Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 22 April 2019

This report is for the media and the general public.

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM saw fresh damage from shelling to residential houses in Donetsk city.
• 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 both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission monitored the transfer of detainees not related to the conflict in Luhansk region.
• The SMM monitored the distribution of coal by an international humanitarian organization in Donetsk region.
• Restrictions of the Mission’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. The SMM was also restricted near Zaichenko, Bezimenne and Ozerianivka, as well as Izvaryne, near the border with the Russian Federation.*

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including more explosions (about 60), compared with the previous reporting period (about 20). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded at southerly directions of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol), in areas south-south-east of Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk) and north of the Donetsk central railway station (non-government-controlled, 6km north-west of Donetsk city centre). On the night of 21-22 April, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) (15km north of Donetsk) recorded a projectile in flight at an assessed range of 200-500m from the camera.

In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations, including more explosions (about 130), compared with the previous reporting period (about 50 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas north-west of Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), south-east of Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk) and north-north-east of Holubivske (non-government-controlled, 51km west of Luhansk).

Fresh damage from shelling to residential houses in Donetsk city

In the Trudivski area of the Petrovskyi district in Donetsk city, at 2 Kantemyrivskyi Avenue, the SMM saw a fresh crater, about 17m south-south-west of the one-storey house, broken branches on trees about 2.5m from the crater and two shell fragments within 7m of the crater. The SMM saw a shattered south-west facing window and an 8cm hole in the south-west facing wall beneath the window of the house. Most of the damage was observed north, north-west, north-east and south-east of the crater. All abovementioned damage was assessed as fresh and caused by shelling, but the SMM was unable to assess the direction of fire or the weapon used. The houses are located about 1km south of a checkpoint of the armed formations.

About 20m south-east of the abovementioned house, the SMM saw about 200 3-5cm holes on the asphalt driveway about 0.5-10m from a one-storey house at 2A Kantemyrivskyi Avenue, as well as a 40cm impact mark on the concrete foundation of a fence about 3m from the house and about 5m from the holes, assessed as caused by shrapnel. A resident of the house (woman, 30-40 years old) told the SMM that she had heard an impact at 05:00 on 21 April while inside her house. The SMM assessed that all the above-mentioned damage was fresh and caused by shelling from a westerly direction, but was unable to assess the weapon used.

About 5m further south-east, at 1A Leitenanta Nikolenka Street, the SMM saw about 150 holes in the west-facing wall, two 10-15cm holes in the concrete frame of a north-facing window and about 20 holes in the north-facing tin roof of a one-storey house, all assessed as caused by shell fragments. A resident of the house (woman, 60-70 years old) told the SMM that she had heard an impact at 05:00 on 21 April while inside her house. The SMM assessed that all the above-mentioned damage was fresh and caused by shelling from a westerly direction, but was unable to assess the weapon used.

Disengagement areas[2]

On the evening of 21 April, the SMM camera in Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) recorded a projectile in flight from east to west, at an assessed range of 0.5-1km south-east, assessed as outside the disengagement area.

During the day on 22 April, positioned in four locations near the Zolote disengagement area, the SMM heard about 75 undetermined explosions and about 100 shots and bursts of small-arms fire near the disengagement area. On the same day, positioned 1km north of Kalynove-Borshchuvate (non-government-controlled, 61km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 14 undetermined explosions and ten bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, at an assessed range of 2-5km north (unable to assess whether inside or outside the disengagement area).

Positioned inside the disengagement area near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk) and close to the disengagement area near Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), the SMM observed calm situations.[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.

In violation of withdrawal lines

Government-controlled areas

22 April

The SMM saw nine self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) near Novoaidar (49km north-west of Luhansk).

Non-government-controlled areas

22 April

The SMM saw two self-propelled howitzers (2S1) near Bile (22km west of Luhansk).

Weapons that the SMM could not verify as withdrawn[4]

At heavy weapons holding areas in government-controlled areas of Luhansk region

22 April

The SMM saw that three self-propelled mortars (2S9 Nona-S, 120mm) and four anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) were present and all observed for the first time, and 31 self-propelled howitzers (three 2S1 and 28 2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm), two self-propelled mortars (2S9) and 22 anti-tank guns (MT-12) continued to be missing.

Weapons permanent storage sites

At a permanent storage site in a non-government-controlled area of Luhansk region

22 April

The SMM saw that seven tanks (T-72) continued to be missing. 

Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[5]

Non-government-controlled areas

20. April

An SMM mini-UAV spotted an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) near Holubivske.

21 April

An SMM mini-UAV spotted:

• two ACVs and an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) on a truck near Vesela Hora (16km north of Luhansk);
• an APC (MT-LB) and an ACV near Bohdanivka (44km west of Luhansk); and
• a wheeled excavator with a series of large excavations seen for the first time, including trenches 30m long by 30m wide and vehicle revetments, on the eastern edge of Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, 50km west of Luhansk).

Government-controlled areas

20 April

An SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted:

• an armoured combat vehicle (ACV) near Kamianka (20km north of Donetsk); and
• an armoured personnel carrier (MT-LB) and an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-variant) near Novhorodske (35km north of Donetsk).

An SMM mid-range UAV spotted two IFVs (a BMP-2 and a BMP variant) and a probable armoured personnel carrier (APC) (MT-LB) in a residential area of Novhorodske.

21. April

The SMM saw an APC (BTR-70) near Novobakhmutivka (28km north of Donetsk).

On 22 April, on two occasions, positioned about 80m north of the bridge near Shchastia (government-controlled, 20km north of Luhansk) the SMM saw a black UAV flying around 800m north-east of its position.

Presence of mines

Close to positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Nelipivka (government-controlled, 40km north-east of Donetsk), an SMM mid-range UAV on 20 April spotted about 60 anti-tank mines laid in two rows running from north to south (for previous observations, see SMM Daily Report 27 September 2018).

On 21 April, east of Vesela Hora, an SMM mini-UAV again spotted four anti-tank mines (TM-62) laid across the western lane of road H-21, as well as again about 40 anti-tank mines (type undetermined) in a field about 50m south-west of the same road.

SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure

The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to a water pipeline in Krasnyi Lyman (non-government-controlled, 30km north-west of Luhansk). Positioned in Slovianoserbsk (non-government-controlled, 28km north-west of Luhansk), near to the repairs site, the SMM recorded one burst of small-arms fire at an assessed range of 700m-800m north-north-east.

The SMM also facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk), power lines in Holubivske and near Spartak (non-government-controlled, 9km north of Donetsk), Sosnivske (non-government-controlled, 35km north-east of Mariupol) and Naberezhne (non-government-controlled, 33 km north-east of Mariupol), as well as assessments of hydraulic structures near Luhanske (government-controlled, 59km north-east of Donetsk). The SMM also monitored the security situation in the area of the pumping station near Vasylivka (non-government-controlled, 20km north of Donetsk) and facilitated the operation of the DFS.

SMM monitoring of transfer of detainees not related to the conflict in Luhansk region

The SMM monitored the transfer of detainees not related to the conflict from non-government-controlled to government-controlled areas of Luhansk region.

SMM monitoring and facilitating the distribution of coal in Travneve

The SMM monitored and facilitated adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate the delivery of coal disbursements by an international humanitarian organization in Travneve (government-controlled, 51km north-east of Donetsk).

Border areas outside government control

While at a border crossing point near Izvaryne (52km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw two cars with Ukrainian licence plates and one covered cargo truck with Ukrainian licence plates entering Ukraine. During the same time, the SMM saw six cars (one with Ukrainian and five with Russian Federation licence plates), two covered cargo trucks with Ukrainian licence plates and nine pedestrians exiting Ukraine. After about 15 minutes, a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.*

While at a pedestrian border crossing point near Sievernyi (50km south-east of Luhansk) for about 30 minutes, the SMM saw seven pedestrians entering Ukraine and three pedestrians exiting 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 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 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.

Denials of access:

• At a checkpoint north of Zaichenko (non-government-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol), two armed members of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage south to Sakhanka (non-government-controlled, 24km north-east of Mariupol) and west to Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, non-government-controlled, 23km north-east of Mariupol), citing “orders from their superiors and ongoing shooting in the area”. While present, the SMM saw civilian vehicles passing the checkpoint in both directions.
• At a checkpoint west of Bezimenne (non-government-controlled, 100km south of Donetsk), two armed members of the armed formations again denied the SMM access to proceed further west of the checkpoint, citing “ongoing operations in the area.” While present, the SMM saw civilian vehicles crossing the checkpoint in both directions.
• At a border crossing point near Izvaryne (non-government-controlled, 52km south-east of Luhansk), a member of the armed formations again told the SMM to leave the area.
• At a checkpoint of the armed formations in Ozerianivka (non-government-controlled, 35km north-east of Donetsk) a member of the armed formations denied the SMM passage east, citing “orders from his commander”.

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:

• At a checkpoint of the armed formations about 600m west of Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, non-government-controlled, 29km north-east of Mariupol) an armed member of the armed formations again stopped the SMM for about 25 minutes before allowing the SMM to proceed through the checkpoint into non-government-controlled areas.  

[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 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.

[5] The hardware mentioned in this section is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.