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OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine Conflict
prevention and resolution
Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 12 July 2019 KYIV 13 July 2019
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Summary
Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region. The SMM followed up on reports of a woman killed in Holmivskyi due to shrapnel injuries and a woman injured by shrapnel when her house was damaged by gunfire in Olenivka; it observed damage from shelling and gunfire to houses in Horlivka, Chermalyk and Tavrycheske, to a power substation in Irmino and to the House of Culture and a functioning school in Zolote- 5/Mykhailivka. The Mission saw fresh craters and damage from shelling to residential buildings inside the Zolote disengagement area. Small-arms fire was directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle near Metalist. The SMM saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in a non-government- controlled area of Luhansk region. The Mission saw fresh craters near Zolote, Vodiane, Irmino and Molodizhne. The Mission spotted trucks near Stepne along the border with the Russian Federation. The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate repairs and the operations of critical civilian infrastructure. Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued, including in non-government- controlled Verkhnoshyrokivske and at a heavy weapons holding area in a government-controlled area of Donetsk region.*
Ceasefire violations[1]
In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including, however, fewer explosions (about 215), compared with the previous reporting period (about 450 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations, including the majority of explosions, were recorded in southerly directions of Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk) and southerly and south-easterly directions of Pyshchevyk (government-controlled, 25km north-east of Mariupol) and of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol).
In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including fewer explosions (15), compared with the previous reporting period (about 250 explosions). Over half of ceasefire violations, including the majority of explosions, were recorded in areas south-south-east and north of Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk).
Woman killed in Holmivskyi due to shrapnel injuries and damage to a residential building
In Holmivskyi (non-government-controlled, 49km north-east of Donetsk), on 11 July, the SMM saw the body of a deceased woman (70 years old) lying on a sofa inside her apartment on the fifth floor of a five- storey residential building at 23 Bolnychna Street. At the building, the son (man, in his forties) of the deceased woman told the SMM that at around 08:00 on 11 July he had received a phone call from his mother who reported sustaining injuries from an explosion. He said that he immediately arrived to his mother’s apartment and saw injuries on the right and left sides of her chest. He told the SMM that by the time the ambulance had arrived at 08:50, his mother had already died.
About 40m east of the above five-storey residential building, the SMM saw a fresh crater assessed as caused by a 120mm mortar round, but could not assess the direction of fire. It saw fresh shrapnel marks on the building’s east-facing wall and shattered east-facing windows and balcony doors from the second to the fifth floor.
Woman injured by shrapnel and damage to residential houses in Olenivka
In Olenivka (non-government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk), at 31 Shevchenka Street, a woman (64 years old) with a scratch on her upper left arm told the SMM that on the early morning hours of 12 July she had been at her house when she heard an explosion and was injured by shrapnel. She said that her 17-year old grandson had been sleeping in the room next-door when the explosion occurred.
The SMM saw a hole on the south-west-facing outer wall of her one-storey house, assessed as caused by a 30mm high-explosive round (undetermined weapon) fired from a west-south-west direction. Inside the house, it saw about 50 holes in three broken doors, in several walls, in the television screen and in wooden floor boards, all assessed as fresh shrapnel damage. The house is about 400m north-east of a checkpoint of the armed formations on road H-20, a road used daily by civilians to cross the contact line.
About 500m north-west, at 64 Lenina Street, the SMM saw a fresh impact in the south-west facing side of the roof of a one-storey residential house, assessed as caused by a projectile (30mm) fired from a west-north-westerly direction. A neighbour (woman in her seventies) told the SMM that shelling had occurred in the early hours of 11 July.
About 600m south-west, at 98 Pereizna Street, the SMM saw a tree with broken branches about 3m from the north-facing wall of a one-storey residential house, assessed as caused by a projectile (likely 30mm) fired from a west-north-westerly direction. The SMM saw a fresh hole in a north-facing window, pieces of glass below it and small damage to the surface on the north-facing concrete wall, all assessed as shrapnel damage from the above mentioned projectile. The SMM saw also fresh shrapnel damage to a fence about 2m north of the house. A neighbour (woman in her seventies) told the SMM that she had heard an explosion on 11 July at 03:30.
Damage to residential houses from shelling in Tavrycheske and to power substation in Irmino
On 11 July, at 8 Zakhidna Street in Tavrycheske (non- government-controlled, 48km west of Luhansk), the SMM saw two fresh craters (including one with shrapnel scattered around it) in a garden about 20 and 100m west of a one-storey house. The Mission was unable to assess the type of weapon(s) used and direction of the fire. The Mission saw a hole on the west-facing corner of the roof of the house and a shattered north-west-facing window pane with shards of glass scattered on the ground underneath it, as well as cracks in the internal walls of the main room. About 4m south-west of the house, the SMM saw a shattered north-west-facing window pane of a one-storey brick building, with shards of glass scattered on the ground underneath it. About 20m west of the aforementioned house, the SMM saw that a 3m-long section of the outer wooden fence had been destroyed and observed at least 15 holes in the remaining part. The SMM assessed all the above damage as fresh and likely caused by shrapnel from the same explosions. A resident of the house (woman in her seventies) told the SMM that she had been at home on the morning of 10 July when she had heard explosions and that nobody had been injured.
About 10m north-west of the abovementioned house, at a one-storey house at 6 Zakhidna Street in Tavrycheske, the SMM saw a partially shattered north-west-facing window pane with shards of glass scattered on the ground underneath it, six holes on the north-west-facing wall and a hole on the north- west-facing side of the roof. About 4m south-west of the house, the SMM saw three partially shattered north-east-facing window panes at a one-storey stone building. The SMM assessed all damage as fresh and likely caused by shrapnel from the same abovementioned explosions. Two residents of the house (man and woman in their sixties) told the SMM they had been at home on the morning of 10 July when they had heard explosions and that nobody had been injured.
On the same day, at a power station at Diukanova Street in Irmino (non-government-controlled, 54km west of Luhansk), an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted a fresh impact (hole) in the west-north-west-facing side of the roof of a two- storey central building of a power station control point and the SMM saw a corresponding hole through the concrete floor on the second floor while inside the building. The SMM assessed the impact as probably caused by an artillery round fired from an undetermined direction. Inside the building, the SMM saw concrete debris scattered on the second- floor and staircase. It observed four shattered windows, including one with steel security bars bent outwards. At another two-storey building of the power station, 10-15m east, the SMM saw shrapnel damage on the west-facing brick wall and projectile remnants on the ground between the two buildings. The SMM assessed all damage as caused by shrapnel from the above mentioned round. The SMM saw a crater in soft soil, 130m west-south-west of the central building, assessed as probably caused by an artillery round, but could not assess direction of fire.
Damage from gunfire to House of Culture and functioning school in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka
On 11 July, on the south-western edge of Zolote- 5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), about 500m east of the western edge of the disengagement area near Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk), an SMM mini-UAV spotted a hole in the west-facing part of the roof of the three-storey building of the House of Culture. The SMM was unable to assess the type of weapon used and direction of fire. About 700m further west, at the three-storey brick building of a functioning school on Myru Street, the SMM saw fresh damage (holes or shattered window panes) to four north-facing windows on the ground, second and third floors, assessed as damage from gunfire. A school employee (woman, 60 years old) told the SMM that she had seen the damage on the morning of 11 July (for the most recent observations at this location, see SMM Daily Report 18 June 2019).
Damage to residential house from shelling in Chermalyk
In Chermalyk, at 6 Nikitna Street, the SMM accompanied by a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) saw a fresh crater located about 45m east of a residential house, assessed as caused by a 82mm mortar round. The SMM saw about ten dents on the east-facing wall of the house. Two residents of the house (woman and man, in their eighties) told the SMM that they were inside the house when they heard shelling in the late evening hours on 11 July.
Small-arms fire assessed as directed at an SMM mini- UAV near Metalist
While conducting a mini-UAV flight about 4km south- west of Metalist (non-government-controlled, 7km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 20 shots of small-arms fire at an assessed distance of 1-1.5km north, assessed as aimed at the mini-UAV, which was also flying about 1km north of the patrol’s position. The SMM safely landed the UAV and left the area. Analysis of imagery recorded by the same UAV showed one man pointing a rifle in the direction of the UAV.*
Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area
On 12 July, inside the disengagement area, south of the broken part of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (15km north of Luhansk), the SMM saw two members of the armed formations wearing armbands with “JCCC” written on them.
At the former forward position of the Ukrainian Armed Forces north of the broken part of the bridge, the SMM saw two Ukrainian Armed Forces officers of the JCCC [2] and a group of seven civilians, including a local administration representative, walking towards the broken section of the bridge, reportedly conducting a feasibility assessment for a shuttle service to carry “impaired” civilians from the broken bridge to the entry-exit checkpoint (EECP) north of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. About 200m south of the EECP, the SMM saw eight members of the State Emergency Services (SES) carrying mine detectors.
Outside of the disengagement area, about 15m north of the EECP, the SMM saw continuing works for the building of a concrete reinforced structure (see SMM Daily Report 12 July 2019). A Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier told the SMM that they were building a shelter.
On the afternoon of 12 July, positioned 600m south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion at an assessed range of 2- 3km east, assessed as outside the disengagement area but within its 5km periphery.
Other disengagement areas[3]
On 7 July, an SMM mini-UAV spotted in a field about 300m north of the Zolote disengagement area about 30 craters, assessed as fresh and caused by mortar rounds (the SMM could not assess the direction of fire).
On 10 July, inside the Zolote disengagement area, on the southern edge of Katerynivka (government- controlled, 64km west of Luhansk), an SMM mini- UAV spotted about 20 craters, all assessed as fresh and caused by 122mm artillery rounds fired from southerly and south-easterly directions. Five of the aforementioned craters were about 2m from residential buildings, four of which (two houses and two barns) had their concrete-asbestos roof panels destroyed and damage to their windows. The mini- UAV spotted also damage to power lines, fences, trees and vegetable gardens nearby, all assessed as shrapnel damage. The same UAV also spotted, near road T-1306, about 50m south of the railway bridge, 18 craters assessed as fresh and caused by 82mm mortar rounds (the SMM could not assess the direction of fire), as well as seven craters, assessed as fresh and caused by 122mm artillery rounds fired from southerly and south-easterly directions.
On the evening of 11 July, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded two projectiles in flight at an assessed range of 3-5km south-east (unable to assess as inside or outside the disengagement area). The same camera recorded two projectiles in flight at an assessed range of 3-5km east-north-east and east, assessed as outside the disengagement area but within its 5km periphery.
During the day on 12 July, positioned close to the disengagement area near Petrivske (non- government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), the SMM observed a calm situation.[4]
Withdrawal of weapons
The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Memorandum and the Package of Measures and its Addendum.
In violation of the withdrawal lines
Non-government-controlled areas
10 July
An SMM mini-UAV spotted a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) inside a building near Bohdanivka (44km west of Luhansk).
Beyond withdrawal lines but outside of designated storage sites
Government-controlled areas
12 July
The SMM saw:
an MLRS (BM-21) at the railway station in Pokrovsk (formerly Krasnoarmiisk, 55km north-west of Donetsk) and six surface-to-air-missile systems (9K35 Strela10) at the railway station in Kostiantynivka (60km north of Donetsk).
Weapons that the SMM could not verify as withdrawn[5]
At a heavy weapons holding area in a government- controlled area of Donetsk region.
12 July
The SMM noted that:
seven MLRS (BM-21) were present and 23 MLRS (BM-21) and a self-propelled howitzer (2S1, Gvozdika, 122mm) continued to be missing.
Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[6]
Government-controlled areas
10 July
An SMM mini-UAV spotted an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1), an armoured combat vehicle (ACV) and an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) near Zolote-4/Rodina (60km west of Luhansk).
11 July
An SMM mini-UAV spotted two ACVs, two IFVs (BMP- 1) and a 15m-long recently dug trench extension (not seen in imagery of 16 June 2019) near Vodiane (19km north-east of Mariupol).
Non-government-controlled areas
10 July
An SMM mini-UAV spotted an ACV near Bohdanivka (see above).
11 July
An SMM mini-UAV spotted six armoured personnel carriers (APC) (one BTR-80 and five MT-LB) in Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, 50km west of Luhansk).
Fresh craters in and near Vodiane and Molodizhne
On 11 July, in and near Vodiane, an SMM mini-UAV spotted 26 fresh craters, seven of which were in a residential area and the rest in a nearby field. The SMM assessed 20 of the craters as caused by 122mm artillery rounds and six by 120mm mortar rounds, including 16 assessed as fired from easterly and north-easterly directions.
On 11 July, about 1.7km south-west of Molodizhne (non-government-controlled, 63km north-west of Luhansk), on the shoulder of the southern side of the asphalt road, the SMM saw a fresh crater but was unable to assess the type of weapon used or direction of fire. About 600m further east, the SMM saw a second crater in the asphalt road (and a tailfin of an 82mm mortar round in it), assessed as fresh and caused by the impact of an 82mm mortar round fired from a west-south-westerly direction.
Trucks spotted near Stepne along the border with the Russian Federation
On 5 July, aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of at least five trucks facing west along a tree line along the border with the Russian Federation, about 2km south-east of Stepne (non-government-controlled, 72km south-east of Donetsk), in an area where there are no official border crossing points and no roads. About 2km west of the trucks, the same aerial imagery revealed the presence of five fresh vehicle tracks leading to the border. About 1.6km further south, it also revealed three fresh vehicle tracks leading towards the border.
SMM facilitation of repair works and the operations of civilian infrastructure
The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to the phenol sludge reservoir near Zalizne (formerly Artemove, government-controlled, 42km north-east of Donetsk), to a water pipeline between Zolote- 3/Stakhanovets (government-controlled, 61km west of Luhansk) and Popasna and to power lines in Katerynivka.
The SMM facilitated the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) (15km north of Donetsk) and continued to monitor the security situation in the area of the pumping station near Vasylivka (non- government-controlled, 20km north of Donetsk). While positioned near Yasynuvata (non-government- controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk) and facilitating the operation of the DFS, the SMM heard about 70 ceasefire violations, including about 55 undetermined explosions, assessed as near the DFS.
The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Chernivtsi and Kyiv.
*Restrictions of the SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate
The SMM’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines, unexploded ordnance (UXO) 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. They have also agreed that the JCCC should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance. Nonetheless, the armed formations in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions frequently deny the SMM access to areas adjacent to Ukraine’s border outside control of the Government (for example, SMM Daily Report 29 June 2019). The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April 2017 near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations.
Denial of access:
At a checkpoint near Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, non-government- controlled, 29km north-east of Mariupol), two armed members of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage, citing “orders from their supervisor.” While present, the SMM saw civilian vehicles crossing the checkpoint in both directions. On two occasions, two Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers, one visibly armed, denied the SMM access into a heavy weapons holding area in Donetsk region, citing the absence of permission from their commander.
Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:
The sides continued to deny the SMM full access to disengagement areas, as well as the ability to travel certain roads previously identified as important for effective monitoring by the Mission and for civilians’ movement, through failure to conduct comprehensive clearance of mines and UXO.
Other impediments:
While conducting a mini-UAV flight about 4km south-west of Metalist (non- government-controlled, 7km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 20 shots of small-arms fire, assessed as aimed at the UAV, which it landed safely (see above). On three occasions, an SMM mini-UAV experienced GPS signal interference, assessed as probably caused by jamming while flying over Makiivka (non- government-controlled, 12km north-east of Donetsk).[7]
[1] For a complete breakdown of ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. The SMM cameras in Shyrokyne and Svitlodarsk were non- operational during the reporting period.
* Please see the section at the end of this report entitled “Restrictions of the SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate”.
[2] The Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) was established in September 2014 by Ukraine and the Russian Federation. Each posted a representative to jointly head the Centre and a staff of officers from the Ukrainian and Russian Federation Armed Forces to be co-located in defined sectors of Luhansk and Donetsk regions. In December 2017, Russian Federation Armed Forces officers withdrew from the JCCC and departed Ukraine.
[3]Disengagement is foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016.
[4] Due to the presence of mines, including a road between Bohdanivka and Petrivske, the SMM’s access to its camera in Petrivske remains limited, and thus the SMM has not been able to access observations from the camera since 22 June 2018.
[5] The SMM observed weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage did not comply with the criteria set out in the 16 October 2015 notification from the SMM to the signatories of the Package of Measures on effective monitoring and verification of the withdrawal of heavy weapons.
[6] The hardware mentioned in this section is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.
[7] The interference could have originated from anywhere within the radius of kilometres from the UAVs’ position.
See the table of ceasefire violations
Contacts Dragana Nikolic-Solomon Chief of Press and Public Information Unit OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine 26 Turhenievska Street 01054 Kyiv Ukraine Office: +380 44 392 08 55 Mobile: +380 95 291 99 18 [email protected] [email protected]
Iryna Korobko National Media Officer OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine 26 Turhenievska Street