Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 8 December 2016

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission observed damage caused by shelling in suburbs of Donetsk city. It continued to monitor the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske but was restricted in its movement.* The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. It facilitated and monitored repair works. The SMM monitored one border area currently outside of government control. The SMM monitored the situation along the administrative boundary line with Crimea. In Kyiv, the SMM observed a peaceful demonstration.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region including 659 explosions compared with 226 in the previous reporting period.[1]

While in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city centre on the night of 7-8 December the SMM heard 340 undetermined explosions, 237 of which were 5-8km north-west and 103 were 5-8km north-east.

During the night of 7-8 December, the SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) recorded six undetermined explosions and firing that began with ten tracer rounds in flight from south-west to north-east and ten from south to north, all in areas 4-6km east of the camera. The camera also recorded six undetermined explosions, eight undetermined projectiles in flight (four from south-west to north-east, one from north-east to south-west and three from south to north) and five tracer rounds from south to north and one airburst, all in areas 4-6km east of the camera. On 8 December the same camera recorded 33 undetermined explosions and a total of 63 undetermined projectiles (40 in flight from east to west and 23 from west to east), all at distances 4-8km south-east.

While in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM recorded 14 undetermined explosions, 13 in an area 3-5km west and one in an area 1-2km west.

In the early morning of 8 December the SMM camera at the Oktiabr mine (9km north-west of Donetsk city centre) recorded 27 undetermined explosions 3-4km north-west.

While in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) on the night of 7 December the SMM heard 22 explosions: 13 assessed as mortar round (120mm) impacts, eight as outgoing fire from a recoilless gun (SPG-9, 73mm) and one undetermined, and bursts of infantry fighting vehicle (IFV; BMP-2, 30mm) or anti-aircraft (ZU-23, 23mm) cannon fire and heavy-machine-gun fire 4-6km south-west. On 8 December the SMM heard four explosions assessed as mortar round (82mm) impacts, two undetermined explosions and bursts of automatic-grenade-launcher fire 2-4km south-west.

On the night of 7 December the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded two undetermined explosions and 90 tracer rounds in flight from west to east (assessed as from an anti-aircraft gun), all at undetermined distances to the north-west.

Positioned near “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM heard 177 explosions - 157 undetermined, ten assessed as outgoing tank fire and ten assessed as impacts of tank rounds - and heavy-machine-gun fire, in areas 5-9km north-west.

In Luhansk region the SMM observed fewer ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period. While at an “LPR”-checkpoint near Krasnyi Lyman (30km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard one undetermined explosion 2km north and three bursts of machine-gun fire about 500m north.

The SMM observed shelling damage in a residential area of “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city’s Kuibyshevskyi district (5km west of the city centre). The SMM saw damaged gas pipelines in front of a house at 33 Druzhby Street and damage to the north-west-facing wall. It observed broken windows at five other houses and saw the roof of the house at 31 Druzhby Street had been damaged. The SMM observed a fresh crater in the street outside the house at 33 Druzhby Street and assessed it had been caused by a mortar (of at least 120mm) round fired from a westerly direction. No shrapnel was seen. The SMM observed a destroyed north-west-facing wall and roof of a house at 68 Druzhby Street, broken windows and several damaged gas pipelines. The SMM saw an impact to the roof of the house that it assessed was caused by a mortar (at least 120mm) round fired from a westerly direction. The SMM did not see any shrapnel.

At 67 Arbatskaia Street the SMM observed that the north-western facing-wall of the house, the roof, windows and gas pipelines had been damaged. The SMM saw a crater in the yard and assessed it was caused by a mortar (at least 82mm) round fired from a westerly direction. No shrapnel was observed. The SMM saw a fresh crater near the house at 49A Severodvinskaia Street but no damage to nearby houses. The SMM assessed the crater had been caused by a mortar (at least 120mm) or an artillery (122mm) round fired from a westerly direction. No shrapnel was observed. Residents in the area said that no one had been injured and gave varying times for the shelling of between 22:30 on 7 December and 00:30 on 8 December.

A Russian Federation Armed Forces officer of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), tasked by the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) and other signatories of the Addendum to contribute to full ceasefire along the contact line, told the SMM that the JCCC officers had been assessing the situation in the area since early morning.

The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement areas of Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote (60km west of Luhansk) and Petrivske (41km south of Donetsk), as foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September. As a result of non-compliance with the provisions of the TCG’s decision, the SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas,* but the Mission was able to partially monitor them. The SMM noted no demining or fencing off of mines in any of the three areas during the reporting period.

Positioned west of the Petrivske disengagement area near government-controlled Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk) the SMM heard two shots of small-arms fire 2km south-west, and later heard three undetermined explosions at an unknown distance to the north-west (all assessed as outside the disengagement area).

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

The SMM observed weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage does not comply with the criteria set out in the 16 October 2015 notification. In a government-controlled area beyond the respective withdrawal lines the SMM observed 19 tanks (T-64) for the first time. Twenty-two tanks (T-64) were absent, 19 first noted absent on 8 December, one on 16 August and two on 14 October 2016. In another area the SMM observed six mortars (M120-15, 120mm) and noted that six mortars (2B11, 120mm) still absent, as first noted on 14 October 2016.

The SMM revisited permanent storage sites, whose locations corresponded with the withdrawal lines. In government-controlled areas the SMM noted the following weapons absent: 64 tanks (T-64), four observed as missing for the first time, 31 of which were first observed missing on 28 February, eight on 19 April, one on 29 June, one on 16 September, four on 3 November and 15 on 11 November 2016. Twenty-eight mortars (26 2B9, Vasilek, 82mm and two M120, 120mm) were absent, eight of which were first observed missing on 28 February, one on 16 September, 16 on 13 October and three on 3 November 2016.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles[2] in the security zone. The SMM observed an IFV (BMP) towed by an armoured recovery vehicle (BREM-2) near government-controlled Pervomaiske (17km north-west of Donetsk), and one armoured personnel carrier (BTR-80) heading west from “LPR”-controlled Luhansk city.

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to essential infrastructure, co-ordinated by the JCCC. The SMM observed repairs of the water pumping system in “LPR”-controlled Slovianoserbsk (28km north-west of Luhansk).

The SMM monitored the Ukraine-Russian Federation border in areas currently not controlled by the Government. At the border crossing point in Dovzhanskyi (84km south-east of Luhansk) the SMM observed in the course of one hour 19 passenger vehicles (16 with Ukrainian licence plates, two with Russian Federation license plates and one with an “LPR” plate) and one covered truck (with Ukrainian licence plates) leaving Ukraine. The SMM also observed two buses leave Ukraine.

The SMM monitored the situation along the administrative boundary line with Crimea. In Chaplynka district (77km south-east of Kherson) the SMM observed three multiple-launch rocket systems (BM-27 Uragan 220mm). The SMM monitored the administrative boundary line on the Ad Peninsula (96km south-east of Kherson), Kalanchak (67km south-east of Kherson) and Chaplynka and assessed the situation to be calm.

The SMM observed a demonstration outside the parliament building in Kyiv organized by the All-Ukrainian Trade Union. The SMM estimated that about 7,000 people (mostly middle-aged, about equal numbers of men and women) took part. Some demonstrators carried the flags of around 25 different trade unions. Addressing the crowd, a representative of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine made ten demands to the Parliament, most of which concerned measures to improve living standards. About 2,000 law enforcement officers monitored the demonstration, which passed off peacefully.

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

*Restrictions of 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. They have also agreed that the JCCC should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance.

Denial of access:

• An armed “DPR” member said no demining had taken place on the road west from “DPR”-controlled Petrivske (41km south of Donetsk) and did not guarantee the security of the SMM. Due to the threat of mines and the absence of security guarantees the SMM was not able to use the road. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC at a checkpoint in government-controlled Bohdanivka (41km south-west of Donetsk) told the SMM that they could not assist in ensuring security for the SMM to travel to government-controlled Viktorivka (42km south-west of Donetsk). The SMM also observed mines on the road. Due to the threat of mines and the absence of security the SMM was not able to use the road. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• The SMM was unable to access secondary routes in the Zolote-Pervomaisk disengagement area (58km west of Luhansk) from both sides of the disengagement area. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC said the area had not been demined. “LPR” members said they could not guarantee the SMM’s safety due to the threat from mines. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• Several concrete blocks and barbed wire blocked the road between government-controlled Zolote-3 (60km west of Luhansk) and the disengagement area, preventing the SMM from travelling on the road. The SMM also observed several mine warning signs on both sides of the road. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers at a checkpoint near government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk) stopped the SMM and prevented travel toward government-controlled Katerynivka (64km west of Luhansk). Anti-tank obstacles also blocked the road. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• The SMM could not travel across the bridge in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) in either direction as Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel said the bridge was mined. An “LPR” member told the SMM that they could not guarantee the safety of the SMM due to the threat of mines. The SMM informed the JCCC.
• Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers denied the SMM access to a weapons holding area. The SMM informed the JCCC and waited 73 minutes before leaving.

Delay:

• Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers delayed the SMM for 30 minutes at a weapons holding area before giving it access. The SMM informed the JCCC.

Conditional access:

• An armed “DPR” member delayed the SMM for 25 minutes at a checkpoint in Petrivske (41km south of Donetsk) before allowing it to proceed but only under escort by an armed “DPR” member.

[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.