Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 25 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 remained largely calm in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions with several ceasefire violations recorded by the SMM.  The SMM followed up on a fatal accident in “DPR”-controlled Torez.

SMM observed a relatively calm situation in the Donetsk region. 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), between 08:30 and 15:00hrs, the SMM recorded 68 undetermined explosions, as well as multiple bursts of heavy-machine-gun (HMG) and infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) fire approximately 5-10km south of its position.[1] Both the Ukrainian and Russian Federation Armed Forces representatives at the JCCC stated that sounds of these explosions came from demining activities or training areas.

The SMM followed up on media reports of an incident in “DPR”-controlled Torez (57km east of Donetsk) on 24 September. Medical staff of the Shakhtarsk city hospital and the “chief” of Torez city “police” station separately informed the SMM that during a “tank biathlon” contest at the shooting range in Torez, where several military-type vehicles were stationed for exhibition, an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (MT-LB) suddenly had caught fire from the inside and two children who had been inside had suffered severe burns. According to the interlocutors, as a result, a nine year-old girl had died and a seven year-old boy had been taken to a hospital for further medical treatment.

In “DPR”-controlled Novodvirske (31km south-east of Donetsk), a resident informed the SMM that live-fire exercises had been taking place every week day at a shooting range 1.5km north of the village. The SMM observed several partially damaged houses, including destroyed roofs, which, according to the interlocutor, had been caused by the shooting at the range.

The SMM continued to facilitate the security conditions allowing for the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance by the International Committee of the Red Cross to residents of government-controlled Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk) and Krasnohorivka (21km west of Donetsk), as well as “DPR”-controlled Oleksandrivka (16km north-west of Donetsk) and Staromykhailivka (20km south-west of Donetsk).

In “DPR”-controlled Staromykhailivka, a staff of the “city council” told the SMM that more than 10 percent of the 3,500 private houses in the city had been damaged by shelling since August 2014, with two houses – damaged by shelling on 3 June 2015 – registered by Kirovskyi district administration as totally destroyed. Nevertheless, the “head” of the “city council” informed the SMM that local residents had been steadily returning to the city since late August and early September.

In government-controlled Krasnohorivka, inhabitants told the SMM that most of the residents who had left after heavy shelling during June and July had come back to their homes. According to the interlocutors, two schools in the city were functioning in almost full capacity and gas and coal were available for heating in the most populated areas of the city. Meanwhile, a market owner informed the SMM that there is a shortage of goods at the market, in particular building materials and vegetables, as Ukrainian Armed Forces have limited the number of delivery trucks allowed to enter the village.  

The SMM observed a relatively calm situation the Luhansk region with some ceasefire violations. While in government-controlled Muratove (50km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard over 50 shots of semi-automatic small arms and several bursts of machine-gun fire, 7-10km south-east of its position – from the direction of a Ukrainian Armed Forces shooting range located in Trokhizbenka (33km north-west of Luhansk).

In government controlled Orikhove (56km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard two separate undetermined explosions assessed to have occurred at a location near “Lugansk People’s Republic (“LPR”)-controlled Donetskyi (50km north-west of Luhansk).

The SMM visited an “LPR” training area in the vicinity of “LPR”-controlled Stepanovka (32km south-west of Luhansk) between “LPR”-controlled Troitske and Malokostiantynivka (31 and 33km south-west of Luhansk, respectively), where it observed live-fire exercise with three howitzers (D-30 120mm). In “LPR”-controlled Myrne (41km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM also heard tank and small arms fire from a training area.

In “LPR”-controlled Obozne (18km north of Luhansk), repair workers informed the SMM that one of the “LPR” demining team members had been injured by a landmine while checking the area of summer houses near the village. The interlocutor added that the wounded person had lost one foot and another foot was severely injured.

In “LPR”-controlled Zorynsk (54km south-west of Luhansk), staff of “city council” informed the SMM about the problem of water supply in the city. According to the interlocutors, water supply from government-controlled areas had been shut off for three months and residents had to secure water by trucks and from a few local wells.

The SMM re-visited two “DPR” heavy weapons holding areas whose locations corresponded with the respective withdrawal lines. At the first area, the SMM observed that five mortars (PM-38120mm) were missing. At the second area, armed “DPR” members denied the SMM’s access, citing an instruction from their supervisor not to allow it to inspect the area*.

On 24 September, the SMM also re-visited one Ukrainian Armed Forces’ heavy weapons holding area whose location corresponded with the respective withdrawal lines. The SMM observed that all weapons previously recorded were present.

The SMM observed the following weapons in areas that are in violation of the respective withdrawal lines: In the government-controlled area of Andriivka (40km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) observed seven heavy artillery pieces. At an “LPR” training area in the vicinity of “LPR”-controlled Stepanovka (32km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM observed three howitzers (D-30 120mm).

In areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM observed a number of presence and movements of weapons and equipment. At an “LPR” training area in Kruhlyk (31km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM observed 40 tanks (type unknown). Near “LPR”-controlled Zorynsk (54km south-west of Luhansk) the SMM observed four large military-type trucks heading west. The SMM UAVs also spotted a concentration of 43 main battle tanks (MBTs) in “DPR”-controlled Torez (57km east of Donetsk) and 16 MBTs in government-controlled Andriivka (40km north-east of Mariupol). The SMM also observed four stationary infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) (BMP-2) in the vicinity of Makarove (19km north-east of Luhansk) and one IFV (BMP-2) in the vicinity of Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) – whereas the calibre of the observed weapons is under 100mm, which are not included in the Minsk arrangements to be withdrawn, both locations are near the contact line.

On 24 September, the SMM met the Dnepropetrovsk regional prosecutor who expressed his concern about an increased number of cases qualified under the criminal code as “illegal circulation and possession of weapons”, which the regional prosecutors’ office had handled. According to the interlocutor, since the beginning of 2015, the number of such cases has already reached 708 – compared to 630 in the entire previous year.

On 24 September, the head of the border guards at the Pletenivka border crossing point in Vovchansk district (85km north-east of Kharkiv) told the SMM that on 14 September, border guards had detained a Ukrainian citizen – a resident of “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) who had attempted to enter Ukraine from the Russian Federation.

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

*Restrictions on SMM monitoring, access and freedom of movement:

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 some areas not controlled by the government. Members of the “LPR” continue to prevent the SMM from monitoring in some areas close to the border with the Russian Federation.

Denied access:

• At a checkpoint at “DPR”-controlled Ternove (57km east of Donetsk), “DPR” “police officers” and armed “DPR” members stopped the SMM and denied its passage without an explanation. They told the SMM to leave the area.
• At a “DPR” heavy weapons holding area, armed “DPR” members denied the SMM’s access.

Delayed access:

• At a “DPR” checkpoint on highway E58 3.5km north-east of Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol), armed “DPR” members inspected the SMM vehicles and belongings of the SMM monitors. After 17 minutes the SMM was allowed to proceed.

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

* Please see the section at the end of this report entitled “Restrictions on SMM access and freedom of movement” for further information.