Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 18:00 (Kyiv time), 5 October 2014

Focusing on the implementation of the Minsk Protocol and Memorandum, the SMM continued monitoring the situation in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions where shelling continued to take place. The situation in the other regions of Ukraine remained calm.

In Kharkiv the SMM observed a small gathering on Liberty Square around the former statue of Lenin during the entire day on 4 October. The SMM initially observed a group of six men carrying flags of a Ukrainian NGONGO
non-governmental organization (“Civil Self-Defence”). The SMM did not notice any police presence in the area. The aforementioned individuals placed an Orthodox cross in the shoe of the toppled statue (which still remains on the pedestal). The individuals explained to the SMM that their action was a reaction to the recent statements made by the Governor of Kharkiv who is reportedly considering alternatives for replacing Lenin’s statue. Later that day, the SMM observed up to 250 individuals (of all ages, males and females in mixed proportions) peacefully gathering on Liberty Square around the pedestal of the toppled statue of Lenin. The participants were waving Ukrainian flags and made pro-unity public speeches. The SMM spotted 60 Ukrainian uniformed police officers reinforced by a number of plainclothes officers. The gathering peacefully disbanded in the late afternoon.

On 4 October the deputy mayor of Popasna (80km west of Luhansk) reported that the town had been shelled on 3 October (weapon system and direction of fire not specified). The local official added that the shelling had damaged several buildings in Popasna and resulted in one civilian casualty and two other civilians injured. The SMM spoke with local inhabitants of Popasna whose houses were reportedly damaged in the latest shelling which occurred on 3 October. The SMM met an elderly couple who sustained visible injuries during the shelling.

On 5 October the SMM spoke to a local Ukrainian police battalion Commander in Syrotyne located in the vicinity of Borovske (95km north-west of Luhansk). The Commander said to the SMM that a Ukrainian checkpoint located on the southern flank of Borovske had been shelled on 4 October with BM-21 “Grad” Multiple Rocket Launcher Systems (MRLS) (122mm). The interlocutor showed the SMM the leftovers of a “Grad” shell which had allegedly hit the aforementioned Ukrainian position on 4 October.

On 5 October the SMM spoke with a Commander of a Ukrainian police checkpoint deployed in the southern sectors of Lysychansk (90km north-west of Luhansk). The Commander reported that he had heard a volley of BM-21 “Grad” artillery fire impacting 5km south of his position on the afternoon of 4 October. The SMM spoke with local inhabitants in Mirnaya Dolina (75km north-west of Luhansk) who said that a volley of “Grad” artillery fire had impacted the same afternoon in the surrounding fields without causing damage or casualties. Local villagers in Hirske (70km north-west of Luhansk) told the SMM that the town had not been directly shelled since 26 September, although the artillery fire had targeted the surrounding areas since the aforementioned date (no further specification). The aforementioned interlocutors did not know the origins nor the bearing of the artillery fire. 

On 4 October throughout the entire day in Donetsk, the SMM heard regular volleys of incoming and outgoing heavy artillery fire concentrated in the northern sectors of the city. On 5 October at 11:00hrs the SMM observed that the vicinity of the Donetsk regional museum was under artillery attack (weapon systems and direction of fire unknown). On 5 October at 11:00hrs the SMM heard ten artillery explosions in the vicinity of the villages of Slavnoe (65km north-east of Donetsk) and Novomikhailovsk (45km north-west of Donetsk).

In Mariupol and Kramatorsk the overall situation remained calm on 4 and 5 October 2014.

The situation remained calm in Dnepropetrovsk, Odessa and Kherson.

In Kyiv the SMM observed a peaceful “March for Peace” organised by a newly created Ukrainian civic movement called “For Peace Today”. The march gathered 3,000 participants, representing civic, youth and religious groups coming from all over Ukraine. The participants were mainly female individuals of all ages. The participants were waving Ukrainian and foreign flags (including from the US and EU member States). They chanted slogans in favour of unity and peace in Ukraine. The march started from Kyiv city centre and ended peacefully at the “People’s Friendship” Arch. Personnel from the Ukrainian National Guard and the regular police escorted the march.

On 3 October the SMM met with the Head of the Social Protection Department of Nadvirna District (40km south of Ivano-Frankivsk). The interlocutor stated that there are currently 62 IDPs in Nadvirna District (13 families) who mainly come from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The interlocutor added that most local IDPs live in private accommodation in the district with their relatives. He explained that the Social Protection Department of Nadvirna has regular co-ordination meetings with relevant regional administrations and with the international NGO CARITAS in order to address the local IDPs’ issues. The interlocutor stated that CARITAS provides 300 UAH a month (approximately EUR 20) to local IDP families for covering their heating bills.  The SMM visited two different IDP families living in private accommodation in Nadvirna. Both families said that they are satisfied with their living conditions and with the assistance provided by the local authorities. However, the IDP interlocutors expressed their willingness to return to their home regions. They added that there are no tensions between the local population of Nadvirna and IDPs.

The situation remained calm in Chernivtsi and Lviv.