Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 31 August 2016

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM recorded substantially fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region (95 explosions compared with 520 on 30 August) but a much higher number of violations in Luhansk region (155 explosions compared with ten on 30 August). The SMM evacuated its forward patrol base in Shchastia during the night of 30 August due to mortar rounds assessed as landing close to its base; the SMM returned to the base during the day of 31 August. The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties and observed numerous cases of damage to civilian property when conducting shelling assessments in Krasnohorivka, Horlivka, Lobacheve, Raivka, Irmino, and Novooleksandrivka. The SMM continued to observe heavy weapons missing from storage locations in government- and non-government-controlled areas. The SMM also monitored the results of shelling on and military personnel in proximity of schools. The SMM continued to monitor a calm situation along the administrative boundary line between the Ukrainian mainland and Crimea.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations[1] in Donetsk region with 95 explosions recorded, compared with the approximately 520 explosions recorded during the previous reporting period. Notably, eight explosions were recorded during the daytime hours of 31 August, when a renewed commitment to adhere to the ceasefire for the start of the school year came into effect.

During the evening of 30 August, between 19:11 and 20:00, while in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 15-20 explosions assessed as outgoing mortar rounds, three-five explosions assessed as impacts of mortar rounds (82 and 120mm), and multiple bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire 2-3km north-east of its position. During the late afternoon of 31 August, the SMM heard two explosions assessed as outgoing recoilless gun (SPG-9) and multiple bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire.

During the same night, between 19:30 and 22:30, while in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 15 explosions assessed as outgoing mortar rounds (120mm), seven explosions assessed as outgoing mortar rounds (82mm), and bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 3km south-west and south-east. The SMM also heard 12 explosions assessed as impacts of mortar rounds (120mm) and multiple bursts of anti-aircraft fire 4-5km north-west of its position.

Also that night, between 19:05 and 21:23, the SMM recorded ceasefire violations in the southern parts of the region. In government-controlled Kalynivka (11km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard 11 undetermined explosions at an unknown distance east and, while in Mariupol, the SMM heard two undetermined explosions were heard at an unknown distance north-east of its position. The SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) facing north-east recorded eight bursts of direct tracer fire from west to east and 15 explosions assessed as impacts from an unknown weapon and distance.

During the afternoon of 31 August, in “DPR”-controlled Oleksandrivka (20km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM heard two undetermined explosions 2-3km west of its position. In “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard two undetermined explosions 5-7km north and north-west and in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north-west of Donetsk) the SMM heard one undetermined explosion south-east of its positions. The SMM camera in Avdiivka recorded no violations during the reporting period. In “DPR”-controlled Dokuchaievsk (30km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM heard one undetermined explosion 3-4km south-west of its position.

The SMM observed more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region with approximately 155 explosions recorded, compared with the approximately ten explosions recorded during the previous reporting period. During the daytime on 31 August, the SMM recorded 35 explosions.

During the night of 30 August, the SMM team from the forward patrol base in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) was evacuated to government-controlled Sievierodonetsk (74km north-west of Luhansk) after a series of mortar rounds were assessed as landing close to the base (see Spot Report 31 August 2016). The SMM did not register any injuries to its personnel or damage to its base and returned to the base on 31 August.

On 31 August, the SMM observed damage caused by shelling in Shchastia the night before. In a field close to an abandoned gas station—approximately 500m south-west of its forward patrol base—the SMM found three fresh craters and assessed them as caused by 82mm mortar rounds fired from an easterly direction. At Haharin Street, the SMM saw damage to the third floor of a residential building that was assessed as caused by a mortar or an artillery round impact. The south-east facing balcony of one apartment was destroyed. According to the apartment owner, the impact had occurred at 22:05 on 30 August when he was home. The owner of a neighbouring apartment said that she heard an explosion quickly followed by an impact explosion. The SMM assessed that the projectile came from a south-westerly direction. Also on Haharin Street, the SMM observed an impact on the south-east side of the street and that the impact had been cleaned up and filled in with debris. Analysis was not possible but the SMM assessed the crater was caused by a projectile fired from a northerly direction. The impact caused damage to the south-east side of a building including multiple broken windows on all floors. The SMM saw damage to two houses on the south-east side of Haharin Street. The SMM observed a second crater nearby, 1.5m from the north-west facing wall of a residential building, and saw numerous shrapnel fragments indicative of large calibre shell. Based on the crater analysis and shrapnel spray, the SMM assessed the direction of fire as from the north or north-west. On nearby Pryozerna Street, the SMM observed a destroyed house that was still on fire, which fire-fighters were attempting to bring under control. Three interlocutors (two men in their fifties and one woman in her forties) told the SMM that a woman, wounded in the shelling, had subsequently died in hospital.

During the night of 30-31 August, between 20:40 and 00:45, in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk), 3-5km south-south-west of its position, the SMM observed an intense engagement using a variety of weapons systems. The SMM heard and saw one explosion assessed as an outgoing mortar round (120mm) from south to north and 12 explosions assessed as outgoing mortar rounds (120mm) from north to south. At the same distance and direction, the SMM also heard 55 undetermined explosions assessed as rocket- or self-propelled grenades, 100 undetermined explosions assessed as automatic grenade launcher rounds, and at least 300 single shots of anti-aircraft, at least 700 bursts of heavy-machine-gun, and at least 1,200 shots of small-arms fire.

Positioned in government-controlled Mykolaivka (76km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 19 undetermined explosions assessed as artillery rounds approximately 15km south of its position. Near government-controlled Zolote-2 (61km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard five undetermined explosions 15km east and four shots of outgoing automatic grenade launcher rounds 5km east-north-east of its position. In government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk), the SMM heard one undetermined explosion 8-10km south-east of its position.

Positioned outside “LPR”-controlled Malomykolaivka (36km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard six undetermined explosions 5-10km north-north-west, which were assessed as live-fire exercise coming from the Myrne training area (32km south-west of Luhansk). In “LPR”-controlled Holubivske (51km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard three shots assessed as automatic grenade launcher rounds 3km south-east of its position. In “LPR”-controlled Raivka (17km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard seven undetermined explosions 5km west of its position. In “LPR-controlled Kruta Hora (16km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard one impact 2km south-west of its position. In “LPR”-controlled Zhovte (17km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard one undetermined explosion 2-5km north-east of its position.

The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties, observed the results of shelling, and analysed craters on both sides of the contact line. The SMM confirmed three civilian casualties in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata from shelling on the night of 30-31 August. The deputy head of Yasynuvata’s railway hospital confirmed that one male resident (aged 30) had been killed and that one woman (aged 72) and one man (aged 52) had been injured.

In government-controlled Krasnohorivka (24km north of Donetsk), the SMM assessed five fresh craters, all within approximately 100m of each other, as caused by 122mm artillery fired from a southerly direction. The village was reportedly shelled from 00:13 to 00:20 on 29 August, resulting in damage to the roof of an inhabited two-story civilian apartment at Haharin Street. Inside the building, the ceiling of one apartment was damaged. Another civilian structure—a small storage-shed—was directly hit, blowing out approximately half of two walls (one facing south-east, the other south-west) and approximately one quarter of the roof. Additionally, The SMM observed that a Ukrainian Armed Forces facility, situated approximately 100m south of the shelled apartment building, had received a direct hit.

In “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM observed the results of shelling and conducted crater analysis at five locations. The house owners all said the shelling that struck their residences occurred on 28 August, between 21:20 and 22:05. Several owners told the SMM that they reported the damage to the municipality. The SMM observed that they had received grey plastic sheeting to weatherproof roofing damage, as well as clear plastic to cover windows.

At the first location at Batiuka Street, a shed in the yard was destroyed, but there was no crater and the direction or type of weapon was undetermined. At the second location at Batiuka Street, a direct impact to the house roof and a shed was seen, as well as yard damage; however, there was no crater. The direction of fire was assessed as having been from a westerly direction but the type of weapon could not be determined. At the third location at Karmeliuka Street, a large hole in the garage wall facing west and blast and shrapnel damage was observed. The round was assessed as fired from a direction ranging from the north-west to north, but the type of weapon was undetermined. At the fourth location at Genrikha Geine Street, the house had sustained blast and shrapnel damage and blown in windows from a shell striking a tree approximately 1.5m above the ground. The direction of fire and type of weapon were undetermined. At the fifth location at Koroliova Street, the house roof was damaged, the kitchen wall and pantry were heavily damaged, and the outside shower was completely destroyed. There was no crater and the round was assessed from a direction ranging from the north-west to the south-west, but the type of weapon was undetermined.

On 30 August, the SMM followed up on reports of shelling that had occurred the night of 29 August in government-controlled Lobacheve (17km north-west of Luhansk) and conducted analysis of 12 fresh craters in two residential areas. In the first neighbourhood, two craters were located on a road between two houses and four were in the yards of houses that were also damaged. The type of damage was consistent with the impact of 82mm mortar rounds. The SMM assessed all of the rounds as fired from a north-north-easterly direction. The SMM also observed multiple craters that were assessed as caused by fire from automatic and under-barrel grenade launchers (AGS-17/GP-25) from a north-north-easterly direction. A woman (in her forties) showed damage to the north side of the house and backyard, which the SMM assessed as caused by rounds from an automatic grenade launcher from a northerly direction. In the second neighbourhood, several residents (a woman in her fifties and four men, aged 50-60) showed the SMM six fresh craters, which the SMM assessed as having been caused by 82mm mortar rounds but the direction of fire could not be determined. Five rounds assessed as 82mm mortars caused damage to houses and property and the SMM observed one crater located on the road nearby. The residents all said they observed the shelling originating from the north.

In “LPR”-controlled Raivka (16km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM spoke with six residents (five women and one men, aged 50-60) who said the village had come under shelling during the night of 30 August. The SMM analysed three fresh craters and observed unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the village. The first crater was located about 10m from a house at Lisnaia Street and was assessed as caused by an 82mm mortar round. The house had broken windows on the ground and upper level and damage to a metal gate and nearby trees. Approximately 6m from this location, a piece of UXO was observed embedded in the asphalt road and assessed as being an unexploded 82mm mortar round fired from a westerly direction. The second crater was in the yard of a house located at Lenina Square, approximately 20m away from the house inhabited by a man and a woman (both aged 65). The crater was assessed as having been caused by a 120mm mortar round fired from a westerly direction. The SMM observed that the windows of a greenhouse located 5m away from the impact were broken and a vehicle parked in the yard had a broken windshield and numerous fresh holes. The third crater was at Pervomaisk Street, where the SMM assessed the impact as caused by a 120mm mortar shell, fired from a westerly direction. The shelling destroyed a garage about 2m from a house inhabited by a man and woman (both aged 65). Two old cars and two small boats in the garage were also damaged.

The SMM observed a fresh crater in “LPR”-controlled Irmino (54km west of Luhansk), located 50m north of a house on Sovhozna Street. The SMM observed damage to the window of the other house on the same street. The SMM found shrapnel in close vicinity of the crater, likely from a heavy artillery shell. A woman (aged 35) told the SMM that the impact occurred on the night of 30 August between 22:15 and 23:45 and she heard several explosions from a westerly direction. At Bluklierd Street, the SMM spoke with the owner of the house (woman, aged 60) that had a shattered window. She said the damage resulted from a heavy explosion between 22:15 and 23:00 on 30 August. The SMM observed a crater approximately 200m north of her house but was unable to conduct crater analysis due to security concerns.

In Novooleksandrivka (65km west of Luhansk), the SMM assessed the results from shelling that reportedly occurred on 30 August from 21:00 to 00:00. Two residents (man aged 50 and woman aged 48) informed about one house that had been shelled and then collapsed and burned down. The SMM observed the house and assessed the destruction as caused by artillery fired from a south-easterly direction. The SMM observed a fresh crater in the garden about 10m from another house in the neighbourhood whose south facing windows were shattered due to the shelling impact. In the fields adjacent to this house, the SMM saw four fresh craters, which were assessed as caused by artillery and automatic grenade launcher rounds fired from the south-easterly direction. A third house in the village was hit by an anti-tank guided missile, which damaged its north-west corner.

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, in accordance with the Package of Measures and its Addendum, as well as the Minsk Memorandum.

In violation of the respective withdrawal lines, in government-controlled Donske (57km south of Donetsk), the SMM observed four self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) at a Ukrainian Armed Forces compound. Near “DPR”-controlled Zelene (28km south-east of Donetsk), the SMM observed 15 anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm).

Beyond respective withdrawal lines, but outside assigned areas, near “LPR”-controlled Lutuhyne (20km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM observed one tank (T-72) being transported south. In a military training area near “LPR”-controlled Myrne (32km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM observed 16 tanks (T-64) and six self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) in another military training area near “LPR”-controlled Kruhlyk (31km south-west of Luhansk).

The SMM observed weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage does not comply with the criteria set in the 16 October 2015 notification. At Ukrainian Armed Forces areas, 30 tanks (T-64) previously recorded in these areas were again observed missing as first observed on 19 May 2016, and 18 towed anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) were observed as missing for the first time since previously recorded on 1 August 2016.

The SMM revisited three “DPR” permanent storage sites whose locations corresponded with the respective withdrawal lines and noted four tanks (T-64) missing for the first time, 36 tanks (T-64) missing, as first observed on 29 July 2016, and ten mortars (seven 2B9 Vasilek, 82mm; one 2B14 Podnos, 82mm; and two BM-37 82mm) as missing. The SMM also recorded one additional new weapon and six armour- piercing Sabot rounds with 25 cases of propellant.

The SMM continued to observe the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). In “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk), a previously observed piece of UXO consistent with an MLRS (9A53 Urgan, 200mm) rocket remained near the railroad hospital. Hospital staff told the SMM that people from the “DPR” members had visited the site on 29 August and declared the rocket safe and therefore had not disposed of it.

The SMM continued to observe the results of shelling on and military personnel in proximity of schools. In  government-controlled Raihorodka (34km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM observed a military installation in the building next to a kindergarten, approximately 15m from a school. School employees told the SMM that the school basement and additional storage were being used by the military personnel and the school could no longer access these spaces, as they were locked. The SMM met with the school director of School no. 5 in government-controlled Krasnohorivka (21km west of Donetsk) who said the school was most recently damaged by shelling on 16 June. He expressed concerns about the proximity of military positions to the school. The school director said there were 156 students registered but expected the number to increase during the winter as the school is the only one in the area with a functioning heating system.

The SMM monitored a border area not controlled by the Government near “DPR”-controlled Ulianivske (61km south-east of Donetsk) and observed eight people—three men and five women, between 50 and 70 years old—crossing the border by foot or bicycle. For approximately 45 minutes, the SMM monitored the situation at the border crossing point in “LPR”-controlled Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, 65km south-east of Luhansk) and observed 20 passenger cars (four with Russian Federation and the rest with Ukrainian licence plates) waiting to enter the Russian Federation. An armed “LPR” member reported that the traffic flow rapidly decreased during last days due to the end of summer holidays.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation along the administrative boundary line between the mainland and Crimea. The senior officer at the Chaplynka crossing point (90km south-east of Kherson) said the situation had been quiet in the past day and the flow of passengers and vehicles across the line had been low. Some 500 metres north-east of the entrance to the Chaplynka crossing point, the SMM saw a self-propelled air defence missile system. In the village of Chaplynka (78km south-east of Kherson) the SMM saw three armoured combat vehicles (BTR).

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

The SMM’s monitoring is restrained by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines and unexploded ordnance, and by restrictions of its freedom of movement and other impediments—which vary from day to day. The SMM’s mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations.

Delay:

- At the eastern entrance of “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM was stopped at a “police” checkpoint citing security concerns. After one hour and 34 minutes the patrol was allowed to pass. The JCCC was informed.

Other impediments:

- At checkpoints in “DPR”-controlled Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, 29km north-east of Mariupol), “DPR”-controlled Pervomaiske (38km north-east of Mariupol), and “DPR”-controlled Lukove (72km south of Donetsk), the SMM was filmed by armed “DPR”-members using their phones. Furthermore, at the checkpoint in Verkhnoshyrokivske, the SMM was asked by a “DPR” member wearing a balaclava about the nationalities of monitors and whether there were any Ukrainians or “spies” in the patrol. The SMM did not disclose nationalities. The JCCC was informed.

 

[1] Please see the annexed table for a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations as well as map of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions marked with locations featured in this report.