Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 30 December 2015

The SMM observed ceasefire violations in limited locations in Donetsk region. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded no firing incidents except one controlled denotation. The SMM attempted, unsuccessfully, to reach Kominternove in order to observe the security situation in the village. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable infrastructure repairs.

The SMM continued to observe ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. Positioned at the Donetsk railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk city centre), the SMM heard a total of eight undetermined explosions, 14 single shots of heavy-machine-gun fire and several bursts of small-arms fire at locations 2-5km north and south-west of its position.

The SMM also heard a total of eight undetermined explosions in the southern part of Donetsk region, including government-controlled Andriivka, Volnovakha and Zelenyi Hay (41, 55 and 62km of Mariupol, respectively).

In Luhansk region, the SMM observed an overall calm situation, recording no firing incidents other than one controlled explosion. In the vicinity of “LPR”-controlled Smile (32km north-west of Luhansk) – in an uncultivated agricultural field, the SMM observed that “LPR” members detonated an explosive device at a location 300m south-east of its position. The SMM could not get closer to the location due to security reasons. Later, armed “LPR” personnel at a checkpoint in Smile told the SMM that a demining team had detonated an anti-tank mine.

In relation to the implementation of the Addendum to the Package of measures, the SMM revisited Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent weapons storage sites whose locations corresponded with the withdrawal lines. At one site, the SMM observed that the serial numbers of two tanks (T-64) did not match those provided in the inventory. The SMM noted five previously-observed tanks (T-64) missing from another site. The SMM also revisited “DPR” permanent weapons storage sites whose locations corresponded with the withdrawal lines and found all weapons previously verified as withdrawn to the sites were present.

Beyond the withdrawal lines and outside storage sites, the SMM observed the following Addendum-regulated weapons: 22 tanks (T64 and T72) stationary in a training area near “LPR”-controlled Kruhlyk (31km south-west of Luhansk).

The SMM attempted to reach Kominternove (23km north-east of Mariupol), from both sides of the contact line, to observe the security situation in the village. Armed “DPR” members denied the SMM access to the village* at a checkpoint near “DPR”-controlled Zaichenko (26km north-east of Mariupol). The SMM was unable to reach Kominternove from the government-controlled, south-western side of the contact line due to security concerns* (see SMM Daily Report 23 December 2015). At a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint at the south-western entrance of the village, the SMM spoke with three civilians (men in their forties) coming from Kominternove, who stated they saw some armed “DPR” members at the checkpoint exiting the village, but no heavy military equipment. Whilst in the areas around Kominternove, the SMM did not record ceasefire violations.

On both sides of the contact line, the SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs of critical infrastructure. In government-controlled Staryi Aidar and “LPR”-controlled Raivka (20 and 16km north-west of Luhansk, respectively) the SMM facilitated repairs to the water pipelines. In Raivka, a member of the repair crew told the SMM that after completion of the repairs, water supply for  “LPR”-controlled Raivka, Lyman Svitle and Metalist (11, 10 and 6 km north of Luhansk), as well as the northern part of Luhansk city would be re-established.

The SMM followed up on the humanitarian situation in a conflict-affected village. In “DPR”-controlled Novohryhorivka (57km north-east of Donetsk), a group of 16 residents (nine women and seven men aged 50-70) told the SMM that the population in the village had more than halved – from 350 before the conflict to 160. They added that two buildings of a kindergarten and an elementary school under 4th grade had been destroyed during the conflict in early 2015 and not yet reconstructed. The SMM observed that these educational facilities were not functioning.

The SMM visited a logistic centre in government-controlled Novotroitske (36km south-west of Donetsk) which consisted of two large military-style tents. In one of the tents, SMM observed eight beds, a wooden stove, one water tank, and 5-10 people who were crossing a checkpoint. In the vicinity, SMM also observed 6-7 sales points and a pharmacy (with electricity) which were well-supplied. The SMM also followed up on preparation of a new logistic centre in government-controlled Novotoshkivske (53km west of Luhansk). The head of the civil military administration informed the SMM that the centre would be open in the first half of January. The SMM observed that the centre was under construction and electricity and furniture had still not been installed inside the centre.

The SMM monitored the movement of civilians across the contact line. In the morning hours, at a government checkpoint near government-controlled Marinka (23km west of Donetsk), the SMM observed queues of civilian vehicles waiting to cross the checkpoint: 117 heading west and 6 heading east. At the same time, at another government checkpoint near Marinka, the SMM observed 60 civilian vehicles waiting to cross into government-controlled areas and 197 civilian vehicles in the opposite direction.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnepropetrovsk, Chernivtsi, and Kyiv.

*Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to the fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by the parties and security considerations, including mine threats, damaged infrastructure, and the unpredictability of the situation in Donbas. “LPR” members continue to prevent the SMM from monitoring many areas alongside the border in parts of Luhansk region not controlled by the Government.

Denial of access:

• At a checkpoint in “DPR”-controlled Zaichenko (26km north-east of Mariupol), armed “DPR” members prevented the SMM from proceeding further towards Kominternove, as it did not show “requested documents” (including the purpose of the visit and patrol routes for all teams in the areas as well as “official documents” from “DPR”).

Delay:

• At a checkpoint near “DPR”-controlled Olenivka (23km south-west of Donetsk), armed “DPR” members held the SMM for 17 minutes, asking for “permission” from “DPR”.
• At a checkpoint near “LPR”-controlled Smile (32km north-west of Luhansk), armed “LPR” members denied SMM further access, citing that the OSCE was prohibited from travelling along the road. The SMM was allowed to proceed after the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination intervened. The SMM was delayed for 50 minutes.

Conditional access:

• Armed “LPR” members escorted the SMM while monitoring in the area of “LPR”-controlled Smile (32km north-west of Luhansk).

For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.​