Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 26 May 2019
This report is for the media and the general public.
Summary
- Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 24 and 25 May, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and a similar number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region.
- Between the evenings of 25 and 26 May, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and a similar number in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours.
- The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
- The SMM saw anti-tank mines for the first time near government-controlled Luhanske.
- Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. The Mission’s freedom of movement was also restricted at border crossing points outside government control near Sievernyi and Izvaryne, and at a checkpoint in non-government-controlled Novoazovsk.*
- The SMM monitored a gathering in front of a church in Tovtry, Chernivtsi region.
Ceasefire violations[1]
In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 24 and 25 May, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 40 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (185 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas south-east of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol) and east of Hnutove (government-controlled, 20km north-east of Mariupol).
On the night of 24 May, the SMM camera at the entry-exit checkpoint in Marinka (government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk) recorded, amongst other ceasefire violations, two undetermined explosions at an assessed range of 100-400m north-north-west.
Between the evenings of 25 and 26 May, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including, however more explosions (about 50), compared with the previous 24 hours. The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded at northerly, southerly and westerly directions of Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk).
In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 24 and 25 May, the Mission recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations, including, however, more explosions (60), compared with the previous reporting period (five explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas south and east of Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk).
Between the evenings of 25 and 26 May, the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations, including fewer explosions (nine), compared with the previous 24 hours. The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas west-north-west of Pervomaisk (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk).
Disengagement areas[2]
During the day of 25 May, positioned at two locations on the eastern edge of Zolote-2/Karbonit (government-controlled, 62km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard three undetermined explosions at an assessed range of 3-7km south (which it was unable to assess as either inside or outside the disengagement area) and 13 shots and bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire at an assessed range of 3-5km south-west (assessed as outside the disengagement area). In the early morning hours of 26 May, the SMM camera in Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) recorded a projectile in flight at an assessed distance of 2-4km east-south-east within 5km of the periphery of the disengagement area. During the day on 26 May, positioned in Pervomaisk, the SMM recorded seven undetermined explosions and about 100 bursts at an assessed range of 2-3km west-north-west within 5km of the periphery of the disengagement area.
On 25 and 26 May, positioned inside the disengagement area near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk) and close to the disengagement area near Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), the Mission 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
Non-government-controlled areas
24 May
An SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted a probable surface-to-air missile system (9K35 Strela-10) near Sofiivka (formerly Karlo-Marksove, 40km north-east of Donetsk).
Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[4]
Government-controlled areas
24 May
An SMM mini-UAV spotted an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) near Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk).
An SMM long-range UAV spotted an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1) near Myronivskyi (62km north-east of Donetsk).
25 May
The SMM saw an IFV (BTR-4) near Novobakhmutivka (28km north of Donetsk).
Non-government-controlled areas
24 May
An SMM long-range UAV spotted:
- An IFV (BMP-2) parked 5m from residential houses near Sofiivka; and
- 18 IFVs (three BMP-2, ten BMP-1 and five BMP variant) near Kruhlyk (65km south-west of Luhansk).
Presence of anti-tank mines, some seen for the first time
On 24 May, about 5km south-east of Luhanske (government-controlled, 59km north-east of Donetsk), an SMM mid-range UAV spotted for the first time 24 anti-tank mines (TM-62) laid out in two rows extending 30m on each side of road M-03 (not seen in previous imagery from 27 September 2018) and again 15 anti-tank mines (TM-62) laid out in two rows across road M-03, as well as 37 anti-tank mines (TM-62) about 800m further south laid out in three rows across the same road. The same SMM UAV spotted again 20 anti-tank mines (TM-62) across the same road about 3km north-west of Lohvynove (non-government-controlled, 59km north-east of Donetsk) and 11 anti-tank mines (TM-62) about 600m further south-east.
On the same day, about 2km east of Vesela Hora (non-government-controlled, 16km north of Luhansk), an SMM mini-UAV again spotted four anti-tank mines (TM-62) laid across the western lane of road H-21, as well as again 42 anti-tank mines (TM-62) laid in three rows across the same road about 200m south-east of the bridge in Shchastia.
SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure
On 25 May, the Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to a water pipeline in Obozne (non-government-controlled, 18km north of Luhansk) and to a water pipeline between Zolote-3/Stakhanovets (government-controlled, 61km west of Luhansk) and Popasna.
On 25 and 26 May, the Mission also facilitated the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station (15km north of Donetsk) and continued to monitor the security situation in the area of the pumping station near Vasylivka (non-government-controlled, 20km north of Donetsk).
Border areas outside government control
On 25 May, while at a pedestrian border crossing point near Sievernyi (50km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw no cross-border traffic. After about five minutes, a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.*
On 26 May, while at a border crossing point near Izvaryne (52km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw 14 pedestrians entering Ukraine. After about five minutes, a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.*
On 26 May, while at a pedestrian border crossing point near Verkhnoharasymivka (57km south-east of Luhansk) for about 40 minutes, the SMM saw eight pedestrians entering Ukraine and eight pedestrians exiting Ukraine.
On 26 May, while at a border crossing point near Novoazovsk (40km east of Mariupol) for about an hour, the SMM saw a pedestrian entering Ukraine, and 15 cars (one with Ukrainian and seven with Russian Federation licence plates, one with Ukrainian licence plates attached to the car and “DPR” plates visible on its dashboard, as well as six with “DPR” plates) and ten trucks (eight covered cargo, one flatbed and one cooler, all with “DPR” plates) exiting Ukraine.
Gathering in front of church in Tovtry, Chernivtsi region
On 23 May, in Tovtry, Chernivtsi region, the SMM saw 15 people (ten women, five men, 30-70 years old) gathered in the yard of the Dormition of the Mother of God church. A participant told the SMM that they were members of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) and that they were present there to prevent members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) from entering the church. Two OCU representatives added that on 19 May a physical confrontation between OCU and UOC supporters had taken place around the Tovtry church (for related observations, see SMM Daily Report 24 May 2019).
The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Dnipro 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 on Control and Co-ordination 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.
Denial of access:
- On 25 May, while at a pedestrian border crossing point near Sievernyi (non-government-controlled, 50km south-east of Luhansk), a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.
- On 25 May, at a checkpoint north of Novoazovsk (non-government-controlled, 40km east of Mariupol), four armed members of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage towards Kuznetsy (non-government-controlled, 89km south-east of Donetsk), citing an “ongoing special police operation in the area”.
- On 26 May, while at a border crossing point near Izvaryne (non-government-controlled, 52km 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.
Other impediments:
- On the evening of 24 May, an SMM long-range UAV experienced dual GPS signal interference, assessed as due to jamming, while flying over non-government-controlled areas of southern Luhansk region.[5]
[1] For a complete breakdown of ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.
[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 the presence of mines, including on a road between Bohdanivka and Petrivske, the SMM cannot access its camera in Petrivske, and thus the SMM has not been able to access observations from the camera since 22 June 2018.
[4] The hardware mentioned in this section is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.
[5] The interference could have originated from anywhere within a radius of kilometres from the UAV’s position.