Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 17 November 2016

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period, most of them concentrated in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport area. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of shelling and damage to houses. The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and faced restrictions of its freedom of movement in all three areas.* The SMM monitored the withdrawal of weapons. It observed long queues at entry-exit checkpoints near Stanytsia Luhanska during the morning hours. It monitored repairs to essential infrastructure in Krasnyi Lyman. In Kyiv, the Mission observed four peaceful public gatherings outside the National Bank of Ukraine, the Parliament and the Constitutional Court.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations[1] in Donetsk region, including about 460 explosions, compared with about 105 during the previous reporting period. Some 300 of these explosions were recorded in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport area.

During the evening of 16 November, while in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 16 explosions assessed as mortar rounds (ten outgoing and six impacts); three undetermined explosions and two explosions assessed as recoilless gun rounds (SPG-9, 73mm); all 2-4km south-east.

During the evening of 16 November, while in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 28 explosions assessed as 122mm artillery fire 5-10km south-west; and three undetermined explosions of 82mm mortar fire 5-8km north-west.

On that night, while in government-controlled Mariupol (102km south of Donetsk), the SMM heard four undetermined explosions north-east of its position and six undetermined explosions east-north-east.

During the day of 17 November, in government-controlled Pobeda (27km west of Donetsk) the SMM heard four undetermined explosions 2-3km north-east.

During the evening of 16 November while in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city the SMM heard 87 undetermined explosions 5-10km north-west.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) over nearly five hours the SMM heard 159 undetermined explosions and 19 bursts of small-arms fire, all 2-7km west, south-west and west-south-west, except for three undetermined explosions 4-7km north-north-west and north-north-east.

Positioned in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) for about three and a half hours, the SMM heard: 17 explosions assessed as 82mm or 120mm mortar rounds (14 impacts and three undetermined) 4-5km south-west and south-east; 16 explosions assessed as outgoing artillery rounds 4-6km north-east and north-west; two explosions assessed as outgoing 73mm infantry fighting vehicle (IFV; BMP-1) cannon rounds, both 1-2km south-east; five explosions assessed as outgoing recoilless gun (SPG-9) rounds 0.8-2km, south-east and north-east; and five undetermined explosions 4-6km north-east.

The SMM camera in Avdiivka recorded three airbursts and seven undetermined explosions, all 4-5km east-south-east, one undetermined projectile in flight from south-east to north-west, and three from north to south.

On 17 November while in “DPR”-controlled Kirovskyi district of Donetsk city (about 9km south-west of Donetsk city centre) the SMM heard 15 undetermined explosions 2-6km north and north-east. While in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk central railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk city centre) the SMM heard six undetermined explosions 3-6km north and four undetermined explosions 6-8km north-east.

While in government-controlled Pyshchevyk (25km north-east of Mariupol) the SMM heard one undetermined explosion north-east and heard and saw 15 outgoing explosions (fired from west to east) 2km east and 15 explosions assessed as impacts 4-5km east. In government-controlled Mariupol (102km south of Donetsk) the SMM heard 12 undetermined explosions at an unknown distance east. The SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded one undetermined explosion 1km north and six outgoing indirect rocket-assisted projectiles fired from west-south-west to east-north-east.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including 59 explosions, compared with 20 explosions in the previous reporting period. While in government-controlled Hirske (63km west of Luhansk) the SMM heard 28 explosions assessed as outgoing rounds and two explosions assessed as impacts about 15km east-south-east. Positioned in government-controlled Sotenne (formerly Chervonyi Zhovten, 40km north of Luhansk) the SMM heard three undetermined explosions at an unknown direction and distance. Positioned 2km north of “LPR”-controlled Sentianivka (formerly Frunze, 44km west of Luhansk) the SMM heard three undetermined explosions 10km north-west.

Positioned in the western outskirts of “LPR”-controlled Uspenka (23km south-west of Luhansk) the SMM heard 23 undetermined explosions about 5km south-west of its position, assessed as being part of an exercise being carried out in training areas near Uspenka and “LPR”-controlled Myrne (28km south-west of Luhansk), outside the security zone.

The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process and to pursue full access to the areas near Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk), Zolote (60km west of Luhansk) and Petrivske (41km south of Donetsk), as foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016. The Mission’s access remained restricted to most of these areas, although it was able to travel along the road between Zolote and “LPR”-controlled Pervomaisk (58km west of Luhansk). The SMM noted that the situation was calm in all three disengagement areas during its visits.

The SMM did not note any signs of disengagement in the Stanytsia Luhanska area. Notwithstanding the obligation in the Framework Decision to remove or fence off explosive hazards in these areas, an “LPR” member told the SMM that demining had not taken place on the road leading towards the railway bridge west of the southern end of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge.

An armed “LPR” member told the SMM that there were still possibly mines and unexploded ordnance on secondary routes in the Zolote/Pervomaisk disengagement area.

A “DPR” member in Petrivske told the SMM that no demining had been conducted in the area. In government-controlled Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk) Ukrainian Armed Forces officers of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) told the SMM that mines were still present on the road between Viktorivka (42km south-west of Donetsk) and Petrivske.

The SMM followed up on firing and shelling incidents. Following up on a report from Russian Federation Armed forces officers of the JCCC, the SMM, accompanied by a one such officer, observed a fresh impact on a pole 5m south of the hospital in Donetsk city. The SMM assessed the impact as caused by a rocket-assisted projectile fired from a westerly direction. The SMM observed fresh shrapnel holes in at least ten south-facing windows of the hospital, assessed as being caused by the same projectile. Medical staff told the SMM that they had heard two explosions on 17 November between 11:30 and 11:35.

Following information concerning shelling on the previous night in “DPR”-controlled Dokuchaievsk (30km south-west of Donetsk), a Russian Federation Armed Forces officer of the JCCC and a “DPR” member led the SMM to the Technical College located on Lenin Street. The SMM observed two rooms with one bullet hole each in the south-westerly-facing window of the respective rooms. A bullet impact was visible in a teacher’s desk in one of the rooms, and had passed through a chair and impacted in the floor in the other room. The SMM assessed that both bullet holes had been caused by 12.7mm heavy-machine-gun bullets.

In Pikuzy the SMM observed two fresh impact sites. At one site the SMM observed severe structural damage to the external north-western wall of a house, assessed as caused by a direct hit to the base of the house. Opposite the house the SMM observed damage to a tree, assessed as caused by a direct impact on the tree from a recoilless gun (SPG-9, 73mm) round fired from a north-westerly direction. At the second site, the SMM observed minor shrapnel damage to the wall, roof and one window of a house. The impact site was about 5m from the house. The SMM assessed the damage in both cases as caused by 120mm mortar fire from a north-westerly direction.

In “DPR”-controlled Azov (formerly Dzerzhynske, 25km north-east of Mariupol) the SMM saw one impact site about 5m from the nearest house. The SMM observed that windows in four houses around the site were shattered. The SMM assessed that the damage was caused by shrapnel from a 120mm mortar round fired from a north-westerly direction. According to residents, the incident had occurred on 29 October.

In residential parts of “DPR”-controlled Sakhanka (24km north-east of Mariupol) the SMM saw five fresh impact sites. The SMM observed shrapnel damage to the warehouse of a shop; to the roof, windows and gas and electrical infrastructure of a house; broken and damaged windows to more than five other houses and a gas pipeline; and structural damage to the north-western side of a roof of a garage caused by a direct impact. In all cases, the SMM assessed that the damage was caused by 120mm mortar fire from a north-westerly direction. Residents told the SMM that the shelling occurred during the evening of 15 November.

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

In violation of withdrawal lines the SMM observed in government-controlled areas: two surface-to-air missile systems (9k33 Osa, 210mm) heading north in Novoivanivka (67km west of Luhansk); and one stationary self-propelled surface-to-air missile/anti-aircraft gun system (2S6 Tunguska variant) in Novohnativka (40km south of Donetsk).

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 holding areas, the SMM observed: 29 tanks (T-64), 18 anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm), 12 towed howitzers (2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm) and two surface-to-air missile systems (9K33 Osa, 210mm). The SMM observed that the following weapons were still absent: one tank (T-64), nine anti-tank guns (six MT-12 Rapira, 100mm and three D-48, 85mm), 12 towed howitzers (six 2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm and six 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm), and six self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm).

The SMM revisited a Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent storage site whose location corresponds with the withdrawal lines, and observed that 20 tanks (T-64) and ten mortars (eight 2B9 Vasilek, one BM-37 and one 2B14, all 82mm) were still absent. The SMM also observed other weapons not previously recorded.

The SMM observed one armoured personnel carrier in the security zone near government-controlled Novohnativka.[2]

The SMM followed up on an explosion caused by a mine. At the “LPR” checkpoint at the junction between “LPR”-controlled Slovianoserbsk (28km north-west of Luhansk) and Pryshyb (34km north-west of Luhansk) the SMM observed the site of a recent anti-tank mine detonation that took place on 15 November near that checkpoint. According to the “LPR” members a tractor had veered slightly off the paved road to allow traffic to pass (at a distance of about 75 metres from the T-junction checkpoint) and while doing so had detonated an anti-tank mine. This mine was located about one metre off the paved road. The two men on the tractor did not suffer any significant injuries.

The SMM continued to observe long queues at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line. Just before the opening at 08:00 of the “LPR” checkpoint on the bridge in Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM observed a queue of about 1,200-1,400 pedestrians waiting to travel toward government-controlled areas. At 12:08, at the same checkpoint, the SMM observed 400 pedestrians waiting to travel in the opposite direction.  At 08:50, at the government checkpoint north of the bridge, the SMM observed 300-400 pedestrians waiting to travel towards “LPR”-controlled areas and at 09:10, 200 pedestrians were waiting to enter government-controlled areas.  By 10:30 there was no queue in either direction.

The SMM visited the pedestrian border crossing point in government-controlled Syrotyne (182km north-west of Luhansk). During its 30 minute observation, the SMM observed no movement. The SMM then met with the Border Guard Service commander in government-controlled Lantrativka (174km north of Luhansk) who told the SMM that the situation at the border crossing point had been calm. During the last two weeks 76 people had crossed from Ukraine to the Russian Federation and 80 in the opposite direction. He mentioned that the train connection between Lantrativka and Russian Federation was only carrying goods - importing coal from and exporting steel plates to the Russian Federation and there was no passenger service.

The SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to critical infrastructure. In the area of ”LPR”-controlled Slovianoserbsk and ”LPR”-controlled Krasnyi Lyman (30km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable water pipeline repair works.

In Kyiv the SMM monitored a public gathering outside the National Bank of Ukraine. About 1,200 people (about 80 per cent elderly and of these about 60 per cent women) protested against what they said was corruption in the banking sector and called on the Government to reimburse people for lost deposits. About 15 young men (20-25 years old), some wearing orange bibs, were positioned around the protestors and stopped and spoke with people who attempted to leave the immediate area of the protest. About 100 law enforcement officers were present and had cordoned off the road to traffic with a metal fence. The SMM observed one demonstration of about 120 people in front of the Constitutional Court on the topic of the Ukrainian state language policy, and of two demonstrations of 40 and 30 people at the Parliament in Kyiv city centre on the situation of internally displaced persons and small business owners, respectively. The protests remained peaceful.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Chernivtsi.

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

The SMM’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines, unexploded ordnance, 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.

Denial of access:

• The SMM was not able to proceed further to a summer cottage area (adjacent to the railway bridge south of Stanytsia Luhanska) from the parking lot east of an “LPR” checkpoint south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, as an armed “LPR” member present at the checkpoint told the SMM that no demining had taken place in the area. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• At an “LPR” checkpoint at the southern edge of the Zolote-Pervomaisk disengagement area, an armed man told the SMM that fields and areas other than roads located in the disengagement area had not been cleared of mines. The SMM was therefore denied full access to the area. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• In “DPR”-controlled Petrivske (41km south of Donetsk) a “DPR” member did not provide safety and security guarantees to enable the SMM to directly observe the disengagement area. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• In government-controlled Bohdanivka (41km south of Donetsk) the SMM could not proceed on the road to Viktorivka (42km south of Donetsk) as mines were still on the road.
• On two different occasions the SMM could not travel on the road leading from government-controlled Popasna to government-controlled Katerynivka (69 and 64km west of Luhansk, respectively), as Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint personnel said the road was mined. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• The SMM could not proceed south across the bridge south of government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk). Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel present at a checkpoint told the SMM that the bridge was still mined. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• While in a village “administration” building in “LPR”-controlled Simeikyne (31km south-east of Luhansk), an SMM’s interlocutor told the SMM to leave the building immediately or he would call “security”. The SMM left the area.
• In government-controlled Novohnativka Ukrainian Armed Forces denied the SMM access to a compound. The SMM informed the JCCC.

Conditional access:

• At two different checkpoints in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) armed men stopped the SMM and demanded that the SMM open the trunks of its vehicles before it passed.

Delay:

• In “DPR”-controlled Kyivskyi District of Donetsk city (5km north of Donetsk city centre) a “DPR” member, who introduced himself as a “police officer”, stopped the SMM and delayed it for more than 90 minutes.

[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.   

[2] This hardware is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.