OSCE SMM Spot Report 16/2021: SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle lost due to dual GPS signal interference assessed as jamming near government-controlled Stepanivka

On 29 June at 21:00, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) took off and conducted a flight over government-controlled areas of Donetsk region. While attempting to land around 23:30-23:35 at its base in Stepanivka (government-controlled, 54km north of Donetsk), the UAV experienced dual GPS signal interference, assessed as caused by jamming, resulting in an intermittent loss of spatial control.

At 23:35, during a second landing attempt at the base, the UAV again experienced dual GPS signal interference, assessed as caused by jamming, this time resulting in a permanent loss of spatial control. A few minutes later, the aircraft became uncontrollable and began descending rapidly from an assessed altitude of about 50-100ft. It crashed in a field about 4km west-north-west of its base at 23:45. The SMM subsequently observed a fire at the crash site.

On the morning of 30 June, the Mission visited the area of the crash site and saw that the UAV airframe was destroyed, but SMM recovered the camera pod and external GPS tracker. The SMM also launched two mini-UAVs to fly over the crash site. However, due to GPS signal interference assessed as caused by probable jamming, neither were able to reach it. The Mission is making efforts to recover the remains of the UAV wreckage.

The Mission again highlights that, since 21 March 2021, the SMM’s long-range UAVs have been experiencing increased levels of GPS signal interference during take-off and landing, affecting both of their GPS receivers, in areas near their base in Stepanivka (See SMM Spot Reports of 7 April 2021, 9 April 2021, 24 April 2021, 6 May 2021 and 17 May 2021). The Mission notes that, in each case, the source of GPS signal interference could have originated from anywhere within the radius of tens of kilometres from the UAVs’ positions.

The SMM yet again notes that OSCE Permanent Council Decision No. 1117 specifies that the SMM shall have safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. Unrestricted and unconditional access to all areas is essential to ensure effective monitoring and reporting of the security situation, the ceasefire, the withdrawal of weapons, demining and disengagement. The mandate also tasks the Mission to report on any restrictions of its freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandated tasks.

These incidents significantly hinder the Mission’s ability to conduct effective monitoring and reporting of the security situation. Long-range UAVs are an essential part of SMM operations, especially at night, and in areas where the Mission’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted. While the SMM cannot identify the precise source of jamming, it has observed the presence of jamming equipment on both sides of the contact line.