Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 19 April 2019

This report is for the media and the general public.

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM saw fresh damage from shelling to residential houses in Donetsk city.
• In Donetsk region, an SMM long-range UAV crashed and an SMM mini-UAV sustained damage from gunfire.
• The SMM observed weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines.
• The Mission recorded ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential civilian infrastructure in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• Restrictions of the Mission’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. The SMM was also restricted near Markyne, as well as in Novoazovsk and Dovzhanske, areas near the border with the Russian Federation.*

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including more explosions (about 150), compared with the previous reporting period (about 110 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas south-east of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol) and north, north-west and west of the Donetsk central railway station (non-government-controlled, 6km north-west of Donetsk).

In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations, including more explosions (about 150), compared with the previous reporting period (about 20 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas north-north-west of Kalynove-Borshchuvate (non-government-controlled, 61km west of Luhansk) north-east, east-south-east and south of Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk) and inside the disengagement area near Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk).

SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle crashes near contact line in Donetsk region

At 01:26, 19 April, while near Vuhledar (government-controlled, 48km south-west of Donetsk), an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) encountered dual GPS signal interference, assessed as due to jamming.[2] This interference continued until 02:35, when, while attempting to navigate the UAV to its ground control station near Stepanivka (government-controlled, 54km north of Donetsk), the SMM lost control of the UAV. The SMM assesses that it crashed at 02:36, in an area west of Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk) and north-east of Novhorodske (government-controlled, 35km north of Donetsk). It is premature to draw conclusions about the causes of the incident. The SMM is making urgent efforts to locate the UAV.*

Fresh damage from shelling to residential houses in Donetsk city

In a residential neighbourhood in north-western Donetsk city, at 35 Bohatyrska Street, the SMM saw fresh damage to the east-facing wall of a two-storey house, with most of the tiles broken and dislodged on an area of the wall, as well as a broken window covered in plywood. The Mission also saw fresh damage to the east-facing side of the roof above the damaged wall, with the metal roof bent upwards, as well as a shattered south-west-facing window in an outdoor toilet. About 0.5m east of the house, the SMM saw a fresh crater close to the damaged wall. A caretaker of the house (woman, 30-40 years old) told the SMM that the resident of the house was not present at the time of shelling.

About 15m east of the abovementioned house, at 13 Zoolohichna Street, the SMM saw two west-facing shattered windows covered with plastic sheeting on a two-storey house. Next to the house, the SMM saw an impact mark to a metal bathtub and pieces of shrapnel around the yard. A resident of the house (woman, about 90 years old) told the SMM that she had been inside the house with her daughter (50-60 years old) on the evening of 17 April when she had heard a loud sound. The SMM assessed that the damage at both houses was caused by shelling from a northerly direction, but could not assess the type of weapon used.

SMM mini-UAV sustains damage from gunfire

While conducting a mini-UAV flight on the south-eastern edge of Kurdiumivka (government-controlled, 54km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard 15 shots of small-arms fire at an assessed range of 700m south-west, assessed as aimed at the UAV which was flying about 700m south-west of the SMM’s position at an altitude of about 150m. The Mission landed the UAV and observed that one UAV propeller blade had sustained damage, assessed to be caused by a bullet from a rifle. The SMM left the area.*

Disengagement areas[3]

On 18 April an SMM mini-UAV spotted an armoured combat vehicle (ACV) north of the railway bridge and west of road T1316 inside the disengagement area near Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk), assessed as belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. On the same day, the same UAV again spotted three anti-tank mines (probable TM-62), assessed as belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, west of road T1316 (the nearest of which was located 10m west of the road), as well as at least 30 anti-tank mines (types undetermined) west of road T1316 and at least 41 anti-tank mines (types undetermined), assessed as belonging to the armed formations, east of the same road laid in three rows (for previous observations see SMM Daily Report 17 November 2018). The UAV spotted for the first time a red, triangular mine hazard sign on the western side of the same road about 70m south-east of the aforementioned 41 anti-tank mines.

During the day on 19 April, positioned about 600m south of the checkpoint of the armed formations on the southern edge of the Zolote disengagement area, the SMM heard an explosion assessed as an impact and four bursts of small-arms fire, all at an assessed range of 1-3km north and north-north-west, as well as two undetermined explosions and about 50 shots and bursts of small-arms fire at an assessed range of 700m-800m north and east-north-east, all assessed as inside the disengagement area. On the same day, positioned about 1.5km south-west of Molodizhne (non-government-controlled, 63km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard four undetermined explosions at an assessed range of 4-5km north-east, assessed as inside the disengagement area.

Positioned inside the disengagement area near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk) the SMM observed a calm situation.

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

Non-government-controlled areas

On 18 April, an SMM mini-UAV spotted three tanks (T-64) near Lobacheve (13km east of Luhansk).

An SMM long-range UAV spotted 19 tanks (types undetermined) near Boikivske (formerly Telmanove, 67km south-east of Donetsk) in a zone within which deployment of heavy armament and military equipment is further proscribed according to Point 5 of the Memorandum of 19 September 2014.

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside of designated storage sites

Non-government-controlled areas

18. April

An SMM long-range UAV spotted ten tanks (types undetermined) in a training area near Pokrovka (36km east of Donetsk).

Weapons that the SMM could not verify as withdrawn[4]

At heavy weapons holding areas in government-controlled areas of Donetsk region

19 April

The SMM saw that one of the sites was abandoned and that six towed mortars (PM-38, 120mm), 18 towed howitzers (D-20, 152mm), 20 self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm), six self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) and 80 tanks (T-64) continued to be missing.

Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[5]

Government-controlled areas

18. April

An SMM long-range UAV spotted a mobile radar system (ST-68UM, Tin Shield) near Petrivske (61km south-west of Donetsk).

19. April

The SMM saw:

• an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (BTR-70) near a checkpoint of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kyrylivka (26km north-east of Mariupol); and
• an APC (BTR-70) near Novobakhmutivka (28km north of Donetsk).

Non-government-controlled areas

18 April

An SMM long-range UAV spotted:

• four ACVs near Mykhailivka (30km north-east of Donetsk);
• nine infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) near Boikivske, in a zone within which deployment of heavy armament and military equipment is proscribed according to Point 5 of the Memorandum of 19 September 2014;
• two APCs (MT-LB) and an ACV near Bezimenne (100km south of Donetsk);
• two probable ACVs (types undetermined) near Kozatske (86km south of Donetsk);
• two IFVs (BMP variants) near Khreshchatytske (86km south of Donetsk;
• three IFVs (BMP variants) as well as an APC (MT-LB) in  Sosnivske (78km south of Donetsk); and
• two box-bodied utility trucks used for communications equipment near Bezimenne.

An SMM mini-UAV spotted:

• seven IFVs (BMP-1) and an APC (MT-LB) near Lobacheve; and
• an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) near Luhansk city.

Unexploded ordnance and mine hazard signs seen for the first time

The SMM saw for the first time an anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade (RPG-7) embedded in a field about 5m south of the road and about 1.3km west of Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, non-government-controlled, 29km north-east of Mariupol) on the road between Verkhnoshyrokivske and Pyshchevyk (government-controlled, 25km north-east of Mariupol).

At the southern entrance of Chernenko (government-controlled, 21km north-east of Mariupol), in a field 20m east of the road, the SMM saw a mine hazard sign for the first time,  with “Stop, Mines! Danger, Mines” written in Russian, attached to a wooden plank. On the road between Lebedynske (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Mariupol) and the junction for road T-0519, the SMM saw a mine hazard sign for the first time, with “The Area is Not Safe/Stop Mines” written in Ukrainian, attached to a tree about 2m north of the road.

Increased traffic at Hnutove entry-exit checkpoint

The SMM saw traffic higher than usual passing through the entry-exit checkpoint (EECP) in Hnutove (government-controlled, 20km north-east of Mariupol), following recent upgrades on the government-controlled side, including new booths, overhead structures and fresh tarmac (see SMM Daily Report 16 April 2019). The Mission saw about 100 cars and about 45 pedestrians queuing to enter government-controlled areas, and no traffic or pedestrians queuing to exit government-controlled areas.

SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure

The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk), as well as to a water pipeline near Maiorsk (government-controlled, 45km north-east of Donetsk) and to power lines near Spartak (non-government-controlled, 9km north of Donetsk). The SMM also monitored the security situation in the area of the pumping station near Vasylivka (non-government-controlled, 20km north of Donetsk) and facilitated the operation of the DFS.

Border areas outside government control

While at a border crossing point near Dovzhanske (84km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw two covered cargo trucks with “LPR” plates and six pedestrians entering Ukraine. After about 15 minutes, a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.* 

While at a border crossing point near Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk) for about an hour, the SMM saw 28 cars (five with Ukrainian, seven with Russian Federation and three with Georgian licence plates 13 with “DPR” plates), two buses (with “DPR” plates, about 45-50 passengers each), nine covered cargo trucks (six with Ukrainian and one with Russian Federation licence plates, and two with “DPR” plates) and four pedestrians entering Ukraine. During the same time, the SMM saw 30 cars (six with Ukrainian and seven with Russian Federation licence plates and 17 with “DPR” plates) and two buses (with “DPR” plates, 55-60 passengers each) exiting Ukraine.

While at a border crossing point near Ulianivske (61km south-east of Donetsk) for about 30 minutes, the SMM saw three pedestrians exiting Ukraine.

While at a border crossing point near Novoazovsk (102km south-east of Donetsk) for about 40 minutes, the SMM saw four cars (one with Ukrainian and two with Russian Federation licence plates, and one with “DPR” plates) and three trucks (one with Ukrainian licence plates and two with “DPR” plates) entering Ukraine. During the same time, the SMM saw four cars (two with Ukrainian licence plates and two with “DPR” plates) and five covered cargo trucks (three with Ukrainian licence plates and two with “DPR” plates) exiting Ukraine.

On the same day, while at a border crossing point near Novoborovytsi (79km south of Luhansk), the SMM saw no pedestrians or traffic entering or 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, unexploded ordnance (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 below). 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.

Denials of access:

• At a checkpoint of the armed formations north of Novoazovsk (non-government-controlled, 40km east of Mariupol), two armed members of the armed formations prevented the SMM from proceeding south towards Novoazovsk, north towards Huselshchykove (non-government-controlled, 95km south-east of Donetsk) and east towards the border with the Russian Federation, citing “security reasons”.
• At a checkpoint of the armed formations west of Markyne (non-government-controlled, 94km south of Donetsk), two armed members of the armed formations prevented the SMM from continuing west towards Oleksandrivske (formerly Rozy Liuksemburh, non-government-controlled, 90km south-east of Donetsk), citing an “ongoing live-fire exercise” at a nearby training area. 
• At a border crossing point near Dovzhanske (non-government-controlled, 84km south-east of Luhansk), a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.

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.
• At a checkpoint of the Ukrainian Armed Forces north of the bridge in Shchastia (government-controlled, 20km north of Luhansk), a Ukrainian Armed Forces representative to the JCCC told the Mission that mines on the road south of the bridge had not been cleared.

Delay:

• At a checkpoint of the armed formations about 600m west of Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, non-government-controlled, 29km north-east of Mariupol) an armed member of the armed formations stopped the SMM for about 20 minutes before allowing the SMM to proceed through the checkpoint into non-government-controlled areas.  

Other impediments:

• While conducting a mini-UAV flight on the south-eastern edge of Kurdiumivka (government-controlled, 54km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard 15 shots of small-arms fire at an assessed range of 700m south-west, assessed as aimed at the UAV. The UAV Mission landed the UAV and observed that the UAV had sustained damage, assessed to be caused by a bullet. The SMM left the area. (see above)
• On the evening and night of 18-19 April, an SMM long range-UAV encountered dual GPS signal interference, assessed as due to jamming, while flying over government- and non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region.[6] (see above)

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

[2] The interference could have originated from anywhere within a radius of kilometres from the UAV’s position. 

[3] Disengagement is foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016.

[4]  The SMM observed weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage did not comply with the criteria set out in the 16 October 2015 notification from the SMM to the signatories of the Package of Measures on effective monitoring and verification of the withdrawal of heavy weapons.

[5] The hardware mentioned in this section is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.

[6] The interference could have originated from anywhere within a radius of kilometres from the UAV’s position.