Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 18:00 (Kyiv time), 23 March 2015

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. The SMM, based on its monitoring – which was restricted by third parties and by security considerations* – observed that fighting continued in areas around the Donetsk airport and Shyrokyne, east of Mariupol.

The SMM monitored* the situation around the Donetsk airport from an observation point on Artemivska Street, 1.89km south east of the airport (“Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled, 10km north-west of Donetsk city centre). Between 10:35 and 10:38hrs, the SMM heard 19 outgoing rounds originating from north of its location but could not ascertain the type or impact of the shelling.

Between 09:40 and 10:40hrs, whilst at an observation point in the eastern outskirts of Sopyne (government-controlled, 15km east of Mariupol, 2.5km west of Shyrokyne) the SMM heard heavy engagement of small arms, machine guns, automatic grenade launchers and mortars, including 70 outgoing 82mm and 120mm mortar shells. The SMM assessed that the fire originated from one kilometre to the east and was directed further east of the SMM’s position. An additional ten 82mm mortar shells hit 400m east of the SMM’s position, some of which detonated in the air indicating that they were fitted with distance or time delay fuses. Due to the security situation, the SMM relocated to another observation point 4km north-west of Shyrokyne (“DPR”-controlled, 20km east of Mariupol, 102km south of Donetsk). Between 11:33 and 12:06hrs the SMM observed three incoming 82mm mortar shells exploding above Ukrainian Armed Forces positions north of Berdyanske (government-controlled, 18km east of Mariupol). It also heard small arms and light weapons fire as well as ten mortar detonations but was not able to ascertain the direction and calibre. 

The SMM unarmed/unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) monitored both sides of the contact line east of Mariupol. At 17:38hrs, in Shyrokyne the SMM UAV observed outgoing mortar fire from a Ukrainian Armed Forces position. Additionally, the UAV also observed several armoured vehicles and tanks in Shyrokyne and Sakhanka (“DPR”-controlled, 22km east of Mariupol 5km north-east of Shyrokyne).  

The SMM visited the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) headquarters in Soledar (government-controlled, 77km north of Donetsk) where officers from the Ukrainian Armed Forces and Russian Federation Armed Forces were present. The officers continued to register allegations of ceasefire violation but it was not clear what, if any, follow-up action they had or intended to take. According to the JCCC incident log, the number of ceasefire violations reported between 08:00hrs on 22 March and 08:00hrs on 23 March was 95. The log also indicated that sixty of the reported violations had occurred in the villages close to Donetsk airport and that six Ukrainian soldiers were reported wounded.

At a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint 6km east of Kurakhove (government-controlled, 38km east of Donetsk) the SMM observed approximately 300 vehicles and 40 pedestrians, mostly middle-aged and elderly men and women on both sides of the checkpoint waiting to cross.

The SMM was stopped at a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint to the north-west of Luhanske (government-controlled, 55km north-east of Donetsk) where it heard four outgoing tank rounds fired from the outskirts of the town, approximately 2km south-east of its location. The SMM was not allowed to pass the checkpoint and turned around due to security reasons.*

In Avdiivka (government-controlled, 14km north-west of Donetsk) the SMM met with the chief of police who escorted it to the “Mekofood” factory on the outskirts of the city to observe damages allegedly caused by shelling on 21 March at 12:10hrs. The SMM observed four impacts consistent with impact from 125mm high explosive fragmentation shells.

In Troitske (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard three rounds of artillery fire from a south-westerly direction approximately 10km from its position. The SMM was not able to ascertain whether it was outgoing or incoming fire. Residents expressed concerns over their effective inability to cross the contact line and being cut off from family members in nearby villages.

The SMM spoke with the commander of the Aidar volunteer battalion in Trokhizbenka (government-controlled, 33km north-west of Luhansk), who have been occupying a public school since last summer. He said that they have not received any order or notice about leaving the school premises. The commander said that they removed all weapons of more than 100mm from the area on 20 March.

The SMM monitored a demonstration organized by the “federation of trade unions” of the “Lugans People’s Republic” (“LPR”) in Luhansk city. Between 500 and 600 participants, mostly middle aged, half of which were women, were present representing a broad range of organisations from sports clubs to “administration” bodies. The speakers appealed for the stop of what they referred to as the “economic blockade”. Some 10 “LPR” members in uniform were present and the event ended peacefully.

The SMM revisited four Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapons holding areas, all of which comply with the respective withdrawal lines and remain in situ. All serial numbers are consistent with previous visits. Additionally, the SMM intended to monitor two additional holding areas, but these sites no longer contained any heavy weapons.

The SMM visited* five “DPR”-controlled heavy weapons holding areas, one of them for the first time. At one of the revisited sites, the SMM observed that one howitzer previously recorded was brought back to the site while the SMM was present. “DPR” members told the SMM that it had been maintained. All five areas complied with the respective withdrawal lines.

The SMM observed artillery in some locations. In the south-western outskirts of Svobodone (government-controlled, 52km south of Donetsk), the SMM observed one self-propelled howitzer (2S19 152mm MSTA-S) stationary in a barn 23km from the contact line.  At a Ukrainian Army checkpoint in the area of Troitske (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk) the SMM observed one howitzer in firing position near a residential area. The SMM also visited a site near Shchastia (government-controlled, 20km north of Luhansk) where a Ukrainian Armed Forces technical unit is stationed and it was informed of the presence of three damaged T-64 tanks with 120mm guns. The deputy commander of the unit said to the SMM that the tanks had arrived for repairs on 13 March and are scheduled for withdrawal on 25 March. 

The SMM monitored an event titled "Kharkiv remembers Crimea" which took place between 13:30 and 15:00hrs at the Shevchenko monument in Kharkiv city. It was attended by approximately 200 persons of mixed age and gender and included a video appeal from the people of Kharkiv to the people of Crimea, art exhibitions and speeches on topics such as the geopolitical importance of Crimea and a strategy for the return of the Tatar community to Crimea. The event was monitored by nearly 100 police officers and ended peacefully. 

Following media reports of an explosion, the SMM visited the Cheryomushki district (6km south-west of Odessa city centre) where it observed substantial damages to an entrance of a nine-storey residential building which also hosts companies including one of an activist who also provides assistance to soldiers in the east. The facade was damaged, windows up to the third floor had been shattered and debris was visible up to 30 meters from the explosion. The SMM spoke to a representative of the regional headquarters of the Ministry of Internal Affairs who confirmed that the explosion had caused material damages but no casualties. They added that the explosion was being investigated by the police as a terrorist act and that the device was believed to be home made and composed 600-700 grams of TNT explosive.

Following media reports of armed men taking control of the Kyiv headquarters of Ukrnafta, one of Ukraine’s leading oil companies, the SMM arrived on site on 22 March at 19:25hrs. The SMM observed 20 to 25 men in camouflage fatigues, bulletproof vests, helmets and balaclavas, guarding the entrance of the building. Four additional men with assault weapons were standing around a heavy military type truck on the sidewalk in front of the building and a similar truck was inside the premises. Both vehicles had been modified with additional armour around the driver cabin. The SMM also observed workers reinforcing the entrance with iron bars. Approximately ten journalists and an additional ten civilians were present observing the situation. At approximately 50 meters from the entrance two police cars and eight police officers wearing bulletproof vests and armed with assault rifles were present. There were no interactions between the men guarding the building and the police, and the SMM did not observe any tensions. On 23 March, the SMM returned to the scene and observed that the men guarding the entrance as well as the truck parked on the sidewalk were no longer visible. However the second truck within the compound remained in place. 

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Dnepropetrovsk, Kherson, Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv.

* Restrictions on SMM access and freedom of movement:

The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by third parties and security considerations including the lack of information on whereabouts of landmines.

The security situation in Donbas is fluid and unpredictable and the ceasefire does not hold everywhere. For this reason, the SMM requires security guarantees from “DPR” and “LPR” which are not always provided. Where such guarantees are limited to escorted movements, and escorts are not provided for all planned patrols or are delayed, this also represents a restriction of SMM freedom of movement.

In particular during the reporting period:

• The SMM was not allowed to pass a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint to the north-west of Luhanske (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk).
• At Bezimenne (100km south of Donetsk, 15km east of Mariupol, “DPR”-controlled), the SMM was denied passage at a “DPR” checkpoint due to reported shelling in Shyrokyne.
• The SMM was not allowed to pass a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint at Hranitne (government-controlled, 57km south of Donetsk) due to security reasons.
• At a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint in Volnovakha (government-controlled, 47km south-west of Donetsk) the checkpoint personnel asked about the patrol members’ nationality. The SMM was at the checkpoint location for 90 minutes and was not allowed to pass.
• The SMM was not allowed to pass a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint at Troitske (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk). The checkpoint personnel photographed the ID cards of the SMM staff and the SMM vehicle license plates. The SMM was informed that it would need to contact the battalion #30 commander in advance in order to obtain a permit to proceed further into the village.
• The SMM was briefly stopped at several Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoints along the road between Sievierodonetsk (government-controlled, 75km north-west of Luhansk) and Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 88km north-east of Luhansk) and was asked about the nationalities of the patrol members.
• At a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint at the south-east of Novoaidar (government-controlled, 57km north of Luhansk) the SMM was briefly stopped and was asked to provide the patrol members’ nationalities. The checkpoint personnel explained that this had been an order from his superiors.