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Ukraine

Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 12 August 2016

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations through the evening of 12 August, including fewer explosions, in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission recorded an intense exchange of fire near Stanytsia Luhanska on the night of 12 August. The SMM confirmed civilian casualties and conducted crater analysis near Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, Donetsk city, Marinka, Lobacheve and Popasna. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in areas not controlled by the Government. The SMM observed the presence of armoured combat vehicles in the security zone and monitored a border area not controlled by the Government. The Mission continued to monitor the situation at three crossing points at the administrative boundary line between the mainland and Crimea. The SMM faced four freedom of movement restrictions, three of them in areas controlled by the Government.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region on 12 August compared with the previous day[1].

While in government-controlled Mariupol on the evening of 11 August, the SMM heard 37 undetermined explosions at an undetermined distance to the east, assessed as occurring in or around Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol). During and immediately following these explosions, the SMM camera in Shyrokyne recorded 39 explosions occurring north of the camera: beginning with 11 explosions assessed as outgoing artillery rounds at unknown distances north of the camera, from west to east, continuing with 13 explosions assessed as airbursts north of “DPR”-controlled Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, 23km north-east of Mariupol), two explosions assessed as impacts near government-controlled Vodiane (19km north-east of Mariupol), and another 13 explosions assessed as outgoing artillery rounds (unknown calibre) at an unknown distance north of the camera.

While in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), late in the evening on 11 August, the SMM heard seven explosions assessed as caused by 82mm mortar rounds 4km south-east of its position. On the night of 12 August, the SMM heard 20 undetermined explosions 7-8km south-west of its position.

Positioned at the Donetsk central railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk city centre) shortly before and after noon on 12 August, the SMM heard six undetermined explosions 3-6km north-west of its position and 12 undetermined explosions 2-3km west-south-west of its position. During the same time period, the SMM heard 16 undetermined explosions 3-5km west and south-west of its position in “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk) and three undetermined explosions 5km south-east of its position in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk).

Later in the afternoon, positioned approximately 2km south of “DPR”-controlled Oleksandrivka (20km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM heard 18 undetermined explosions 2-4km north-north-west of its position. Positioned approximately 2km south of government-controlled Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk) in the late afternoon, the SMM heard 15 undetermined explosions 2-3km north-north-east and saw and heard one airburst less than 1km north-east of its position.

On the night of 12 August, while in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city centre, the SMM heard 75 undetermined explosions 6-12km west and north-west of its position.

In Luhansk region the SMM also noted a decrease in the number of recorded ceasefire violations through the reporting period for 12 August. Whilst in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk) on the night of 11 August, the SMM heard an exchange of fire that began with one undetermined explosion 3.4-4.7km south-south-west of its position, followed by an explosion assessed as an outgoing recoilless-gun (SPG-9, 73mm) round 3.4km south-south-west of the SMM’s position, and shortly after an explosion assessed as the impact of the same recoilless-gun round 4.7km south-south-west of its position. The ensuing exchange included 27 explosions assessed as outgoing recoilless-gun (SPG-9) rounds and 27 explosions assessed as their impacts, as well as 14 explosions assessed as outgoing automatic-grenade-launcher (AGS-17) rounds, 12 explosions assessed as outgoing mortar or artillery rounds and 150 shots and burst of small-arms and machine-gun fire, all at locations 3.4-3.9km south-south-west of the SMM’s position. At the same time, 3-5km south-south-west of its position, the SMM heard five explosions assessed as impacts of artillery or mortar rounds, 22 undetermined explosions and approximately 100 single shots and bursts of small arms and machine-gun fire. During the late evening of 12 August, the SMM heard an intense engagement in Stanytsia Luhanska which included: 24 explosions assessed as outgoing 82mm mortar rounds, 79 explosions assessed as automatic-grenade-launcher rounds (AGS-17), 21 explosions assessed as rocket-propelled-grenade rounds (RPG-7), 18 explosions assessed as recoilless-gun (SPG-9) rounds, as well as over 270 bursts of small arms fire; all 3-5km south of its position.

On 12 August, the SMM heard nine undetermined explosions, all assessed as live-fire exercises at “LPR” training areas outside of the security zone in Shymshynivka and Uspenka (27 and 23km south-east of Luhansk, respectively).

In the evening of 12 August, positioned in government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk), the SMM heard 55-60 explosions assessed as caused by mortar rounds of unknown calibre 10-15km south-west of its position.

The SMM confirmed reports of civilian casualties and conducted crater analysis. In the morning of 12 August, the SMM followed up on the aforementioned ceasefire violations it has recorded around Stanytsia Luhanska bridge during the night. It observed two fresh craters just south of the last Ukrainian Armed Forces position before Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. The SMM assessed the first crater as caused by an under-barrel grenade launcher (GP-25) fired from a southerly direction. The second crater was assessed as caused by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG-7), also fired from a southerly direction. The SMM observed impacts from small-arms fire on the south-facing surfaces of anti-tank fortifications and cement blocks at the Ukrainian Armed Forces position. Two additional pieces of a fortification had been destroyed by what the SMM assessed as a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG-7) round. Halfway between the southernmost Ukrainian Armed Forces position and the northernmost “LPR” position, the SMM observed another fresh crater assessed as caused by an unknown weapon fired from a northerly direction. The SMM noted that the “LPR” position had a Russian Federation flag, a Russian Federation paratroopers and navy flag, as well as Novorossiya and Don Cossack flags. The Ukrainian Armed Forces position was flying a red and black flag.

The SMM, accompanied by a Russian Federation Armed Forces officer at the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), visited a house in Donetsk city’s Petrovskyi district at approximately 13:00 on 12 August. The SMM observed shrapnel damage to the fence, door and a wall of the house as well as broken windows. The SMM assessed that the damage had been caused by an 82mm mortar round, fired from an undetermined direction, which had destroyed a shed upon impact in the yard of a neighbouring home. In the house the SMM observed the body of an elderly man lying on the floor, covered in blood. The man had sustained an injury to his chest and to his left hand. The SMM observed as the body was taken to a morgue. The man’s wife (80 years of age) informed the SMM that the shelling had occurred at approximately 01:45 and had lasted for 15 minutes.

On 11 August, at a hospital in government-controlled Kurakhove (40km west of Donetsk), medical personnel told the SMM that two boys (8 and 13 years of age) had been treated for minor shrapnel injuries on 10 August. The deputy head of the Kurakhove police station told the SMM that both children had been injured in Marinka on the evening of 10 August.

In government-controlled Lobacheve (17km north-west of Luhansk), two separate groups of residents and a group of Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers confirmed the reports of a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer at the JCCC that their position had been hit during an exchange of fire the previous night. The SMM observed a fresh crater at the Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint, located 15-20m from civilian houses, and assessed it as having been caused by a grenade from an under-barrel grenade launcher, but was unable to determine the direction of fire. The SMM also saw bullet holes on the south-facing surface of a defensive position at the checkpoint. The SMM found more traces from bullets assessed as fired from a southerly direction on the south-facing wall of a shop, 30-40 metres from the checkpoint. Approximately 100 metres south of the checkpoint, the SMM also observed damage on the north-east facing roof and satellite dish of two houses caused by unknown weapons fired from a north-easterly direction.

In government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk), the SMM, accompanied by a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer at the JCCC, was shown the location of four fresh craters by a Ukrainian Armed Forces commander. The craters were located in a field approximately 100 metres south of a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint and were the result of shelling which took place during the previous night according to the commander. Three of the craters were assessed as having been caused by 82mm mortar rounds fired from a south-easterly direction. The SMM was not able to determine the weapon type which had caused the fourth crater but assessed that it had also been fired from a south-easterly direction.

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Package of Measures and its Addendum, as well as the Memorandum.

In violation of respective withdrawal lines, the SMM observed in “LPR”-controlled areas four multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS; BM-21 Grad, 122mm) near Khrustalnyi (formerly Krasnyi Luch, 54km south-west of Luhansk) and one tank near Khriashchuvate (10km south-east of Luhansk).

Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside assigned areas, the SMM observed 18 tanks (T-64) and six towed howitzers (D-30, 122mm) at a known training area near “LPR”-controlled Myrne (28km south-west of Luhansk). On 11 August, aerial surveillance imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of six MLRS (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) and six self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) near government-controlled Kramatorsk (83km north of Donetsk).

The SMM observed weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage does not comply with the criteria set out in the 16 October 2015 notification. In government-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM observed two such sites which continued to be abandoned as they had been since 12 March and 15 July 2016, and one site which was noted as abandoned for the first time. In total 74 anti-tank guns (71 MT-12 Rapira, 100mm; and three D-48, 85mm) were recorded as missing from the sites. At an additional site, the SMM saw that eight MLRS (BM-27 Uragan, 220mm) were present and six were absent.

The SMM revisited permanent storage sites, whose locations corresponded with the withdrawal lines. In government-controlled areas the SMM noted that 16 tanks (six T-64 and ten T-72) and six mortars (2B9 Vasilek, 82mm) were missing.

The SMM observed the presence of armoured combat vehicles (ACV) in the security zone. In “LPR”-controlled Pervomaisk (58km west of Luhansk) the SMM observed one armoured personnel carrier (APC, BTR-80), five APCs (MTLB) mounted with anti-aircraft guns (ZU-23/2, 23mm), three infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs, BMP) and 12 military-type trucks (Ural). In “DPR”-controlled Pikuzy the SMM observed one IFV (BMP-1). Aerial surveillance imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of two armoured vehicles in “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (58km north-east of Donetsk).

In government-controlled areas the SMM noted one IFV (BMP-1) near Kriakivka (38km north-west of Luhansk) and two IFVs (BMP-2) near Stanytsia Luhanska.

The SMM observed the presence of mine hazard signs. The SMM, travelled along a 400 metre stretch of a road west of “DPR”-controlled Petrivske (41km south of Donetsk). The SMM observed red, triangle-shaped signs at the western entrance of Petrivske and another sign approximately 400 metres down the road with the words “danger mines” in English and “stop mines” in Cyrillic written in white letters. According to a Russian Federation Armed Forces officer from the JCCC and a “DPR” member who accompanied the SMM, the area had recently been cleared of mines.

The SMM monitored a border area not controlled by the Government. The SMM noted a low level of pedestrian and vehicular traffic at two border crossing points near “LPR”-controlled Krasnodarskyi (58km south-east of Luhansk). In just over one hour at the two crossing points the SMM observed a total of 23 pedestrians crossing into Ukraine.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation at three crossing points at the administrative boundary line between the mainland and Crimea. The SMM observed that all three crossing points at Kalanchak, Chaplynka and Chonhar (67km, 72km and 167km south-east of Kherson, respectively) were open. The SMM observed a low level of traffic at all three crossing points. Near the Kalanchak crossing point, the SMM saw one Ukrainian Armed Forces armoured personnel carrier (BTR70).

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

The SMM’s monitoring is restrained by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines and unexploded ordnance, and by restrictions to its freedom of movement and other impediments – which vary from day to day. The SMM’s mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations.

Denial of access:

Armed men refused the SMM access to a compound in “LPR”-controlled Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, 50km west of Luhansk). The SMM informed the JCCC.

Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers prevented the SMM from proceeding through a checkpoint on a road leading from government-controlled to “LPR”-controlled parts of Zolote (60km west of Luhansk). The SMM informed the JCCC.

Near Stanytsia Luhanska Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel stopped the SMM from approaching closer to a collapsed road bridge (approximately 1.6km east of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge crossing route). An officer among them cited danger from small-arms fire and demining activity in the area as the reason for the denial.

A short time later, near the railway bridge in Stanytsia Luhanska, Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel stopped the SMM from accessing a vantage point with a view over the bridge. The SMM informed the JCCC.

[1] Please see the annexed table for a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations as well as map of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions marked with locations featured in this report.

Contacts

Alexandra Taylor
Head of Press and Public Information Unit
OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine
26 Turhenievska Street
01054 Kyiv
Ukraine
Mobile: +380 67 650 31 57
alexandra.taylor@osce.org
smm-media@osce.org

Tetiana Tesliuchenko
Senior Social Media Assistant
OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine
26 Turhenievska Street
01054 Kyiv
Ukraine
Office: +380 44 382 0832
Mobile: +380 67 466 2563
Tetiana.Tesliuchenko@osce.org