Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 17 September 2015

This report is for the media and 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 situation in Donetsk region and in Luhansk region remained relatively calm. The SMM observed a convoy of trucks bearing the inscription “Humanitarian aid from the Russian Federation”.

From the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) observation point at Donetsk railway station (“Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled, 8km north-west of Donetsk city centre) the SMM heard or saw a total of 18 explosions between 08:10 and 17:00hrs[1]. Fifteen of these explosions (which it assessed to be controlled detonations), took place between 11:10 and 11:25hrs, approximately 7-8km south-south-east of its position.

At the JCCC office in government-controlled Dzerzhynsk (40km north of Donetsk), both Ukrainian Armed Forces and Russian Federation Armed Forces officers told the SMM that there had been no major ceasefire violations over the last three days.

In Dzerzhynsk, the director of the municipal hospital told the SMM that two young men had been injured in recent days when unexploded ordnance (UXO) detonated after residents had set field grass on fire to clear land in the town.

The Donetsk city morgue director told the SMM that a 50-year-old man had died on 16 September as a result of injuries sustained when, while out for a walk in Kuybishevskyi district, an object exploded when he picked it up. At the morgue, the SMM saw the body of a middle-aged man with multiple shrapnel injuries to head, body and limbs.

Six residents (four men and two women, aged 40-50 years) of Staromarivka (46km north-east of Mariupol) approached the SMM in government-controlled Hranitne (47km north-east of Mariupol) and said that since the morning of 17 September the main bridge to Hranitne had been closed to pedestrians and vehicles. They said Ukrainian Armed Forces had told them it was too dangerous to cross. According to them, travel to Hranitne for the approximately 100 residents left in Staromarivka is essential to buy food, water and medicine, all of which are not available in their village.

At the international border crossing point in “DPR”-controlled Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk) the SMM saw, at 15:00hrs on 17 September, a long convoy of cargo trucks with the inscription “Humanitarian aid from the Russian Federation”, bound for the Russian Federation. The drivers of trucks wore civilian clothes. The convoy caused congestion and blocked other traffic.

In government-controlled Trokhizbenka (33km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard small-arms and heavy machine-gun bursts and mortar explosions at a distance 5km north-east of the SMM’s position, the approximate location of a known Ukrainian Armed Forces training area. Ukrainian Armed Forces at the JCCC office in government-controlled Sievierodonetsk (74km north-east of Luhansk) had earlier informed the SMM that training would take place at this location. Near government-controlled Raihorodka (31km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 10-15 explosions of heavy mortars (120mm) and heavy-machine-gun bursts about 5-7km away to the south-east. Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers at a checkpoint nearby suggested to the SMM that the sounds probably originated from a new training area near government-controlled Shchastia (19km north-west of Luhansk).

At 09:30hrs on 17 September, on the outskirts of “Lugansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”)-controlled Novohannivka (23km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed a convoy of 40 cargo trucks and three support vehicles, moving in the direction of Luhansk. The trucks had Russian Federation registration plates, some of which were white, others black. Some trucks had “Humanitarian aid from the Russian Federation” written on the side.

The SMM revisited two Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapons holding areas whose locations corresponded with the respective withdrawal lines. At one area, the SMM observed four weapons in addition to all of the weapons previously recorded on the first visit (see SMM Daily Report 29 May 2015). At a second area, all weapons previously recorded were present. The SMM visited one area for the first time.

The SMM revisited two “DPR” heavy weapons holding areas, one of which was abandoned, as it had been for the last month. At the other area, whose location corresponded with the respective withdrawal lines, all weapons previously recorded were present.

In the area of government-controlled Novotoshkivske (53km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM observed one anti-tank guided missile system (likely 9K111 Fagot or 9M113 Konkurs, 120mm calibre) - in violation of respective withdrawal lines.

Between 19:20 and 20:15hrs on 17 September, the SMM monitored the situation outside the national Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) in Kyiv following media reports of the arrest of the Radical Party Member of Parliament Mosyishchuk inside the building. Outside the Parliament building, amid a large media presence, the SMM saw approximately 13 men (three masked, wearing body armour and Security Service of Ukraine insignia, ten dressed in civilian clothing) searching the vehicle of the allegedly arrested Member of Parliament.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Kharkiv, Dnepropetrovsk, Odessa, Kherson, Chernivtsi, Lviv, 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 mine threats, 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.

Delay:

• The SMM was delayed for 25 minutes by “DPR” members at a checkpoint in “DPR”-controlled Shyrokyi (6.5km south-west of Donetsk city centre).

Other impediments:

• At the checkpoint on the H15 road near the Cargill plant (“DPR”-controlled, 17km south-west of Donetsk), “DPR” members searched SMM vehicles and personal belongings of SMM monitors.

[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.