Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 10 September 2015

This report is for the media and the general public

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by the parties and security considerations*. The SMM recorded ceasefire violations at or around Donetsk airport and none in the Luhansk region. In Uman, the SMM found a quiet atmosphere following tensions over the removal of a tent built for an annual pilgrimage of Hasidic Jews.

The SMM observed an overall calm situation in the Donetsk region with an exception of the area near Donetsk airport. At the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) observation point at “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled Donetsk railway station (8km north-west of Donetsk city centre), the SMM heard 27 undetermined explosions and small-arms fire at distances ranging between 3 and 6km north-east and north-north-east of its position[1]. All but one explosion were recorded between 16:00 and 16:20hrs at which time the JCCC co-ordinated a local ceasefire.

In government-controlled Volnovakha (53km south-west of Donetsk), the deputy head of the emergency services of Volnovakha district told the SMM that 30 per cent of the district was contaminated with mines and unexploded ordinance, and expressed particular concern about government-controlled Novotroitske and Mykolaivka (36 and 39km south-west of Donetsk), and Starohnativka and Andriivka (51 and 61km south of Donetsk). He added that near government-controlled Berezove (31km south-west of Donetsk), eight or nine people had suffered injuries in booby-trap incidents over the last three months.

Long queues of civilian vehicles continue to be observed by the SMM, namely at the Government checkpoint on highway H20 on the southern outskirts of government-controlled Novotroitske (36km south-west of Donetsk), with 276 vehicles going south towards government-controlled areas, and 19 going north; and at the Government checkpoint between government-controlled Buhas (46km south-west of Donetsk) and Volnovakha (53km south-west of Donetsk), with 160 vehicles heading north and 140 going south. A middle-aged woman in the middle of the queue at the checkpoint near Buhas heading south stated that she had been waiting for six hours.

Four male construction workers told the SMM that the checkpoint under construction, located approximately 2km north of Novotroitske would be opened on 15 October. Ukrainian Border Guard personnel at the checkpoint near Buhas said the new checkpoint should shorten waiting times at checkpoints in the area significantly. According to the interlocutors, the new checkpoint will have more lanes and modern checking procedures.

In the Luhansk region, the SMM observed an overall calm situation with no ceasefire violations.

Several residents in government-controlled Trokhizbenka (32km north-west of Luhansk) told the SMM that there was no shelling in the area for the last several days. However, sounds of shooting and explosions still can be heard almost every day from the nearby military training area, they added. At the military training area, Ukrainian Armed Forces platoon members told the SMM that classroom instructions for soldiers were followed by live-fire exercises including the use of light machine-guns, sniper rifles and individual small arms. They added that a rise in activity in the training area is due to the rotation and the need to train newly-arrived personnel. While in the village at 15:40hrs the SMM heard small-arms fire and 15 explosions from the direction of the training range.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces commander at a position in government-controlled Staryi Aidar (20km north-west of Luhansk) informed the SMM that the area has been quiet since 1 September.

The SMM monitored repair works to electricity pylons at a “Lugansk People’s Republic” ("LPR") checkpoint near "LPR"-controlled Zhovte (17km north-west of Luhansk) carried out by Luhansk Electricity Networks workers.

In government-controlled Bolotene (21km north-east of Luhansk), a group of local residents (two women and one man in their sixties) voiced their concerns over the area around the village being mined and booby-trapped, making it impossible for them to collect firewood.

The SMM revisited two and visited for the first time one Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapons holding area. All three locations corresponded with the respective withdrawal lines. The SMM found both revisited holding areas abandoned and nine antitank towed guns (100mm, MT-12 Rapira) missing from one site and four antitank towed guns (100mm, MT-12 Rapira) missing from the other site.

The SMM also revisited two “DPR” heavy weapons holding areas whose locations corresponded with respective withdrawal lines. At the first holding area, only two monitors were allowed to observe weapons from a 30m distance.* The SMM could not verify the weapons’ serial numbers but observed that one self-propelled howitzer (122mm, 2S1 Gvozdika) was missing. The SMM found the second “DPR” holding area abandoned and six antitank towed guns pieces (100mm, MT-12 Rapira) missing.

Aerial surveillance imagery available to the SMM revealed a significant concentration of military equipment in the area of “LPR”-controlled Alchevsk (39km south-west of Luhansk) in violation of the respective withdrawal lines. Six heavy artillery systems, seven (towed) battlefield guns, three main battle tanks (MBT), 43 armoured vehicles, 80 military-type trucks, and 29 pieces of unidentified military equipment were spotted.

The SMM observed the movement of military equipment outside the respective withdrawal zones in government-controlled areas. In the area of Chaplyne (118km west of Donetsk), the SMM saw at least 30 MBTs and armoured combat vehicles (BMP) as well as eight military trucks. Near village of Orikhove Donetske (44 km north-west of Luhansk) the SMM observed two BTR-70 carrying uniformed staff.

On 9 September in Lviv, the SMM monitored a peaceful protest by 12 youth (mostly men) against the Russian-affiliated VS Bank. The following day, the SMM observed a protest of 30 people, mostly adult men, in the front of VTB Bank. Also on 10 September in Lviv, the SMM observed a peaceful protest of 17 mostly young men against the publishing company Folio participating in the International Forum of Publishers. The protesters stated that Folio published a book authored by a Russian writer one of whose books they consider to be anti-Ukrainian.

A number of protests were observed in Kyiv as well. The SMM attended a public protest of the Svoboda party in support of individuals suspected of involvement in the 31 August clashes in front of the national Parliament. Approximately 20 people had gathered near the entrance of the Pecherskyi district court (two women and 18 men, mainly between 40 and 60 years of age) holding Svoboda and Ukrainian national flags and banners, and protesting against what they referred to as “Stalin’s justice” and calling for the Minister of Internal Affairs to be brought to court. There were 15 police officers in front and approximately 25 police officers in the back of the building.

At a peaceful protest outside the Ministry of Internal Affairs, approximately 80 people of different ages (mostly male) were holding signs with slogans against the Minister of Internal Affairs. Some 40 National Guard members, nine traffic police and 24 regular police were present at the scene.

Following up on media reports about the destruction of a tent city constructed by Hasidic Jews for an annual pilgrimage, the SMM visited Uman (188km south of Kyiv). The SMM found the atmosphere to be quiet; there were no overt signs of tensions between the local community and pilgrims. Talking with city council, police and pilgrims’ co-ordinator independently, the SMM established the following: one tent for 250 pilgrims had been partly built outside the allocated area; on 4 September, the city administration issued an order to remove the tent; on 5 September, the tent was removed by city workers, joined by parts of the local population; when tensions arose between these people and the pilgrims, police intervened and separated them.

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

*Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to the fulfilment of its mandate:

The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by the parties and security considerations, including the presence – and lack of information on the whereabouts – of mines, and damaged infrastructure. The security situation in Donbas is fluid and unpredictable and the ceasefire does not hold everywhere. Self-imposed restrictions on movement into high-risk areas have impinged on SMM patrolling activities, particularly in areas not controlled by the government. Members of the “LPR” continue to prevent the SMM from monitoring most areas close to the border with the Russian Federation.

Denied access:

• In “LPR”-controlled Krasnyi Luch (55km south-west of Luhansk) “LPR” members at the entrance to the training area told the SMM that live-fire exercise was taking place and denied access to the training site because of security reasons. 
• At a “DPR” heavy weapons holding area only two monitors were allowed to observe weapons from a 30m distance.

Delayed access:

• At a checkpoint 250m north of “DPR”-controlled Starobesheve (32km south-east of Donetsk), an armed “DPR” member demanded to see a “patrol card”, checked vehicle papers and recorded names of patrol members and vehicle registration numbers. After 26 minutes the SMM was allowed to pass.