Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 7 April 2019
This report is for the media and the general public.
Summary
- Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 5 and 6 April, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region.
- Compared with the previous 24 hours, between the evenings of 6 and 7 April, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
- The SMM recorded ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area.
- The Mission observed weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line.
- The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential civilian infrastructure in Donetsk region.
- It observed the closure of the entry-exit checkpoint near Marinka following a reported gunfire incident.
- Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. In addition, the Mission was denied access at a checkpoint near Zaichenko and near Izvaryne and Sievernyi, close to the border with the Russian Federation. It faced further restrictions at a railway station in Kostiantynivka and in Nova Marivka and Slovianoserbsk.*
Ceasefire violations[1]
In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 5 and 6 April, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including explosions (about 280), compared with the previous reporting period (about 440 explosions). More than two thirds of the ceasefire violations were recorded in areas south and south-south-east of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol) and north-north-east, north and west of the Donetsk central railway station (non-government-controlled, 6km north-west of Donetsk city centre).
Between the evenings of 6 and 7 April, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including explosions (about 90), compared with the previous 24 hours. The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded at southerly directions of Chermalyk, east of Lomakyne (government-controlled, 15km north-east of Mariupol) and at easterly directions of Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk).
In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 5 and 6 April, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 335 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 50 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas near the disengagement area near Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk), south-west of Kalynove-Borshchuvate (non-government-controlled, 61km west of Luhansk) and south and south-east of Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk). On the evening of 5 April, the SMM camera in Kriakivka (government-controlled, 38km north-west of Luhansk) recorded 36 explosions assessed as impacts, at an assessed range of 1-3km south-south-west and south-west.
Between the evenings of 6 and 7 April, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including explosions (about 270) compared with the previous 24 hours. The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded at easterly and southerly directions of Popasna and north-east of Zolote-3/Stakhanovets (government-controlled, 61km west of Luhansk).
Disengagement areas[2]
On the evening and night of 5-6 April, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded six projectiles at an assessed range of 2-4km south-east (assessed as inside the disengagement area) and four projectiles at an assessed range of 3-5km south (unable to be assessed as inside or outside the disengagement area). On the same evening and night, in two areas near the Zolote disengagement area, the SMM recorded eight projectiles and heard about 15 shots and bursts of small-arms fire, assessed as outside the disengagement area. During the day on 6 April, positioned in three areas near the Zolote disengagement area, the SMM heard 20 undetermined explosions assessed as inside the disengagement area. On the same day, positioned in two areas near the Zolote disengagement area, the SMM heard six undetermined explosions and about 260 shots and bursts of small-arms fire, all assessed as outside the disengagement area.
On the evening and night of 6-7 April, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded 13 projectiles at an assessed range of 1.5-3km south-south-east, assessed as inside the disengagement area and an undetermined explosion at an assessed range of 1.5-3km south-east (unable to be assessed as inside or outside the disengagement area). During the day on 7 April, positioned in two areas near the Zolote disengagement area, the SMM recorded 24 explosions (16 undetermined and eight assessed as impacts) and about 100 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all assessed as outside the disengagement area.
During the day on 7 April, positioned on the north-eastern edge of Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM heard an undetermined explosion at an assessed range of 2-3km south-south-east, assessed as outside the disengagement area.
On 7 April, positioned near the disengagement area near Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), the SMM observed a calm situation.[3]
Withdrawal of weapons
The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Memorandum and the Package of Measures and its Addendum.
Weapons in violation of withdrawal lines
Government-controlled areas
5 April
An SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted:
- two surface-to-air missile systems (9K35 Strela-10) on the northern outskirts of Chernenko (86km south of Donetsk).
7 April
The SMM saw:
- a self-propelled anti-aircraft system (2K22 Tunguska) loaded on a truck about 2km north-west of Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk); and
- six anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) being loaded onto train flatbeds, as well as six multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) and 12 self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) stationary at the railway station in Kostiantynivka (60km north of Donetsk).
Non-government-controlled areas
7 April
The SMM saw:
- seven self-propelled howitzers (2S1), six MLRS (BM-21) and nine towed howitzers (five 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm and four D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm) at the former Luhansk international airport about 10km south of Luhansk city.
Beyond withdrawal lines but outside of designated storage sites
Government-controlled areas
5 April
An SMM long-range UAV spotted:
- two tanks (possible T-72) in Zoria (40km north-west of Donetsk); and
- three surface to air missile systems (9K33 Osa) in Kasianivka (81km south of Donetsk).
An SMM mid-range UAV spotted:
- three self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) near Tarasivka (43km north-west of Donetsk).
6 April
The SMM saw:
- seven tanks (T-72) at the railway station in Kostiantynivka (see above); and
- four surface-to-air missile systems (9K35) at the railway station in Bakhmut (formerly Artemivsk, 67km north of Donetsk) (seen also on 7 April).
7 April
The SMM saw:
- a surface-to-air missile system (9K33 Osa) near Pidhorodne (73km north of Donetsk);
- six anti-tank guided missile systems (9P148 Konkurs, 135mm) each mounted on an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM variants) at the railway station in Kostiantynivka; and
- two tanks (T-64) south-west of Krasne (65km north of Donetsk).
Non-government-controlled areas
4 April
An SMM long-range UAV spotted:
- a probable tank (T-64) near Vuhlehirsk (49km north-east of Donetsk).[4]
7 April
The SMM saw:
- seven tanks (T-72) and six surface-to-air missile systems (9K35) at the former Luhansk international airport about 10km south of Luhansk city.
Weapons that the SMM could not verify as withdrawn[5]
At heavy weapons holding areas in government-controlled areas of Luhansk region
5 April
The SMM noted that:
- 13 self-propelled howitzers (2S1) were present; and
- five self-propelled howitzers (2S1) were missing for the first time.
6 April
The SMM noted that:
- eight towed howitzers (2A65 Msta-B, 152mm) were present.
Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[6]
Government-controlled areas
5 April
An SMM long-range UAV spotted:
- five armoured combat vehicles (ACVs) (types undetermined) near Romanivka (41km north-west of Donetsk);
- three ACVs (types undetermined) near Berezove (31km south-west of Donetsk);
- three ACVs (types undetermined) near Hranitne (60km south of Donetsk);
- an armoured recovery vehicle (BREM-1), an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1) and four armoured reconnaissance vehicles (BRDM-2) near Novoselivka Druha (69km south of Donetsk);
- an ACV (type undetermined) in Pyshchevyk (84km south of Donetsk);
- two ACVs (types undetermined) near Talakivka (90km south of Donetsk);
- two ACVs (types undetermined) and an IFV (BMP variant) near Pobeda (27km west of Donetsk);
- an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (MT-LB) near Krasnohorivka (21km west of Donetsk);
- two IFVs (BMP variants) near Nevelske (18km north-west of Donetsk); and
- two IFVs (BMP variants) near Pervomaiske (17km north-west of Donetsk).
6 April
The SMM saw:
- an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) mounted with a heavy-machine-gun and an APC (BTR-60) in Orikhove-Donetske (44km north-west of Luhansk);
- three IFVs (BMP-1) at a checkpoint in Kriakivka; and
- an APC (BTR-70) near Novobakhmutivka (28km north of Donetsk).
7 April
The SMM saw:
- an APC (BTR-70) near a functional primary school in Raihorodka (34km north-west of Luhansk); and
- an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) near Opytne (12km north-west of Donetsk).
Non-government-controlled areas
5 April
An SMM long-range UAV spotted:
- an IFV (BMP variant) in the yard of a residential house in Novolaspa (50km south of Donetsk);
- an ACV (type undetermined) near Bila Kamianka (51km south of Donetsk);
- four IFVs (BMP-1) in the yards of residential houses in Nova Marivka (64km south of Donetsk); and
- an IFV (BMP variant) near Tavrycheske (76km south of Donetsk).
Closure of Marinka entry-exit checkpoint following a reported gunfire incident
On 6 April, the SMM observed that the entry-exit checkpoint (EECP) near Marinka (government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk) was closed with no vehicles or pedestrians queuing. A Ukrainian Armed Forces representative to the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) and a senior member of the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service (SBGS) at the EECP told the SMM that it had remained closed since 5 April after two men (a SBGS officer and a Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier) had been injured by gunfire at the EECP on the same day. A senior staff member at the military hospital in Pokrovsk (formerly Krasnoarmiisk, government-controlled, 55km north-west of Donetsk) told the SMM that the two abovementioned men has been admitted to the hospital on 5 April with lower body injuries caused by gunfire.
With the abovementioned EECP closed in Marinka and the EECP in Hnutove (government-controlled, 20km north-east of Mariupol) closed, reportedly for repairs, since 5 April, the SMM on 7 April observed an unusually long line of vehicles (about 400) queuing to exit non-government-controlled areas and many pedestrians waiting for buses at the checkpoint near Olenivka (non-government controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk). A number of civilians told the SMM that they had been queueing all day and would likely sleep in their cars at the EECP that evening to be able to pass the checkpoint the next day, while others said they had been waiting there for three days.
Mines near Shchastia and Vesela Hora and mine hazard signs seen for the first time
On 5 April, south of the bridge in Shchastia (government-controlled, 20km north of Luhansk), an SMM mini-UAV again saw 36 anti-tank mines (TM-62) across road H-21 south of a checkpoint of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as 40 anti-tank mines (TM-62) further south-east across the same road leading to the bridge, about 1km north-east of Vesela Hora (non-government-controlled, 16km north of Luhansk) (for previous observations see SMM Daily Report 22 March 2019).
On 6 April, the SMM noted that a previously observed improvised explosive device and metal trip wire close to a checkpoint near Olenivka (non-government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk) had been removed. The same day, in Chermalyk, the SMM noted that a previously observed tail fin of a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG-7) in a crater near a residential house had been removed.
On the eastern edge of Bakhmut, close to the intersection of road E-40, the SMM saw for the first time two white rectangular signs, assessed as improvised mine hazard signs, with “MINES” written in red in Ukrainian.
SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure
On 6 April, the Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to power transmission lines near Spartak (non-government-controlled, 9km north of Donetsk). On 6 and 7 April, the SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate the operation of the DFS and monitor the security situation around the pumping station near Vasylivka (non-government-controlled, 20km north of Donetsk).
Border areas outside government control
On 7 April, while at a border crossing point near Izvaryne (52km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw two cars (one with Russian Federation licence plates and one with “LPR” plates), a bus with Ukrainian licence plates (with about 40 passengers) and 11 pedestrians entering Ukraine. After about ten minutes, a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area. *
On 7 April, while at a border crossing point near Sievernyi (50km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw six pedestrians entering Ukraine and a pedestrian exiting Ukraine. After about five minutes, a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.*
On 7 April, while at a pedestrian border crossing point near Verkhnoharasymivka (57km south-east of Luhansk) for about 30 minutes, the SMM saw four pedestrians entering Ukraine and three pedestrians exiting Ukraine.
On 7 April, while at a border crossing point near Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk) for about 30 minutes, the SMM saw ten cars (five with Ukrainian and three with Russian Federation licence plates and two with “DPR” plates), a full bus with Russian Federation licence plates and about 20 pedestrians entering Ukraine. The SMM also saw 16 cars (six with Russian Federation licence plates and ten with “DPR” plates), a full bus with “DPR” plates and 18 covered cargo trucks (eight with Ukrainian and three with Russian Federation licence plates and seven with “DPR” plates) exiting Ukraine.
On 7 April, while at a border crossing point near Ulianivske (61km south-east of Donetsk) for about 30 minutes, the SMM saw two men on bicycles entering Ukraine.
The Mission 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. 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 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:
- On 6 April, at a checkpoint about 1km north of Zaichenko (non-government-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol), two armed members of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage west to Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, non-government-controlled, 23km north-east of Mariupol) and south to Sakhanka (non-government-controlled, 24km north-east of Mariupol), citing security reasons.
- On 7 April, at a border crossing point near Izvaryne (non-government-controlled, 52km south-east of Luhansk), a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.
- On 7 April, at a border crossing point near Sievernyi (non-government-controlled, 50km south-east of Luhansk), a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.
Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:
- The sides continued to deny the SMM full access to the three disengagement areas, as well as the ability to travel certain roads previously identified as important for effective monitoring by the Mission and for civilians’ movement, through failure to conduct comprehensive clearance of mines and UXO.
Delay:
- On 6 April, in Kostiantynivka (government-controlled, 60km north of Donetsk), a member of the Ukrainian Armed Forces allowed the SMM to enter the railway yard, only after about 40 minutes waiting outside.
Conditional access:
- On 6 April, at a checkpoint in Nova Marivka (non-government-controlled, 64km south of Donetsk), four armed members of armed formations allowed the SMM to pass only by foot and accompanied by a member of the armed formations, citing security concerns in the area.
Other impediments:
- On the evening and night of 5-6 April, an SMM long-range UAV temporarily lost its GPS signal, assessed as due to jamming, while flying over government and non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region.[7]
- On 5 April, while following up on reports of a civilian casualty, medical staff at a hospital in Slovianoserbsk (non-government-controlled, 28km north-west of Luhansk) refused to provide the SMM with information, citing the need for written permission from those in control.
[1] For a complete breakdown of ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.
[2]Disengagement is foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016.
[3] Due to the presence of mines, including on a road between Bohdanivka and Petrivske, the SMM cannot access its camera in Petrivske, and thus the SMM has not been able to access observations from the camera since 22 June 2018.
[4] The sentence in SMM Daily Report 6 April 2019 “On 4 April an SMM long-range UAV spotted a probable tank (T-64) near Vuhlehirsk (government-controlled, 49km north-east of Donetsk)” should have read “near Vuhlehirsk (non-government-controlled, 49km north-east of Donetsk)”.
[5] 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.
[6] The hardware mentioned in this section is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons, unless otherwise specified.
[7] The interference could have originated from anywhere within a radius of several kilometres of the UAV’s position.