three armed members of the armed formations again stopped the SMM and denied it passage westward to Pikuzy and southward to Sakhanka (non-government-controlled, 24km north-east of Mariupol) citing “security reasons”. (See SMM Daily Report 20 July 2018.) The SMM observed cars passing through the checkpoint in both directions.
• On 22 July, at the same checkpoint north of Zaichenko, three armed members of the armed formations again stopped the SMM and denied it passage westward to Pikuzy and southward to Sakhanka citing “security reasons”.
• On 21 July, at a checkpoint on road E-58 north-west of Bezimenne (non-government-controlled, 30km east of Mariupol), four armed members of the armed formations again stopped the SMM and denied it passage, citing “ongoing demining activities in the area”. (See SMM Daily Report 21 July 2018.)
• On 22 July, at the same checkpoint on road E-58 north-west of Bezimenne, four armed members of the armed formations again stopped the SMM and denied it passage, citing “security reasons”.

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

• On 21 and 22 July, 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 that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC on both occasions.[4]
• On 21 and 22 July, 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 on both occassions.5
• On 21 and 22 July, the SMM was prevented from accessing secondary roads south of the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A member of the armed formations 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.

Other impediments:

• On 20 July, at a hospital in Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk), medical staff refused to provide the SMM information regarding civilian casualties citing the need for written permission from a specific senior member of the armed formations.

[1] Please see 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. 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.

[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.