Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 22 October 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”, including the Addendum. Its monitoring was restricted by the parties and security considerations*. The situation in Donetsk and Luhansk regions was relatively calm.

The SMM observed a generally calm situation in most areas in Donetsk region. At the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) observation post at Donetsk railway station (“Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled, 6km north-west of Donetsk), the SMM heard a total of 38 explosions approximately 3-8km north-east, south and north-west of its position.[1] Ukrainian Armed Forces and Russian Federation Armed Forces officers at the JCCC attributed one of these explosions, heard and seen by the SMM, to rubble clearing activities in the area of Donetsk airport (8km north-west of Donetsk). The SMM also heard bursts of small arms and light weapons 2-6km south and north-east of its position.

On the H21 road between Makiivka (“DPR”-controlled, 12km north-east of Donetsk) and Khartsyzsk (“DPR”-controlled, 26km north-east of Donetsk) the SMM observed a convoy consisting of 46 civilian white trucks with black (Russian Federation) licence plates. The trucks were marked as ”Humanitarian aid from the Russian Federation”. The convoy which was moving towards Donetsk city also included two civilian ambulances, two “DPR” “police” vehicles and one civilian truck with a crane.

At the Government checkpoint in Maiorsk (government-controlled, 45km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM saw 300 people waiting in a queue. According to the acting checkpoint commander, the crowd was waiting for transportation by bus to Zaitseve (50km north-east of Donetsk). When the crowd saw the SMM vehicles they closed ranks, blocking the SMM vehicles from proceeding. The SMM observed a 4km long queue at the checkpoint consisting of civilian vehicles lined up to proceed towards “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (35km north-east of Donetsk).

In Horlivka the SMM observed a convoy consisting of six military-type trucks covered with canvas (one carrying an anti-aircraft gun, ZU-23), and three of them with DK (“Donetsk Komendatura”) license plates. 

At the Government checkpoint in Novotroitske (32km south of Donetsk) the SMM observed approximately 140 civilian vehicles lined up to proceed towards Donetsk city.

At the crossing point at the border between Ukraine and the Russian Federation in “DPR”-controlled Novoazovsk (52km east of Mariupol), the SMM saw a queue of 70 civilian cars and 12 civilian trucks all with Ukrainian licence plates, lined up to proceed to the Russian Federation.

The SMM continued to observe a relatively calm situation in most areas in Luhansk region.

On the “Lugansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”)-controlled side of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (16km north-east of Luhansk) the SMM heard one burst of small-arms fire, 200 metres north-east of its position on the government-controlled side of the river representing the contact line.

In an “LPR”-controlled part of Zolote (60km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM followed up on “LPR” reports about an exchange of fire and the death of an “LPR” member. The SMM observed fresh tyre tracks resembling those of an armoured vehicle in close vicinity of the checkpoint. The SMM observed seven 50mm round casings spread around and a pool of fresh blood on the ground. An armed “LPR” member at the checkpoint told the SMM that the previous day there had been an attack in which a “LPR” member had died. He claimed that the attackers had come from government-controlled areas.

At the “LPR” checkpoint on the “LPR”-controlled side of Stanytsia Luhanska Bridge, the SMM spoke with two elderly women who said they wanted to go to the government-controlled side of the bridge in order to collect their pensions but had been denied passage by Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel. The “LPR” “commander” present at the checkpoint said that “LPR” had no restrictions concerning civilians passing the checkpoint with the intention to go to the government-controlled side.

The SMM monitored the preparation for repair works on water pipelines in two different locations in “LPR”-controlled Pervomaisk (57km west of Luhansk). Two engineers from the “Luhansk Water Company”, together with a demining team were present. The demining team cleared fields and roads required to access the work sites. The repair work is expected to continue over the next days.

In the area of “LPR”-controlled Slovianoserbsk (28km north-west of Luhansk) and Krasnyi Lyman (30km north-west of Luhansk) the SMM monitored the assessment of the repair works needed to restore electricity and water supply, conducted by repair workers from respective companies. According to the repair workers and local residents the SMM spoke with, the supply of electricity and water was interrupted due to damage caused by shelling in summer 2014.

The SMM revisited three Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapons holding areas, whose locations corresponded with respective withdrawal lines. At all areas the SMM noted that all previously-recorded weapons were present.

The SMM also revisited two places in “LPR”-controlled areas, where they had previously noted heavy weapons (see SMM Daily Report 1 July 2015), beyond the respective withdrawal lines. As was noted on 11 September (see SMM Daily Report 12 September), the previously observed six multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS, Grad 122mm) were absent.

The SMM revisited one “DPR” heavy weapons holding area, whose location corresponded with respective withdrawal lines. The SMM noted that all previously recorded weapons were present.

In relation to the further implementation of the Addendum to the Package of measures, in Donetsk region, the SMM revisited one Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent weapons storage site and confirmed that all weapons withdrawn to this site were present. The SMM visited four “DPR” permanent weapons storage sites whose locations comply with agreed withdrawal lines. It recorded the serial numbers of a number of main battle tanks (MBTs) and other weapons as well. The SMM visited one “LPR” permanent weapons storage site where it confirmed the presence of the declared weapons as stipulated in the Addendum.

In Kyiv the SMM observed in front of the government building on Mykhaila Hrushevskoho street approximately 200-300 people (mixed gender, around 50 years old) carrying flags of the “Radical Party”. According to the protestors some of them were planning to stay in tents, which had been put up in front of the building, until Election Day. The site was secured by 10 police officers.

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

*Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to 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, damaged infrastructure, and the unpredictability of the situation in Donbas. Armed individuals continue to prevent the SMM from monitoring most areas close to the border with the Russian Federation in parts of Luhansk region not controlled by the Government.

Besides the above-mentioned general restrictions that continue, on 22 October the SMM was not subject to any specific restriction of its freedom of movement.

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

* Please see the section at the end of this report entitled “Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate”