Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 6 August 2015
This report is for the media and the general public.
The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by the parties and security considerations*. There was a significant increase in ceasefire violations at and around Donetsk airport. An SMM-facilitated ceasefire enabled the continuation of work to repair water pipelines in Donetsk region. Some 300 people protested in front of the hotel of SMM monitors in Donetsk city.
There was a significant increase in ceasefire violations at and around “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled Donetsk airport (9km north-west of Donetsk) compared with the previous day. The SMM, from its position at the Joint Centre for Control and Coordination (JCCC) observation point at “DPR”-controlled Donetsk railway station (8km north-west of Donetsk city centre) heard a total of 125 explosions and intensive exchanges of small-arms and light-weapons, heavy machine-gun and automatic grenade launcher fire[1].
Repairs continued to water pipelines in Donetsk region, following works earlier this month (see SMM Daily Report, 8 July 2015). For the fourth consecutive day, the SMM facilitated a local ceasefire to enable water pipeline repairs to be carried out by Voda Donbassa workers in an area between government-controlled Maiorsk (45km north-east of Donetsk) and “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) (see SMM Daily Report, 6 August). After carrying out some demining work, “DPR” members tasked with demining were denied permission by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to continue their work closer to government-controlled Maiorsk. After negotiations between the sides, facilitated by the SMM, “DPR” members continued with demining work. At 13:48hrs, the SMM heard two single small-arms shots, outgoing approximately 1.5km north-east of its position. After consultation with both sides, it was ascertained that the firing was by “DPR” members. At 15:40hrs, the SMM heard one outgoing mortar round, approximately 5km north of its position, for which no side claimed responsibility. At 16:30hrs, the Voda Donbassa workers finished their activities for the day.
In Donetsk city, the SMM observed a protest outside the residence of SMM monitors. By 07:35hrs, approximately 300 people had gathered (some 100 young boys, 100 men and 100 women of varying ages). They displayed banners criticising the “silence and blindness” of the SMM and also protested against the conflict in Donbas. “DPR” “police” monitored the crowd from a position in front of the hotel. One vehicle blocked the secondary entrance from the hotel’s car park. Two protestors in a small truck sprayed red liquid from a hose on the ground outside the hotel. After listening to the concerns of some of the protestors, the SMM addressed the crowd and explained the mandate of the mission. Protestors loudly interrupted the SMM. Following this, the SMM invited protestors into the hotel for further discussion, an offer they declined. Protestors dispersed peacefully by 09:00hrs.
The SMM followed up on information received from “DPR” members that prison no. 57 on Voloshkaya Street in Horlivka had been shelled on 5 August at approximately 21:45hrs. The SMM went to the morgue in Horlivka, where it was told by an employee that one man had died as a result of shrapnel wounds sustained in the shelling at Akademika Belenkoho. The SMM observed the corpse of a man (aged 65-70 years old) who had soft tissue damage to the lower limbs, which may have been caused by shrapnel. The interlocutor also said that a prisoner was injured and hospitalized at hospital no. 2 in Horlivka. Hospital employees at that hospital told the SMM that a prisoner had been admitted.
In “DPR”-controlled Prymorske (39km north-east of Mariupol), 30 local inhabitants, women and men of different ages, told the SMM that shelling had taken place between 02:00 and 03:00hrs on 6 August. The SMM observed 18 craters in the village, and conducted analysis on 12. The analysis showed that the craters were caused by mortars (120mm calibre) fired from the north-west. The SMM observed at least two pieces of unexploded ordnance (UXOs). The head of the “village administration” said that the shelling had not caused fatalities or injuries. According to the residents, there has been no electricity since the shelling.
In an area north-east of government-controlled Trokhizbenka (32km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard four outgoing artillery rounds 4km south-west of its position.
The SMM observed damage to the power plant in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk). A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer explained to the SMM that shelling at approximately 22:30hrs on 5 August had damaged a high-voltage cable supplying the northern part of the region. The SMM saw a destroyed 220 kV cable. The SMM was unable to identify what had caused the damage. In Shchastia, a woman told the SMM that at around 19:30hrs on 5 August the plant was hit, leading to a power cut. According to her, the power supply was restored within a few hours.
Local “administration officials” in “LPR”-controlled Zorynsk (54km south-west of Luhansk) told the SMM of issues regarding the payment of electricity and water companies for services provided in 2014. These problems stem from July 2014, when the “LPR” established a soup kitchen and a shelter for displaced persons in the area, for which they said they would cover costs. However, according to the interlocutors, the Luhansk Electrician Union (who provided the utilities) has not been paid and has imposed fines on the owner of the premises for the delayed payment.
The SMM revisited four Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapons holding areas whose locations comply with the respective withdrawal lines. At one Ukrainian Armed Forces site, the SMM found six more weapons (multiple launch rocket system, BM-21 Grad, 122mm calibre) than during the previous visit. At a second, all weapons were in situ. At a third site, the SMM found eight weapons, previously unidentified, which those supervising the site claimed had been there since March. The SMM found all weapons previously recorded to be absent at a fourth site, the third time in two weeks.
The SMM monitored a protest at the City Council in Morshyn (86km south of Lviv) against a significant increase in the price of water bills. Approximately 70 persons (mainly elderly people, 60% men) took part in the protest that ended peacefully. No police were present.
At the weekly press briefing of the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service (DPSU) in Kyiv, attended by the SMM, it was announced that humanitarian and logistic centres will be established to process humanitarian aid and goods entering into non-government controlled areas, and prevent the passage of prohibited goods in this direction. According to a Lieutenant Colonel from the DPSU, the first such centre is under construction in Mikolaivka village in Donetsk region.
The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Kharkiv, Dnepropetrovsk, Odessa, Kherson, Chernivtsi, and Ivano-Frankivsk.
*Restrictions on SMM monitoring, access and freedom of movement:
The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by the parties and security considerations, including the presence – and lack of information on the whereabouts – of mines, and damaged infrastructure. The security situation in Donbas is fluid and unpredictable and the ceasefire does not hold everywhere. Self-imposed restrictions on movement into high-risk areas have impinged on SMM patrolling activities, particularly in areas not controlled by the government. Most areas along the Ukraine-Russian Federation international border, particularly those controlled by the “LPR”, have ordinarily been placed off limits to the SMM.
Delay:
- At a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint near government-controlled Volnovakha (53km south-west of Donetsk) the SMM was requested to open trunks of vehicles and to provide the patrol leader’s name and nationality. The SMM was delayed for approximately ten minutes.
- At two checkpoints in “DPR”-controlled Olenivka (23km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM was delayed for 15-20 minutes and requested to provide the IDs of patrol members. “DPR” members used a mirror to check the underside of SMM vehicles and checked interiors.
- At a “DPR” checkpoint in Donetsk city, the SMM was requested to provide the IDs of patrol members and to open the trunks of vehicles, which were thoroughly inspected. After a ten minute delay, the SMM was allowed to proceed.
- The SMM was prevented from passing a “DPR” checkpoint near Oktiabr (26km north-east of Mariupol). The SMM attempted to pass the checkpoint 15 minutes later and was allowed to pass.
[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.