Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 2 April 2019
This report is for the media and the general public.
Summary
- Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region.
- The SMM saw fresh damage to residential buildings in Yasynuvata and Dokuchaievsk.
- The Mission recorded ceasefire violations and military hardware inside the Zolote disengagement area.
- The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line.
- A civilian car driven by men in military-style attire drove aggressively toward an SMM patrol twice.
- The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential civilian infrastructure.
- Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. It was also restricted at a checkpoint near Zaichenko.
Ceasefire violations[1]
In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 80 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 200 explosions). The highest number of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas south and south-east of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol) and the highest number of explosions were recorded south-east of Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk).
In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 60 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 25 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded at north-easterly directions of Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, non-government-controlled, 50km west of Luhansk), and north-westerly and south-westerly directions of Kalynove-Borshchuvate (non-government-controlled, 61km west of Luhansk).
A car driven by men in military-style attire drove aggressively toward an SMM patrol twice
On 2 April, while traveling near Zaichenko (non-government-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol), a vehicle with civilian licence plates traveling in the opposite direction abruptly pulled into the SMM’s travel lane, forcing the first SMM vehicle to swerve to avoid a collision. The vehicle then manoeuvred in the same manner toward the second SMM vehicle and drove away. Approximately one hour later, the SMM patrol was stationary in the vicinity of Zaichenko when it again observed the same civilian vehicle with two men in military-style attire driving directly towards it. The vehicle stopped short of hitting the first SMM vehicle and then reversed and performed the same manoeuvre toward the second SMM vehicle, again stopping short of colliding before it reversed and drove away.
Fresh damage to residential properties in Yasynuvata and Dokuchaievsk
At 45 Hoholia Street in Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM saw fresh shrapnel damage (holes and scratches) to the north- and west-facing sides of a one-storey inhabited house as well as small fragments of shrapnel in the adjacent garden and on a nearby table. A resident of the house told the SMM that in the evening of 1 April he had heard a loud explosion when the house had been struck by shrapnel.
On the same day, at 20 Radianska Street on the western edge of Dokuchaievsk (non-government-controlled, 30km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM saw two fresh holes in a double-paned west-south-westerly-facing window, assessed as caused by a single bullet. The SMM also observed two fresh scratches on the interior wall near the window and saw a bullet (12.7mm calibre) on the ground outside beneath the broken window. The owner of the apartment (male, late 50s) said that he was in another room with his daughter on the evening of 1 April when they had heard the sound of shattering glass and then entered the room to find the broken window and a bullet on the floor.
Disengagement areas[2]
On the evening and night of 1-2 April, the SMM camera in Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) recorded a burst and four projectiles in flight, all at an assessed range of 1.5-3.5km south-south-east, all assessed as inside the disengagement area. It recorded an additional burst at an assessed range of 1.5-3.5km east-south-east which was unable to be assessed as inside or outside of the disengagement area. The same camera also recorded eight projectiles at an assessed range of 1.5-3.5km (six east and two east-south-east), all assessed as outside the disengagement area.
On 1 April, near residential houses inside the disengagement area near Zolote, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1) and a modified military truck with an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) mounted in the rear near a previously observed position of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, about 500m south of the area’s northern edge and 1.4km east of the area’s western edge. At a distance of about 1km north-east of the abovementioned positions and south of the railway tracks, the same UAV spotted an IFV (BMP-1) as well as two to four people. Approximately 1.3km north-east of the abovementioned positions, the same UAV spotted another IFV (BMP-1) as well as an additional two to four people.
On 2 April, positioned near the northern edge of Zolote-3/Stakhanovets (government-controlled, 61km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard two undetermined explosions at an assessed range of 3-4km south (unable to assess as inside or outside the disengagement area).
Positioned in the disengagement area near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), and near the disengagement area close to Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), the SMM observed a calm situation.[3]
Withdrawal of weapons
The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Memorandum and the Package of Measures and its Addendum.
In violation of withdrawal lines
Government-controlled areas
2 April
The SMM saw:
- six anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) being loaded onto a train in Kostiantynivka (60km north of Donetsk) and
- two anti-tank guns stationary (MT-12) near Kostiantynivka.
Non-government-controlled areas
31 March
An SMM mini-UAV spotted a probable tank (T-72) about 1.5km west of Kalynove-Borshchuvate.
1 April
Aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of four multiple launch rocket systems (types undetermined) in a training area near Miusynsk.
An SMM mid-range UAV spotted four self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) near Hrechchyne (48km south of Donetsk).
Beyond withdrawal lines but outside of designated storage sites:
Government-controlled areas
2 April
The SMM saw:
- a surface-to-air missile system (9K33 Osa) near Zaliznianske (79km north of Donetsk) and
- eight mortars (PM-38, 120mm) being transported by a military utility truck headed south-west near Kostiantynivka.
Non-government-controlled areas
On 1 April, aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of:
- 23 tanks (type undetermined) and four surface-to-air missile systems (type undetermined) in a training area near Buhaivka (37km south-west of Luhansk) (for previous observations, see SMM Daily Report 26 March 2019);
- seven tanks (type undetermined) and six pieces of towed artillery/mortars (types undetermined) in a training area near Miusynsk (62km south-west of Luhansk) (for previous observations, see SMM Daily Report 26 March 2019); and
- 22 tanks (type undetermined) in a training area near Kruhlyk (31km south-west of Luhansk) (for previous observations, see SMM Daily Report of 12 March 2019).
Other weapons observed:[4]
On 1 April, aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of seven pieces of self-propelled artillery/mortars (types undetermined) and 16 pieces of towed artillery/mortars (types undetermined) in a training area near Buhaivka.
Weapons permanent storage site
At a permanent storage site in a non-government-controlled area of Luhansk region
1 April
The SMM noted that all weapons previously observed at the site were present.
Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[5]
Government-controlled areas
27 March
An SMM mini-UAV spotted two armoured reconnaissance vehicles (BRM-1K), an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23), an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (MT-LB-S ambulance variant) and an IFV (BMP-1) near Nevelske (18km north-west of Donetsk).
30 March
An SMM mid-range UAV spotted three armoured reconnaissance vehicles (BRDM-2) in Novhorodske (35km north of Donetsk).
1 April
An SMM long-range UAV spotted:
- an IFV (BMP-1) near Myronivskyi (62km north-east of Donetsk);
- seven armoured combat vehicles (ACV) (type undetermined) near Troitske (69km west of Luhansk);
- an IFV (BMP-1) and an ACV (type undetermined) near Novozvanivka (70km west of Luhansk);
- an IFV (BMP-1) and an ACV (type undetermined) near Orikhove (57km north-west of Luhansk); and
- four ACVs (type undetermined) south-east of Bila Hora (54km north of Donetsk).
An SMM mid-range UAV spotted five IFVs (BMP-2), two APCs (MT-LB) and an armoured recovery vehicle (BREM-2) near Prychepylivka (50km north-west of Luhansk).
2 April
The SMM saw:
- four IFVs (two BMP-1, two BMP variant) near Popasna (69km west of Luhansk). (for previous observations, see SSM Daily Report of 31 March 2019);
- an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) with a mounted heavy machine gun next to civilian houses used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Orikhove-Donetske (44km north-west of Luhansk);
- two IFVs (BMP-1) in Novhorodske; and
- two armoured reconnaissance vehicles (BRDM-2) and three IFVs (BMP-1) near Romanivka (government-controlled, 41km north of Donetsk).
Non-government-controlled areas
1 April
An SMM mini-UAV spotted an APC (BTR-80) at the Luhansk airport.
An SMM mid-range UAV spotted two IFVs (BMP-1) near Hrechchyne.
An SMM long-range UAV spotted:
- two ACVs (type undetermined) near Zhovte (17km north-west of Luhansk) and
- an IFV (BMP-1) and an APC (BTR-80) near Pryvitne (11km north of Luhansk).
2 April
The SMM saw an IFV (BMP-1) in Smile (31km north-west of Luhansk).
Automatic jamming system spotted near Luhansk city
On 1 April, an SMM mini-UAV spotted an automatic jamming system (R-330Zh Zhitel) in a compound approximately 2km south-east of Luhansk city.
Demining activities
On 1 April, the SMM saw 12 members of an international demining organization conducting demining activities on the eastern side of road T-1314, about 3km north of Shyrokyi (government-controlled, 38km north-east of Luhansk).
Presence of unexploded ordnance
On Stratonavtiv Street in Donetsk city, approximately 700m south of the Donetsk airport, the SMM saw for the first time a piece of unexploded ordnance (UXO) assessed as a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) rocket embedded in soft ground approximately 1m outside of a residential house. The SMM did not assess the UXO as recent.
SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure
The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk) and to a power transmission line near Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk). The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station (15km north of Donetsk) and to monitor the security situation around the pumping station near Vasylivka (non-government-controlled, 20km north of Donetsk).
Border areas outside government control
On 1 April, while at a border crossing point near Ulianivske (61km south-east of Donetsk), the SMM saw two pedestrians (males, over the age of 40) entering Ukraine.
On the same day, while at a border crossing point near Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk), the SMM saw five cars (one with Ukrainian and one with Russian Federation licence plates, as well as three “DPR” plates) entering Ukraine and 11 cars (eight Ukrainian and one Russian Federation licence plates, as well as two “DPR” plates) exiting Ukraine.
The Mission continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Chernivtsi and Kyiv.
*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, UXO 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 Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance. Nonetheless, the armed formations in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions frequently deny the SMM access to areas adjacent to Ukraine’s border outside control of the Government (for example, see SMM Daily Report 2 April 2019). The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April 2017 near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations.
Denial of access:
- Two armed members of the armed formations at a checkpoint north of Zaichenko (non-government-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol) prevented the SMM from continuing onwards through the check point to Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, non-government-controlled, 23km north-east of Mariupol) citing “security reasons.”
Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:
- The sides continued to deny the SMM full access to the three disengagement areas, as well as the ability to travel certain roads previously identified as important for effective monitoring by the Mission and for civilians’ movement, through failure to conduct comprehensive clearance of mines and UXO.
Other impediments:
- During a meeting with a local representative in Holmivskyi (non-government-controlled, 49km north-east of Donetsk), an armed man in military-style clothing interrupted the meeting and ordered the SMM to leave the building citing “the risk of imminent shelling” and stated that the SMM could only remain near the Cultural Centre in the centre of the village.
- Near Zaichenko, a vehicle with civilian licence plates twice manoeuvred toward the SMM patrol in an aggressive manner. For more information, see above.
[1] For a complete breakdown of ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. During the reporting period, the SMM cameras in Krasnohorivka and Maiorsk were not operational.
[2]Disengagement is foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016.
[3] Due to presence of mines, including those on a road between Bohdanivka and Petrivske, the SMM’s access to its camera in Petrivske remains limited; thus, the review of the camera footage may take place days later.
[4] The SMM was unable to assess whether these weapons were in violation of withdrawal lines in the absence of information on their calibre.
[5] The hardware mentioned in this section is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.