The SMM observed ceasefire violations in Donetsk region at a level similar to the previous day. The situation remained stable in Luhansk. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. It continued to facilitate demining and repair work to essential infrastructure. The Mission reached border crossing points in areas not controlled by the Government in both Luhansk and Donetsk regions. The SMM encountered freedom-of-movement restrictions.* It monitored demonstrations in support of Nadiya Savchenko in Kramatorsk, Odessa, Kharkiv and Kyiv.
The SMM observed numerous ceasefire violations in Donetsk region.[1] Of note, in contrast to the previous day, the SMM recorded no overnight ceasefire violations from its position in Donetsk city. Whilst at the Donetsk railway station (“DPR”-controlled, 6km north-west of Donetsk) during the day on 9 March, the SMM registered 31 undetermined explosions and multiple bursts of small-arms and machine-gun fire at locations ranging from 2-10km west-south-west, north, north-east, and east-south-east of its location.
Whilst in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), during the evening of 8 March, the SMM heard 12 blasts (73mm cannon), 16 impacts (automatic grenade launcher), and 20 bursts (heavy machine-gun) to the south-east and 16 blasts (73mm cannon), 48 undetermined explosions, 21 impacts and two explosions (automatic grenade launcher), and 32 bursts (heavy machine-gun) to the south-west. On 9 March, from the same position the SMM recorded one tank blast at 4km north-east. At the Haharina coal mine in the vicinity of “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM recorded within half an hour four impacts of artillery rounds 4km to the north-east of its position.
In government-controlled Stritenka (formerly Oktiabrske, 46km north of Mariupol), in about 20 minutes the SMM heard approximately 100 undetermined explosions and intermittent small-arms shots 4-5km south-south-east of its position.
In Luhansk region, the situation remained relatively calm with a significantly lower number of ceasefire violations recorded compared to the previous day. On the western edge of “LPR”-controlled Novooleksandrivka (65km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard seven small-arms shots. At the time the SMM was operating its mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over the edges of Novooleksandrivka. Damage assessed as caused by small-arms fire to its battery and a propeller was observed.*
The SMM continued to monitor the implementation of the Addendum to the Package of Measures. Beyond respective withdrawal lines, but outside storage sites the SMM observed the following weapons: approximately 40 tanks (T-72/T-64) in a compound 7km south-east of “DPR”-controlled Ternove (57km east of Donetsk), with “DPR” members present; two tanks (T-64/T-72) in “LPR”-controlled Uspenka (23km south-west of Luhansk) training area; one tank (T-72) stationary on the road between government-controlled Novoaidar (49km north-west of Luhansk) and government-controlled Sievierodonetsk (73km north-west of Luhansk).
The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of heavy weapons as foreseen in the Minsk Package of Measures. The SMM has yet to receive the full information requested in the 16 October 2015 notification.
The SMM revisited an “LPR” permanent heavy weapons storage site and noted that all weapons previously verified as withdrawn to the site were present.
The SMM revisited locations known to the SMM as heavy weapons holding areas, even though they do not comply with the specific criteria set out for permanent storage sites in the 16 October 2015 notification.
In “DPR”-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM revisited such locations and observed six self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm), six towed howitzers (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm), and four towed anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm).
In violation of respective withdrawal lines, the SMM long-range UAV* spotted two towed anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) in a government-controlled area of Zaitseve (50km north of Donetsk), seven self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) loaded on a train in government-controlled Kostiantynivka (60km north of Donetsk); and six towed artillery pieces (2B16 Nona-K, 120mm) in “DPR”-controlled area of Karlo-Marksove (39km north-east of Donetsk). In the evening hours of 9 March the long-range UAV spotted two self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) firing from “DPR”-controlled area of Yasynivka (17km north-east of Donetsk) in a westerly direction.
Beyond the respective withdrawal lines but outside storage sites, the SMM observed: a self-propelled surface-to-air missile system (9K35 Strela-10) in the area of government-controlled Krasnoarmiisk (55km north-west of Donetsk); a convoy of three military trucks towing three anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) in the area of government-controlled Yurivka (32km south-west of Mariupol); one static self-propelled howitzer (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm), six towed howitzers (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm) in a training area in “LPR”-controlled Uspenka.
The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure. In co-ordination with Ukrainian Armed Forces representatives at the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), the SMM monitored on-going repairs of the power grid conducted by an electricity company in areas near government-controlled Artemove (42km north-east of Donetsk). In government-controlled Luhanske (60km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM monitored repairs to the power grid between Luhanske and Horlivka. In “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM monitored repairs of a high-voltage power line supplying electricity to Horlivka from government-controlled areas in co-ordination with a Russian Federation Armed Forces JCCC officer. In government-controlled Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk) the SMM monitored repairs of a gas pipeline installation. Whilst in Marinka, in four hours the SMM heard two undetermined explosions, several single sniper rifle shots and one burst from a heavy machine-gun 1-3km east-south-east, east-north-east, and east of its position.
The SMM followed up on reports of shelling and conducted crater analysis in two locations. In government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north-west of Donetsk), the SMM analysed eight craters in an area at the south-eastern edge of the town. The SMM assessed the craters were fresh and caused by five 120mm mortar rounds and three automatic-grenade-launcher rounds, all fired from the south-south-east. On 8 March the SMM long-range UAV observed three buildings on fire and armed formations regrouping close to the contact line between Avdiivka and “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk). On 9 March in Yasynuvata, the SMM attempted to follow up on allegations of shelling in the area the previous night, but lack of security guarantees and effective co-ordination by the JCCC prevented it. Whilst in the area, positioned near the contact line the SMM recorded 20 small-arms shots and 12 bursts of small-arms fire 500m to the east; one undetermined explosion 1-2km to the east, and one undetermined explosion 5km to the south-west. On 8 March, at the Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint located at the south-eastern edge of government-controlled Popasna (69km west of Luhansk), the SMM followed up on an alleged shelling which occurred on 5 March. The SMM performed crater analysis and assessed that the crater was fresh and caused by an 82mm mortar fired from the east.
The SMM visited border areas not controlled by the Government and observed a calm situation. At the Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk) border crossing point the SMM noted that vehicular traffic continued to be low. The SMM saw nine trucks, with male drivers, 12 civilian vehicles (drivers being 30% women, 70% men), and one bus (drivers being 60% women, 40% men), the majority bearing Ukrainian license plates, and four civilian cars bearing Russian Federation plate numbers, waiting to cross into the Russian Federation. At the Marynivka (78km east of Donetsk) crossing point, the SMM saw three civilian vehicles, bearing Ukrainian license plates (carrying three men and one woman), and seven trucks, with Ukrainian license plates, waiting to cross into the Russian Federation. At the Izvaryne (53km south-east of Luhansk) crossing point, the SMM observed* 58 civilian cars, 20 pedestrians and one bus waiting to cross into the Russian Federation. Fifty cars bore Ukrainian license plates, eight bore Russian Federation ones. The SMM also saw about 45 civilian cars with Ukrainian license plates parked in the vicinity of the crossing point. At the Chervonopartyzansk (67km south-east of Luhansk) crossing point, the SMM saw one civilian car crossing into the Russian Federation.
The SMM monitored the situation of civilians in the vicinity of the contact line. In government-controlled areas of Zolote (60km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM noted that a sign reading “Danger, mines” – last seen by the SMM in early March - had been removed from the path leading into a nearby forest. In the area, the SMM spoke with ten people (four women and six men, 40-60 years old) who said they regularly travelled between government-controlled and “LPR”-controlled areas of Zolote, for shopping.
The SMM continued to observe largely peaceful public gatherings in support of Nadiya Savchenko. In government-controlled Kramatorsk (82km north-west of Donetsk), the SMM monitored a peaceful rally attended by at least 300 people, including the head of the Donetsk regional administration, the mayor of Kramatorsk, and the head of the local Right Sector branch. In Odessa, the SMM monitored two similar events: at the Shevchenko Park, attended by some 200 people who were addressed by the head of the regional administration, and at the Russian Consulate General, where 200 people gathered. The SMM observed 25 officers of the National Guard and 20 uniformed police officers at the main gate. There were an additional 50 riot police in the vicinity. After some 30 young men burned an effigy, the SMM saw riot police officers replacing the National Guard officers and uniformed police officers at the main gate. Shortly after that 15 youths in balaclavas began to throw eggs at the building. They then surged toward the main entrance, but were repelled quickly by the riot police. The SMM observed one of the protestors spread red paint by hand on the sign reading “Russian Federation Consulate” on the main gate. The SMM also observed that one police officer used a short burst of a white spray against one of the demonstrators, but the wind blew the spray away, and it did not seem to affect the demonstrator. Shortly after that 25 youths in balaclavas surged more forcefully toward the gate, and were repelled after five minutes of struggle. At the scene, the SMM spoke with the head of the department of public safety of the Odessa regional police department, who said that neither police officers nor demonstrators had been injured in the clashes. Later, two representatives of the demonstrators entered the building to deliver a petition demanding the release of Savchenko. The rally ended without further incidents. Similarly at the Russian General Consulate building in Kharkiv, the SMM observed a 300-strong peaceful rally, secured by a cordon of 100 law enforcement officers. The SMM saw a delegation of demonstrators approach the front gate of the building, where they delivered a petition requesting the release of Savchenko. Later, 70 young, mostly male, activists, some of whom carried flags of the Azov Civil Corps approached the building, where at that time the SMM saw 200 law enforcement officers. In Kyiv, the SMM monitored a similar rally in front of the Embassy of the Russian Federation, attended by about 900 people. Some 50 police and 50 National Guard officers guarded the building. The SMM saw the leader of the Fatherland Party attend and five young men throw approximately 60-90 eggs and bottles of iodine at the building.
The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Kherson, Lviv and Dnepropetrovsk.
- 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, damaged infrastructure, and the unpredictability of the situation in Donbas. “LPR” members continue to prevent the SMM from monitoring many areas alongside the border in parts of Luhansk region not controlled by the Government, and consistently require that the SMM submit patrol plans in advance.
Denial of access:
At a “DPR” heavy weapons holding area, only two SMM monitors out of four were allowed to enter.
Conditional access:
- At the Izvaryne border crossing point, an armed man demanded to see the SMM patrol plan. Later, his superior told the SMM not to remain at the crossing point for long periods of time.
- At the “LPR”-controlled checkpoint of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (16km north-east of Luhansk) the a “LPR” member seemingly in charge of the checkpoint took photographs of the SMM IDs and requested to make a copy of the SMM patrol plan.
Delay:
- At the Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint in government-controlled Berdianske (18km east of Mariupol), the SMM was delayed for 52 minutes, as Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel prevented it from entering the village, citing ongoing demining activities. The SMM contacted the JCCC and was then allowed to proceed.
Other impediments:
- Over the edges of Novooleksandrivka, the SMM mini UAV video signal was lost and the SMM heard seven small arms shots. The UAV was retrieved but damage assessed as caused by small-arms fire was observed.
- The Global Positioning System sensors of the SMM long range UAV were jammed four times while flying over a “DPR”-controlled area south of government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north-west of Donetsk).
[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.
For PDF attachments or links to sources of further information, please visit: http://www.osce.org/ukraine-smm/226846
Contacts:
Iuliia Poberezhna
26 Turhenievska Street
01054 Kyiv
Ukraine
mobile: +380 67 467 75 65
iuliia.poberezhna@osce.org
Iryna Gudyma
26 Turhenievska Street
01054 Kyiv
Ukraine
mobile: +38 067 4021716
Iryna.Gudyma@osce.org