Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 10 March 2016
This report is for the media and general public.
The SMM observed an increase in ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared to the previous day. The situation remained stable in Luhansk. The Mission continued to facilitate repair work to essential infrastructure. The SMM monitored training areas on both sides of the contact line. The Mission reached border crossing points in areas not controlled by the Government in both Luhansk and Donetsk regions. It encountered freedom-of-movement restrictions on both sides of the contact line, including in border areas.*
The SMM observed numerous ceasefire violations in Donetsk region.[1] Positioned in Donetsk city in the evening hours of 9 March, the SMM heard 75 undetermined explosions, three bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire and one shot of small-arms fire at locations 0.5-15km south-east, south-south-east, north-west, north-north-west of its position. Whilst at the Donetsk railway station (“DPR”-controlled, 6km north-west of Donetsk city centre), the SMM heard 170 undetermined explosions, 112 bursts of anti-aircraft-gun (ZU-23, 23mm), heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire and 28 single shots of small-arms fire at locations ranging from the north-west to the north-east at 1-7km from its position.
Whilst in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), during the evening of 9 March, the SMM heard a total of 83 explosions, including 20 impacts (automatic grenade launcher), 39 outgoing rounds (73mm cannon), 23 undetermined explosions of mortar (82mm and 120mm) and one undetermined explosion of 73mm cannon, and 72 bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire 2-5km north-east, south-south-east and south-west of its position. In “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 35 undetermined explosions of artillery 14km south of its position.
In the areas of Avdiivka/Yasynuvata, the SMM recorded numerous ceasefire violations. Although the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) had given the SMM security assurances, firing incidents did not stop. Whilst in government-controlled Avdiivka (16km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard 90 explosions (50 of which were assessed as 82mm and 120mm mortar rounds) and continuous exchange of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, all 3-6km east-south-east of its position. In “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 93 undetermined and two explosions assessed as impacts of rocket-propelled grenades, 30 bursts and 66 single shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms, mostly at locations ranging from 1-5km north-north-west to west of its position.
In Luhansk region, the situation remained relatively calm with a low number of ceasefire violations recorded. While at a checkpoint in the vicinity of “LPR”-controlled Novooleksandrivka (65km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard and saw two explosions assessed as caused by 82mm mortar rounds impacting 1.2km south-west of its position. In the vicinity of “LPR”-controlled Perevalsk (38km from Luhansk), the SMM heard 30 undetermined explosions originating from a training ground in “LPR”-controlled Shymshynivka (27km south-west of Luhansk) – outside the security zone.
In relation to the implementation of the Addendum to the Package of Measures, the SMM revisited a Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent storage site whose location corresponded with the withdrawal lines and noted that 24 tanks and eight anti-tank guns (D-44, 85mm) were missing. It also noted the presence of additional weapons, whose serial numbers were not included in the inventory list.
In violation of respective withdrawal lines, near government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk), the SMM observed two mortars (2B9, 82mm) towed by as many trucks (Gaz 66), travelling west.
Beyond the respective withdrawal lines but outside storage sites, the SMM observed: approximately 35 tanks (T-64 and T-72) in the vicinity of a training ground near “DPR”-controlled Ternove (57km east of Donetsk).
The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of heavy weapons as foreseen in the Minsk Package of Measures. The SMM has yet to receive the full information requested in the 16 October 2015 notification. The SMM revisited locations known to the SMM as heavy weapons holding areas, even though they do not comply with the specific criteria set out for permanent storage sites in the 16 October 2015 notification.
In government-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM revisited such locations and observed 22 multiple-launch rocket system (12 BM-21 Grad, 122mm, and ten BM-27 Uragan, 220mm), 17 self-propelled howitzers (six 2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm, and 11 2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) and six anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm). It also noted 22 anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) missing from one area.
In “DPR”-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM revisited such a location and observed six self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm).
The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure. In co-ordination with Ukrainian and Russian Federation Armed Forces representatives at the JCCC, the SMM monitored on-going repair works to gas pipelines in government-controlled Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk). Whilst there, between 9:55 and 10:20hrs[2], the SMM heard 31 single shots and three bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire 1.5km east of its position. A mirror patrol, positioned in “DPR”-controlled Oleksandrivka (20km south-west of Donetsk) – on the other side of the contact line, informed the Russian Federation Armed Forces representative at the JCCC of the situation in Marinka. Subsequently, the interlocutor said he had called the “DPR commander” asking for adherence to the ceasefire, and the SMM noted shortly after that the shooting stopped.
The SMM continued to observe the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the security zone. At a checkpoint in “DPR”-controlled Sakhanka (24km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM observed three explosive remnants of war – one of them was unexploded – embedded in the pavement in the middle of the road with the tail fins sticking out. In government-controlled parts of Zolote (60km north-west of Luhansk) – close to the contact line, the SMM observed that 10-15 Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel were unloading mines from a military truck and carrying them towards the field south-west of the road T1316.
The SMM monitored training areas on both sides of the contact line. On 9 March, at the Trokhizbenka training area (government-controlled, 33km north-west of Luhansk) – inside the security zone, the SMM did not observe any Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel present while it saw a large amount of ammunition casings of small arms and light weapons left on the ground. In Novoaidar training area (government-controlled, 43km north-west of Luhansk) – outside the security zone, the SMM saw cartridge remains consistent with bullets of small arms (5.45mm), machine-gun (7.62mm and 12.7mm) and grenade launchers (SPG-7s and SPG-18). In Dmytrivka (41km north of Luhansk) – outside the security zone, the SMM observed a Ukrainian Armed Forces unit preparing for firing exercises at the range. In Chervonyi Zhovten (40km north of Luhansk) – outside the security zone, the SMM did not find evidence of recent use of the range. At a training ground near Ternove – outside the security zone, the SMM observed approximately 100 armed individuals with military-style fatigues.
The SMM followed up on reports of shelling in two locations. In “DPR”-controlled Mykolaivka (39km north-east of Mariupol), a female resident told the SMM that shelling had occurred in the morning hours of the previous day. Several residents informed the SMM that a 63-year-old man, who they said had his shoulder and stomach injured by the shelling, had been transferred to a hospital in “DPR”-controlled Telmanove (50km north-east of Mariupol). The SMM found small pieces of shrapnel and one tail fin outside the yard of a house and saw damage to a tree (broken branches) and to a garage door facing east. The SMM also saw a house with a completely destroyed roof. It observed a 120mm tail fin in the living room of the house and windows and wall (all facing south) of the living room were damaged. In Kominternove (23km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM observed a house with fresh bullet holes in the windows facing the north-west and on the walls facing the south-west. A female resident told the SMM that small-arms and light-weapons fire had hit the house the previous week. Whilst in Kominternove, the SMM heard 21 undetermined explosions at locations east, south, south-south-west and west-south-west.
The SMM monitored border areas not controlled by the Government and observed a calm situation. At the Novoazovsk (53km east of Mariupol) border crossing point the SMM observed 20 commercial trucks (with both Ukrainian and Russian Federation license plates) waiting to cross into the Russian Federation. At the Izvaryne (53km south-east of Luhansk) crossing point, the SMM noted longer lines of pedestrian and vehicles waiting compared to the previous day. It observed that 80 civilian cars, four buses (with both Ukrainian and Russian Federation license plates), and 40-50 pedestrians were queuing to cross into the Russian Federation. In Novoborovytsi (80km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM noted an abandoned border crossing point. Positioned 1km away from the Dolzhanskyi crossing point (84km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed around 50 commercial trucks in a queue waiting to cross into the Russian Federation. It noted that at least five-seven of them were fully loaded with coal.
The SMM monitored the situation of civilians in the vicinity of the contact line. Two residents of government-controlled Zhovanka neighbourhood of Zaitseve (50km north-east of Donetsk) told the SMM that power supply to the northern part of the village had not been restored after the power line had been damaged by shelling three months ago.
In Kyiv, the SMM followed up on media reports that Molotov cocktails had been thrown at the building of the Embassy of the Russian Federation during the night of 9-10 March. In front of the embassy building, the SMM did not notice any signs of scorched spots. Subsequently, the police spokesperson confirmed to the SMM that an incident involving Molotov cocktails had taken place, adding that three persons had been questioned in relation to the incident and subsequently released. The SMM observed four police officers and two National Guard officers in front of the embassy compound.
The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnepropetrovsk, and Chernivtsi.
*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, and consistently require that the SMM submit patrol plans in advance.
Denial of access:
- At the Government checkpoint on the western entrance to Kominternove, Ukrainian Armed Forces solders did not allow the SMM to proceed further to the village.
- In “DPR”-controlled Mykolaivka, armed men allowed the SMM to visit only two houses allegedly damaged by shelling and denied it access to other areas of the village. They stated that there were many mine fields in the area and that they had received orders of only showing the SMM the two houses for crater analysis.
- Approximately 1km west of the “LPR”-controlled Verkhnoharasymivka border crossing point (57km south-east of Luhansk), an armed man stopped and asked the SMM to leave the area, citing orders from “his superiors”.
Delay:
- At a checkpoint on the western edge of “DPR”-controlled Oktiabr (29km north-east of Mariupol), armed men delayed the SMM for 19 minutes, as they asked it to show “permits”. The SMM contacted the JCCC and was then allowed to proceed.
- At a checkpoint in “DPR”-controlled Prymorske (39km NE of Mariupol), armed men did not allow the SMM to pass. The SMM contacted the JCCC and after 49 minutes, the SMM was allowed to pass.
[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.
* Please see the section at the end of this report entitled “Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to the fulfilment of its mandate”.
[2] All times in this report refer to Eastern European Time.