Obstruction of Evacuation of Civilians During the Armed Conﬂ Ict in Donetsk and Luhansk Regions

“Trapped” Civilians

Obstruction of evacuation of civilians during the armed conﬂ ict in Donetsk and Luhansk regions

The report is prepared by the Center for Civil Liberties and the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union under the auspices of the Coalition of non-governmental organizations and initiatives “Justice for Peace in Donbass”

June 2015 With respect to issues arising on this report, or for making comments and feedback, please contact the following address [email protected]

This publication has been prepared under the “Democratization, human rights and civil society” project, implemented by the United Nations Development Program in Ukraine and funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark during 2013-2016.

Opinions, conclusions and recommendations are given by the authors and compilers of this report and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, the United Nations Development Program and other UN agencies.

The publishing of this report is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in the framework of the Human Rights in Action Program implemented by the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union.

The contents are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

The American people, through the USAID, have provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for 50 years. In Ukraine, USAID’s assistance focuses on three areas: Health and Social Transition, Economic Growth and Democracy and Governance. USAID has provided 1.8 bln technical and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since 1992.

For additional information about USAID programs in Ukraine, please visit our website: www.ukraine.usaid.gov or our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/USAIDUkraine.

Kyiv 2015

Cover photo — Tim Zlatkin © Center for Civil Liberties Design and page layout — Mykhailo Fedyshak © Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union CONTENTS

Map of mentioned populated locations ...... 4

Introduction. Monitoring group and some concepts...... 5

І. “Humanitarian corridors”...... 6

II. General context...... 8

III. Obstruction to the evacuation of civilians...... 10

IV. Examples of obstruction of evacuation of civilians...... 14

1. Shelling of civilians during liberation of Lysychansk, July 22–24, 2014 ...... 14

2. Novosvitlivka – Hryaschuvate, shelling of a convoy of civilians in the “humanitarian corridor”, August 2014 ...... 19

3. Debaltseve, shelling of points of gathering for evacuation on February 1, 2015 ...... 21

4. Shelling of ambulance vehicle near Luhanske, approximately between February 7 and 13, 2015...... 26

5. Chornukhyne, obstruction of evacuation of civilians, February 10, 2015 ...... 26

6. Zholobok, obstruction of evacuation of civilians, January 2015...... 27

7. Cossack Village Luhanska, obstruction of evacuation of civilians, March 17, 2015 ...... 28

8. Shelling of Avdiivka during evacuation of children in January 2015...... 29

9. Using evacuated children for propaganda purposes ...... 30

10. Obstruction of evacuation of neuropsychiatric boarding institution in Slovianoserbsk, January 2015...... 32

11. Obstruction of evacuation of pupils of Krasnodon and Rovenky regional orphanage boarding schools, 2014–2015...... 32 www.ccl.org.ua www.helsinki.org.ua 10 7 11 Malynove 2 Hryaschuvate Avdiyivka 9 6 Zholobok Chornukhyne 5 Pervomays'k 1 3 4 Luhanske MAP 8 OBSTRUCTION OF EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS OF HAS EVACUATION OF OBSTRUCTION TAKEN PLACE OF THEOF POPULATED MENTIONED LOCATIONS IN THE REPORT WHERE

4 Obstruction of evacuation of civilians during the armed conflict in Donetsk and Luhansk regions INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION MONITORING GROUP AND SOME CONCEPTS

uring March−April 2015 the group of monitors of The same as before (in the case with the previous reports on the the Center for Civil Liberties with the support kidnapping and torture of people in north of Luhansk region) the of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union part of interviewees who agreed to communicate with the monitors in the framework of the NGOs and Initiatives Co- refused to tell their names, referring to security concerns; some alition “Justice for Peace in Donbass” conducted persons who are at the temporarily occupied territories refused Dthe study, including some visits to the territories of Luhansk and to communicate at all, even by phone and even on condition of Donetsk regions under Ukrainian government control. anonymity for fear that they may be tapped. This seems logical, The purpose of the Coalition “Justice for Peace in Donbass”, taking into account the on-going armed conflict with its usual high which includes 14 NGOs and initiatives is to document and create level of violence and intimidation and unpredictability of further a unified electronic database, which can then be used as a source development, in particular, the likelihood of capture by illegal of primary information on crimes within the national and interna- armed groups of “DPR” and “LPR” of new Ukrainian territories. tional investigation, and publishing regular subject reports on hu- The monitoring group considers that in the case of armed man rights violations and restrictions on fundamental freedoms. conflict in Donbas the point is that it is aninternational armed The aim of the presented study is to examine the situation conflict with involving the armed forces of the local popu- with obstruction of evacuation of civilians. Particular attention lation (this formula was not used in practice of descriptions of of monitors was focused at the phenomenon of attacks on so-called armed conflicts before, however, in our opinion, it is the most ap- “humanitarian corridors” (or, as they are also called, “green corri- propriate). Under the term “illegal armed groups of ‘DPR’ and dors” through which civilians leave the place of intense fire fights) ‘LPR’ ” (hereinafter — mostly “IAG”) we mean proxy agents of as well as points of gathering of people for further evacuation and the Russian Federation existing due to its material, technical other methods of obstruction the displacement of the civilian pop- and military support and include both the local population and ulation. The monitoring group was trying to cover the entire period citizens of other countries (first of all of the Russian Federation) of armed escalation, from summer 2014, referring to some specific participating in the hostilities on the side of the so-called “DPR” cases, which we learned from open sources or during the study. and “LPR” as well as regular units of the Russian army, which, During visits to the territory of Luhansk and Donetsk regions apparently, regularly take part in the armed conflict, although under the control of Ukraine monitors, in addition to study of events their involvement to combat is unrecognized by the Russian places (where they were available), communicated with internally Federation. Based on the advisory opinion of the International displaced persons, victims and witnesses of shellings, their rela- Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction tives, local human rights activists and journalists, volunteers, mili- of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory1, we believe tary, observers of International missions, as well as representatives the Russian Federation is the state which actually occupies and of local authorities and law enforcement agencies. The purpose of controls certain parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and thus this communication was to clarify the circumstances, nature and is responsible for the observance and protection of human rights consequences of the shellings, search of witnesses and victims, to in the territories under international humanitarian law. However, ascertain the possible causes of fire attacks for illicit targets and whatever is the composition of the military groups acting on the the sources of the exercise of these attacks. The last certainly needs side of illegal armed groups of “DPR” and “LPR” in each case, serious investigation in each case separately. Numerous interviews they are as the members of the armed group bound with humani- were also conducted by the group after returning to Kyiv. In general tarian law the same as the Armed Forces of Ukraine and National more than 70 people were interviewed. Guards of Ukraine.

1 Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Advisory Opinion of 9 July 2004 [Electronic resource]. — Access mode: www.icj-cij. org/docket/files/131/1671.pdf

5 www.ccl.org.ua www.helsinki.org.ua

І. “HUMANITARIAN CORRIDORS” INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW

he rules of international human- The general principle of civilians and destruction of settlements, itarian law2 (hereinafter — IHL) the protection of persons objects where a priori can be or are civil- do not give a specific definition who do not or have ceased ians — is recognized as a crime. of so-called “green” or “human- to take part in hostilities IHL stipulates that to ensure respect for itarian corridors” (hereinafter According to the rules of IHL, there is and protection of the civilian population —T “humanitarian corridors”), which are as a clear distinction between combatants — and civilian objects, the Parties in the con- a rule announced for the safe evacuation military, involved in armed conflict, and flict shall at all times distinguish between of civilian population or wounded military civilians — persons who do not or have the civilian population and combatants from the area of battle action or humanitar- ceased to take part in hostilities and also and persons taking direct part in hostili- ian disaster to the safer territory. IHL also wounded and sick military, who also enjoy ties, as well as civilian objects and military provides no mandatory rules on these special protection and so on.4 Civilians objects, and accordingly shall direct their “corridors”, however, encourages agree- always are the subject of protection, except operations only against combatants, per- ment on these “corridors” between in some cases defined by international law sons taking direct part in hostilities and the parties of the conflict, but mainly for a period until they take a direct part in military objects. The civilian population protects civilians and civilian objects in hostilities, which are understood as force and individual civilians shall enjoy gener- any situation, including during leaving applied to the enemy in order to break its al protection against dangers arising from the area of fire attacks through these resistance and actions that are intended military operations. They should not be the “green” or “humanitarian” corridors, to facilitate the achievement of military object of attack. In respect to them acts and strictly prohibits attacks on them. advantage. or threats of violence, with the main Actually, the principle of the protection of “In case of doubt whether a person purpose to terrorize civilians etc. are civilians and civilian objects3 is one of the is a civilian, he is considered a civilian,” prohibited (Article 51 of Protocol 1, article basic principles of IHL next to the protec- said in part 2, Art. 50 of the Protocol. 13 of Protocol II). In order to implement this tion of war victims, adherence distinction In addition, the following principle is protection, IHL defines this rule as being between combatants and non-combatants, important: the presence among of the applicable in all circumstances. the inadmissibility of discrimination against civilian population of individuals who Indiscriminate attacks are prohibited, individuals, respect for human rights, crim- do not fall under the definition of civil- such as: inal liability for violations of the principles ians does not deprive the population of • attacks not directed at a specific mil- and norms of international humanitarian its civilian character. itary objects; law, humanity, military necessity and so on. While the destruction of the enemy — • attacks which employ a method or Protection of IHL applies to both the a combatant or a person who is directly means of combat which can not be di- person and the object that is civil and not involved in hostilities, is justified by IHL rected at a specific military objects; or used on military purpose. rules as a military target, affection of • Attacks which employ a method or

2 The rules applicable in armed conflicts are presented at the international agreements, signed by the parties in the conflict, as well as generally recognized principles and norms of international law applicable to armed conflict of both international and non-international character, which are respected by all parties in any armed conflict.

3 The question of protection of civilians in armed conflicts is governed by the Fourth Geneva Convention “On Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War” of August 12, 1949, and supplemented by the rules of section 1 of the Additional Protocol I and section IV of the Additional Protocol II concerning humanitarian protection contained in Fourth Convention (995_154), particularly in Part II of this Convention and other international agreements binding upon the High Contracting Parties and to other rules of international law relating to the protection of civilians and civilian objects on land, at sea or in the air against the effects of hostilities.

4 The provisions of the Geneva Convention of 1949 on the protection of civilians during armed conflict applies to the entire civilian population of the states involved in the conflict, i.e. the citizens of these states, foreign citizens who are in one of the warring states, as well as civilians at the occupied territories.

6 Obstruction of evacuation of civilians during the armed conflict in Donetsk and Luhansk regions І. “HUMANITARIAN CORRIDORS”

means of combat the effects of which list of sanitary and safety areas located Besides, the term of “medical transport” can not be limited as required by Pro- in subordinate territories. The parties is defined. Art. 8 Protocol 1 stipulates that tocol 1; and that, therefore, in each also are liable to notify each about each medical transport — is transportation by such case strike military objects and new area established during military land, water or air of the wounded, sick civilians or civilian objects without actions. As soon as the adverse party has persons and medical and religious per- distinction. received a notification, the area is legally sonnel, medical equipment and supplies established. However, an adverse party that are protected by the Geneva Con- Sanitary and safe areas, may refuse to recognize the area which is ventions. Under Article 21 of the Additional medical transport immediately notifying the party respon- Protocol, ground sanitary vehicles enjoy the Not speaking directly about the sible for the named area. same respect and protection as mobile medi- “humanitarian corridors” and without In addition, any State which has rec- cal units under the Geneva Conventions and specifying the order of their creation and ognized one or more of sanitary and safe Protocol 1. However, both agreements on the operation, IHL, however, determines the areas established by the adverse party is evacuation and sanitary transport are pro- possibility of creation of: entitled to require that one or more Spe- vided subject to appropriate arrangements • sanitary and safe areas; cial Commissions checked these areas to between the Parties of the conflict. • medical transport. ensure that they meet the conditions and At the same time, even if the parties requirements. For that members of the have not reached such agreements, the The Fourth Geneva Convention in its special committees at any time have free civilian population, which is taken out Article 14 provides the possibility of the access to the various areas and may even from the danger zone of conflict, or establishment by the parties of the stay there for long. medical transport, can not be subjected conflict on their territory, and where At the same time, the creation of to attacks and always has to be respect- appropriate in the occupied territories such zones is optional and must be ed by the conflicting parties and to be sanitary and safe zones and areas, negotiated between the parties of the under their protection. An attack by organized in a way that enables to pro- conflict, for this purpose the provisions itself on any civilian or civilian object is a tect wounded, sick and elderly people, of the aforementioned draft model regula- flagrant violation of international law. children under fifteen years, pregnant tions offered as a supplement to the Fourth Note that these provisions of the Fourth women and mothers with children up Convention can be used. Geneva Convention concern international to seven years from the effects of war. Also, Article 17 of the Convention armed conflicts i.e. armed conflicts between Under Article 11 of the Convention defines the possibilityto conclude local states. IHL does not provide a similar treaty sanitary and safe areas in any case can agreements between the parties of the rules on sanitary transport and evacuation not be attacked. All parties of the conflict conflict on the evacuation of wounded, in case of armed conflict not of an interna- must always protect and respect them. sick, disabled, elderly people, children tional character. However, their use in case Draft Agreement on Sanitary and and pregnant women from besieged or of armed conflict not of an international safety areas and localities annexed to the encircled areas and the permitting for character can be concluded from the wide Convention specifies that sanitary and the clergy of all religions, medical per- meaning of Article 3 common for all Geneva safety areas must be established provid- sonnel and medical property to come to Conventions of 12 August 1949, and from ed the Parties have notified each other a such areas. customary international humanitarian law.

7 www.ccl.org.ua www.helsinki.org.ua

II. GENERAL CONTEXT or the first time at the state want to leave the area of the antiterrorist of ‘humanitarian corridors’ – editorial level the organization of “hu- operation, instructed the head of ATO to note). It is wrong to speak about such manitarian corridors” “to pre- identify roadblocks for safe movement of corridors in terms of ongoing hostilities.” 11 vent new victims in the area of an- civilians8. In Luhansk region “humanitarian ti-terrorist operation” was voiced On June 13 at that time Adviser of the corridor” along the route Luhansk−Metal- Fby President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko Minister of the Internal Affairs (today ist−Shchastya was announced on 29 July. on June 10, 2014. Poroshenko instructed — acting head of the State Emergencies The routes of permanently existing the heads of military and defense agencies Service of Ukraine of (SESU) Zorian humanitarian corridors for civilians out to “create the necessary conditions for the Shkiryak reported about establishment of Luhansk, Donetsk and Horlivka was civilian population, who want to leave” 5. of a “corridor” for a safe displacement of published by ATO press center on August Although the mass evacuation already took civilians from the ATO area in the nearest 412. ATO headquarters applied to IAG with place (since the beginning of hostilities, future. He said, that for security reasons the request to recognize these “corridors”, i.e. from April, mostly from the temporar- no details will not be disclosed. which can mean that when deciding on ily occupied Sloviansk city) carried out On June 14 press officer of ATO Alexei the creation of “corridors” any negotiations by own efforts of people and the efforts of Lebed stated that “humanitarian corridor” with illegal armed groups of “DPR” and volunteers. On June 10 the responsibility for evacuation of civilians of Donetsk and “LPR” were not conducted.13 On the party for organizing the displacement of people Luhansk regions began to act. But, in fact, of the representatives of Ukrainian State was entrusted to the Cabinet of Ministers 6. it was only about establishment of road- there were also constant appeals to local The following day the Order of the Cabinet blocks around Sloviansk, which “inhabi- residents to leave temporarily occupied (at of Ministers № 588-p was issued according tants of Sloviansk and other cities captured that time they did not have the appropriate to the proposal of the Ministry of Internal by terrorists have to get themselves” 9. status) territories14. Affairs on creation of the Interagency Coor- On June 11 the OSCE report noted At the same time, individual attempts to dinating Headquarters on social security that “the representatives of the so-called organize “corridors” to evacuate civilians of citizens of Ukraine who are displaced ‘Donetsk People’s Republic’ informed the from certain settlements were made since from the area of anti-terrorist operation Special monitoring mission of OSCE about the beginning of July. Judging by the infor- and temporarily occupied territory, which their desire to support the creation of a ‘hu- mation collected, they belonged to the com- included deputy heads of many depart- manitarian corridor’ at Sloviansk, Donetsk petence of the military and the SSU. There ments. 7 On June 12 Antiterrorist Center region”.10 However, in four days on June is no information about the participation at SSU on the execution of order of the 15 ‘the Head of the Supreme Council of of State Emergencies Service of Ukraine in President Petro Poroshenko to create Donetsk People’s Republic’ Denis Pushylin this (the answers of the Agency to queries “humanitarian corridor” for civilians, who said: “There is no evidence (of the creation of the Center for Civil Liberties

5 www.president.gov.ua/news/30504.html 6 www.ukr.lb.ua/news/2014/06/10/269283_poroshenko_poruchil_sozdat_koridor.html 7 www.zakon2.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/588-2014-%D1%80 8 www.tyzhden.ua/News/112058 9 www.5.ua/suspilstvo/humanitarnyi-korydor-v-zoni-ato-pochav-diiaty-46002.html 10 www.osce.org/ukraine-smm/119709 11 www.kp.ru/online/news/1762260/ 12 In particular, it was proposed to leave Donetsk along Lenin Avenue to the bypass road, further on the highway Donetsk-Kurakhovo through Mariynka. From Horlovka it was possible to get on Lenin Avenue along streets Marshal Zhukov,Vitchizniana and Plekhanov and further on on highway Horlovka-Druzhkivka through Dzerzhinsk. In Luhansk the corridor ran through the streets Radianska, 16th line, Frunze, Shevchenko, 7th line, Kominterna and further on the highway Luhansk- Schastie through Metalist.

13 www.bbc.co.uk/ukrainian/rolling_news_russian/2014/08/140804_ru_n_donbass_corridors 14 www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2014/08/4/7033875/

8 Obstruction of evacuation of civilians during the armed conflict in Donetsk and Luhansk regions II. GENERALCONTEXT

confirm this). In particular, it is worth men- was stated quite clearly that “the question settlements (Savelivka, Olkhovatka, Komu- tioning the “humanitarian corridor” from of the monitoring of entry or exit of citi- na, Novohryhorivka, Mironovka, Krasny Lysychansk to Severodonetsk of July 22 and zens and moving transport in the area and Pahar and Vuhlehirsk). 24, 2014 (see. below) and from Luhansk to the district of ATO fall under the authority The Agency noted that “displacement of Shchastya, which was organized on July of the Interdepartmental Coordinating civilians to safe regions of Ukraine by rescuers 29−31, 201415. Commission ATC at SSU.” At the meeting of State Emergencies Service of Ukraine is It is necessary to distinguish the with one of the monitors Acting Head of executed independently of ‘humanitarian cor- common “corridors” for displacement of the State Emergencies Service of Ukraine ridors’ ”. Therefore, during the displacement civilians to/from the occupied territory in Zorian Shkiryak (as already indicated in of people from the city Debaltseve of Donetsk a relatively peaceful environment, and the the past he was involved namely in the region “the rescuers repeatedly came under “humanitarian corridors”, by which we evacuation issues as the Advisor of the mortar shelling of separatist forces that were mean those that are set during the escala- Minister of Internal Affairs) explained that in Luhansk region “regardless of presence of tion of armed conflict (or apparent danger the ATC in this case acts as a “think tank” so-called ‘green corridor’ ”. In the result — two of such an escalation) in a particular area and immediate actions on evacuation are workers were injured (details — in the sec- for displacement from there of civilians performed in particular by State Emer- tion about Debaltseve). and wounded. Attention of the monitoring gencies Service of Ukraine, MIA. This During the battles around Debaltseve at group was focused first of all on the second list of executors should be added with the end of January and in the beginning of category of “corridors”. the representatives of local authorities February 2015 a key role in the evacuation There is no a clear answer to the (regional and municipal), military of civilians played a group of volunteers, question “who is responsible for the evac- (both Military Forces of Ukraine and who by this time were mainly involved in uation of civilians from the combat zone?” National Guards, as well as volunteer the support of the army and didn’t deal with At least we didn’t manage to get it from battalions). As for the State Emergencies the evacuation. However, it must be empha- stakeholders on the party of government Service of Ukraine, from the answers of sized that members of Protestant religious agencies. Governmental telephone hot the Agency to our request, we can con- community and private funds, and some line 0 800 507 309 informs that SSU and clude that the systematic involvement individuals or small community groups State Emergencies Service of Ukraine are of State Emergencies Service of Ukraine played an important role in the evacuation responsible for the evacuation of civilians to the displacement of people was only since the beginning of hostilities. It was from the combat zone. In response to the from the beginning of 2015. In particu- noted both by the displaced persons and by request of the Center for Civil Liber- lar, the Agency displaced people from the State Emergencies Service of Ukraine ties to the State Emergencies Service of settlements of Luhansk region — Popasna, representatives, as well as officers of the Ukraine we received a letter in which it Avdiivka and Debaltseve and surrounding enforcement service and military.

15 www.ipress.ua/news/terorysty_stvoryly_dlya_luganchan_marshrut_do_rosii_zamist_gumanitarnogo_korydoru_ato_77298.html

9 www.ccl.org.ua www.helsinki.org.ua

III. OBSTRUCTION TO THE EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS nformation about obstructing the they “Drive out the corpses of “Right Sector” Even before, June 24, Adviser of the evacuation of civilians by illegal (quoted verbatim). In spite of physical Minister of Internal Affairs on evac- armed groups appeared in the spring abuse while in captivity, and illegal con- uation of civilians Zorian Shkiryak of 2014, at the beginning of the armed fiscation of transport after release, both stated efforts aimed “to prevent any conflict inSloviansk. That meant volunteers — Gennady Lysenko and provocations and attempts of terrorist both intense shelling of the city and roads, Alexander Reshetnyk — continued their acts in the part where transit corridor I 19 which made it impossible for people to volunteer activities with evacuation of will be organized.” Consequently, leave, and point obstructing of displace- civilians. there were grounds for fears of possible ment in the form of illegal detention of One of the volunteers, who deals provocations at the time. The presence volunteer-carriers and holding them in with the evacuation of civilians from of such fears and even assurance in captivity, demands for bribes at the check- the temporarily occupied territory preparing provocations was expressed points, illegal alienation of vehicles. within Luhansk region to other areas in communicating with monitors by The representatives of the Charitable of Ukraine, tells about two cases of con- Dmitry Alyev, who in summer 2014 Foundation “Development of Ukraine”, fiscation of buses at the end of August was among those who took care of which has been providing mass evacuation 2014 in the city Pervomaisk of Luhansk evacuation issues as the Director of up to December 2014 (the peak of activities region17. One of the “Cossack” sub-groups the Communications Department of — May–November 2014, as of now – inciden- under the supervision of Eugene “Malish” Luhansk Regional State Administration. tally on request of individuals from among Ishchenko, who was commandant of Per- The danger of attacks of “humanitari- of vulnerable groups), in the middle of June vomaysk at that time and set his own laws an corridors” was recognize by IAG 2014 stated that on concern of safety they in the city18 took two large “MAN” buses themselves. In their statement on July refused to displace people from Sloviansk from volunteers by force, which they used 29, they called the road Luhansk−Met- by buses. “On the weekends we took the res- for bringing people away. In that case, the alist−Schastia (which was announced idents out by cars – Fighting from Sloviansk driver of the vehicle and a female volunteer by ATO management a “humanitarian direction was intensified and cases of fire who had accompanied the people during corridor” for July 29−3120) “the Road became more often” 16. evacuation, were illegally detained and of death”, accusing the Ukrainian side During summer visits to Sloviansk held captive overnight. Volunteers were that it didn’t agree this “corridor” with immediately after the liberation of the city charged that they were “from Ukraine” them, and announced that on the other by Ukrainian army monitors were able to and evacuate people to territory controlled hand the “corridor” to the east on the communicate with volunteers from among by the Ukrainian government. At the same route Luhansk-Krasnodon-Izvaryne-Do- the representatives of the Protestant com- time, volunteers have been repeatedly netsk (Rostov region of Russia) is “the munity who took out civilians, but one offered “to change the profile” and to evac- Road of life21, de facto threatening to day were taken hostage by the “Russian uate civilians to the Russian Federation, those who intend to leave Luhansk and Orthodox army” because, on their mind, even were offered buses for this purpose. go to territory controlled by Ukrainian

16 www.ukr.segodnya.ua/regions/donetsk/gumanitarnyy-koridor-kuda-zvonit-i-kto-vyvozit-zhiteley-528867.html 17 We can’t mention the name of the volunteer as long as this group is still dealing with displacing of people 18 www.unian.net/war/1035567-ubit-glavar-kazakov-pervomayska-boevik-po-klichke-malyish-smi.html 19 www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCmDU0gXO_Q 20 www.ipress.ua/news/29_lypnya_pochne_diyaty_gumanitarnyy_korydor_z_Luhanska_77030.html 21 www.rusvesna.su/news/1406632814

10 Obstruction of evacuation of civilians during the armed conflict in Donetsk and Luhansk regions III. OBSTRUCTION TO THE EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS

government with shelling. Although the shellings occurred22, according to Overall, during the year of constant fighting in Donetsk and Luhansk regions D.Alyev, regardless media reports, no the local civilian population, who showed a desire to leave the zone of armed person and no car in the “corridor” Lu- clashes, faced with various forms of attempts to limit their evacuation from the hansk-Metalist-Shchastya were affected. occupied territories to the territory controlled by Ukraine. In particular: Unlike corridor through Malynove village, displacement through which was 1. Attempts to prevent civilians from leaving the combat zone (through physical not controlled by Ukrainian forces, and obstruction and/or intimidation). Special scope this phenomenon gained in where at least one “bus” and one pas- summer 2014 for children without parental care and guardianship. senger car came under fire, which were 2. Artillery shelling and shootings of locations, known as a place of gathering moving in the column. civilians for further evacuation. Summer 2014 was also featured with 3. Artillery shelling and shootings of transport columns with civilians during a series of attempts by IAGs of “DPR” and evacuation through “humanitarian corridor” (or in conditions of an unde- “LPR” to obstruct displacement of children clared “humanitarian corridor”). to other towns controlled by the Ukrainian 4. Demotivation of people who want to leave through intimidation or violent government, and attempts of kidnapping alienation of immovable property (in language of IAG - “nationalization”), children from the institutions of Donetsk which belonged to those who left; Announcing displaced persons as “traitors” and Luhansk regions and their illegal of “young republics.” transfer to the Russian Federation23. This 5. Extortion of money for the opportunity to leave the war zone practice was even “legitimized”, namely: 6. Illegal alienation of transport for the evacuation of civilians, July 25, 2014 there was the Order of “DPR belonging to volunteers. Council of Ministers” signed by O.Boroday on prohibition of evacuation of children from orphanages and shelters beyond the “DPR” — except to the Russian Federation24. We can claim this on the basis of some deprived of parental guardianship distinct trends that became apparent and persons with disabilities and In the 9th report on the human rights during collecting the information for this other socially vulnerable groups situation in the east of Ukraine for the report, in particular: who are at special institutions. period from December 1, 2014 to February • The above-mentioned forms of ob- 15, 2015 of the Office of the High Commis- structing of the evacuation of civil- It should also be noted that in general sioner for Human Rights of the United ians carried out by the IAG operating Russian power structures (participation of Nations (OHCHR)25 a separate paragraph in the territory of both “DPR” and which in armed conflict in Donbas, despite is dedicated to the issue of evacuation of “LPR”, in other words, are common the statements of the Russian Ministry civilians. A significant thing is noted in it: throughout the temporarily occupied of Foreign Affairs, leaves no doubt and constant attacks of the government-con- territory26. accepted by monitors of the group as a trolled areas and evacuation routes pre- • They were carried out in different fact, furthermore, that participation is rec- vented the evacuation of civilians. In the locations and at different time in- ognized by the participants of IAGs27 and report it is assumed that some attacks tervals — at least from May 2014 to some Russian military28) were earlier seen could be aimed precisely to prevent March 2015. in shelling of “humanitarian corridors”. the evacuation. • Often they were carried out with a However, in terms of other armed conflict. The authors of the report agreed with special media support, and therefore We talk about the events of the Second this wording, although systemic phenom- they can be called tools of infor- Chechen War. In particular, when discuss- enon of preventing departure of civilians mation war and propaganda, the ing human rights violations in the conflict from the occupied territories to other ar- elements of special operations. at “Radio Svoboda” (program of January 25, eas of Ukraine, according to the authors • Obstructing the evacuation of the 200029) a human rights activist of Russian of the report, requires further investiga- civilian population into other settle- HRC “Memorial” Alexander Cherkasov told tion and collection of relevant facts and ments of Ukraine, members of IAGs the following: “Humanitarian corridors evidences. However, in our view, the encouraged people to move to tem- for civilians are also exposed to attacks, cases collected in this report (although porarily occupied territories and/or i.e. practically do not exist... Many of the they are much more of them) firstly, were the Russian Federation, sometimes interviewed refugees from Grozny came out directed against the civilian popu- offering transport for evacuation to not through the corridors, affirming that it lation, and secondly, were carried out the east direction. Most clear this is even more dangerous to go through the deliberately and with intent. trend was in the case with children corridors.”30 Noteworthy is the fact that

22 www.radiosvoboda.org/media/video/26546529.html 23 More detail chronic is presented in the report. 24 www.gazeta.zn.ua/socium/operaciya-evakuaciya-gosudarstvennye-deti-_.html 25 www.un.org.ua/images/stories/9thOHCHRreportUkraine_1.pdf 26 Separate areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions are recognized as temporarily occupied territories under Regulation of the Parliament “On recognition of individual districts, cities, towns and villages of Donetsk and Luhansk regions as temporarily occupied territories” of March 17, 2015, www.zakon1.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/254-19

27 www.unian.ua/war/1061814-debaltseve-bulo-zahoplene-rosiyskoyu-armieyu-boyovik-dnr.html 28 Interview to “Novaya Gazeta” of Russian tanker, buriat by origin, 20-year-old Dorji Batomunkuyev (5th separate tank brigade from Ulan-Ude, a military unit №46108), who together with his battalion took part in the battles for Debaltsevo, where he received injury www.novayagazeta.ru/society/67490.html

29 www.svoboda.org/content/transcript/24220892.html

11 www.ccl.org.ua www.helsinki.org.ua

It is possible to connect the abovementioned types of obstruction of of Debaltseve, who as of now is at the terri- evacuation of civilians from the party of IAGs with the following reasons: tory controlled by Ukrainian government, but communicates with the residents of • Disinterest of IAGs in people to leave the areas controlled by the “DPR” and Debaltseve. One of the volunteers, who is “LPR” and, in this way, supporting the image of the occupied territory, which still engaged in the evacuation of civilian massively left by people. population from the temporarily occupied • Unwillingness to have the picture created in the minds of people by Russian territories, affirms that as of now the elec- media and media of “DPR” and “LPR” destroyed, that people saw with their tronic system for issuing passes, in fact, own eyes what is really happening on the territory under Ukrainian govern- doesn’t work due to technical difficulties. ment control. In addition, she says that common is the • Attempts to achieve a certain media effect, such as introducing the attacks as system of bribes for the “quick issuing of a result of actions of the Ukrainian army. the pass”, which, however, requires a sep- • Attempts to keep secret the location of military positions in a given locality. arate study. The problems with the opera- • Intimidation of population, making panic, carried out in different ways, tion of electronic system of issuing passes spreading the impression that the Ukrainian party is not really monitoring were reported to monitors by residents of the situation in the territories under its control. In this sense, according to Alchevsk, Luhansk region. monitors, cases of attacks on “humanitarian corridors” as well as on gather- A special attention should be paid to the ing places for the evacuation of people are to be seen in the overall context of issue of ambiguity of notification of civil- shelling civilian targets and cities. In particular, with the intimidation shelling ians about the possibility of evacuation of cities at a relatively large distance from the front lines such as Volnovakha issue. In particular, the aforementioned UN (shelling of January 18, 2015), Mariupol (shelling of January 24, 2015) Svetlo- report referred to the lack of such informa- darsk (shelling of January 27, 2015), Kramatorsk (shelling of February 10, 2015), tion. This is also proved by data obtained Donetsk (shelling of February 15, 2015). by the monitoring team that most inter- • Provocation in order to accuse Ukrainian party in shelling. viewed people learned about the possibility • “The logic of war”: reluctance to release people from the newly captured terri- of evacuation spontaneously from rumors tory, which according to the military, meets the logic of war - ‘because the area or through non-systematic notification at is captured together with the inhabitants.’ socials networks. Despite claims in the • Some cases, according to our interlocutors, could be related to the lack of coor- summer about notification via loudspeak- dination between different IAGs. ers and “information bombs”33, as well as above mentioned statements of the officials about allegedly best notification mecha- monitoring group members have heard which was recognized by the high state nisms, effective notification system was the similar from many displaced people officials as well32 . However, according to not created. The non-systemic informing is from the occupied territory of Donbas. For State Emergencies Service of Ukraine data evidenced by the information provided to example, some families with children who the procedure of crossing “the border” the Center for Civil Liberties by State at the time of the mobile group visit were between the territories controlled by gov- Emergencies Service of Ukraine. According in the hospital in Soledar town, Artemivsk ernment and illegal armed groups during to it, informing of public about humanitar- district and lived in a city hospital, told intense fighting at the end of January — the ian corridors or scheduled displacement of that they had to go out of Popasna village first half of February 2015 was simplified people in Donetsk and Luhansk regions (Luhansk region, currently under the con- from the party of the government and did rescuers of State Emergencies Service of trol of Ukraine) through the fields as it was not require passes. It coincides with data Ukraine carried out in the form of “personal much more likely to get hit under shelling obtained by the mobile group. None of the communication with population in crowded on the single way by which it was possible respondents complained that the evacua- places.” In addition, the “staff of State to leave the city. They talked about the end tion during armed escalation in the region Emergencies Service of Ukraine conducted of January 2015. of Debaltseve required passes or was not everyday explanation for people about the At the same time, it must be empha- allowed without their presence. After the places of gathering and time of presenting sized that the problems with the evacua- occupation of Debaltseve by representa- of vehicles for taking the civilians out.” In tion of civilians from occupied territory tives of IAG and the end the fighting, the some cases the notification was physically to the other regions of Ukraine (although control of passes was renewed. Residents impossible, as people for a few weeks were these problems are of other organizational of Debaltseve with whom we managed to in the basements, hiding from attacks, nature) occurred in connection with intro- communicate by phone told that they were without any means of communication. duction by Ukraine of the temporary not able to leave because were waiting for However, it should be emphasized order of control the displacement of issuing the passes. At the same time, they that at the stage of escalation of armed persons, vehicles and loads along the do not know about the obstacles on the conflict at the beginning of February line of conflict within the Donetsk part of members of IAG to depart from 2015 in Debaltseve volunteers who and Luhansk regions (SSU Order №27 Debaltseve (as we were reported by some played an important role in the evacu- of January 22, 2015), the mechanism of military). This information also confirmed ation of civilians (especially vulnerable which still can not be called effective 31, to the mobile group by the Deputy Mayor groups) have repeatedly appealed to

30 See previous 31 www.noborders.org.ua/pro-nas/novyny/pravozahysni-orhanizatsiji-zdijsnennya-tymchasovoho-poryadku-pro-peretyn-liniji-zitknennya-u-teperishnij-redaktsiji- superechyt-zakonu-i-mozhe-pryvesty-do-humanitarnoji-katastrofy

32 www.ua.korrespondent.net/ukraine/3487047-poroshenko-proponuie-sprostyty-peretyn-linii-zony-ato 33 www.zadonbass.org/news/crime/message_82534

12 Obstruction of evacuation of civilians during the armed conflict in Donetsk and Luhansk regions III. OBSTRUCTION TO THE EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS

the media not to report on the place and columns with civilians is also present in out through them”; that those who “tries time of gathering of people and evacu- journalistic publications36. Thus, through to break through the military border, ation routes because in such way civil- the efforts to protect civilians against are shot on the road.”37 The monitoring ians and those who provided the evac- fire attacks, on the opposite there were group did not find any evidence of these uation, found themselves under threat created conditions for a possible attack. charges, any such case didn’t become of attack34. In such way, it is the danger On the other hand, as the experience known. We assume that in this there of provocations and targeted shelling of the “humanitarian corridor” shows, was the propaganda of “DPR” and “LPR” of civilians during the evacuation that thanks to the military it was possible to (and behind them Russian propaganda can be considered one of the reasons of avoid victims among civilians, who were as well) to adhere its principle to accuse ineffective notification system. displaced from combat zones. It should be opponents in what was carried out by The paradox is inherent not only for emphasized that according to the rules of them. displacement issue but for methods of IHL, the presence of some military and Further down in this report there are transportation. Thus, on June 16, 2014 military machines does not make the presented the most demonstrative cases of press officer of ATO Alexei Lebed said that column of civilians legitimate target, obstructing of evacuation of civilians from “at the points where attacks on civilian cars namely the presence of military machines the beginning of the armed conflict, which are possible there are our roadblocks. In and military de facto exposes them to the became known to the monitoring group. front and behind there are car of mainte- threat of fire. However, this is not a complete list of such nance, armored personnel carriers — on In addition, at the end of May in the cases and the monitoring group would case of attack and bombardment. This is media loyal to IAG, it was stated that be grateful for additional information or the military component, we provide”35. The Ukrainian forces did not seem to want data regarding other attacks that can be information about military machines for to open “humanitarian corridors”, “be- reported on the contacts listed at the end protection of the movement of transport cause the whole population would come of the document.

34 State Emergencies Service of Ukraine reports that at the moment the displacement procedure from Luhansk region is as follows: the heads of local governments collect information on those wishing to leave their homes and go out of city limits, they make lists and pass them to State Emergencies Service of Ukraine sub-divisions. Then the rescuers of Chief Department of State Emergencies Service of Ukraine in Luhansk region form groups and columns organize their supervision and carry out the displacement. 35 www.ukr.segodnya.ua/regions/donetsk/gumanitarnyy-koridor-kuda-zvonit-i-kto-vyvozit-zhiteley-528867.html 36 www.ostro.org/general/society/articles/448511/ 37 www.politnavigator.net/ukraina-ne-daet-koridor-dlya-vyvoza-mirnykh-grazhdan-iz-zony-boevykh-dejjstvijj-chtoby-opravdat-rasstrely-zhilykh-domov-smi.html

13 www.ccl.org.ua www.helsinki.org.ua

IV. EXAMPLES OF OBSTRUCTION OF EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS FROM THE ZONE OF INTENSIVE MILITARY OPERATIONS AND/OR TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORY TO OTHER AREAS CONTROLLED BY THE GOVERNMENT

1. SHELLING OF CIVILIANS DURING LIBERATION OF LYSYCHANSK July 22−24, 2014

our cases of shelling of civil- The monitoring group collected evidences the city, which hundreds of people have tried ian transport, presented below, indicating that the attacks were carried out to use both by transport and on foot), the have occurred in Lysychansk by the IAG with various weapons, including logic of shooting civilians by sniper groups at (Luhansk region) during mortars, automatic weapons and sniper “green corridor” or cases of automatic weapon the liberation of the city by rifles. The fire was not stopped even despite shelling of civilian cars remains unclear. Not FUkrainian military, which ended on July agreements with the IAG on the “quiet mode” to mention that there can not be any excuse. 24, 2014 (at 22.20 Ukrainian Armed Forces for the displacement of civilians from the city; raised the flag on the top of City Council). in some cases there is the reason to believe (а) The shooting of civilian This refers to the events of July 22 and that the shooting to civilians was aimed and car near the plant “AZOT” 24, 2014. In one case before the opening intentional. If in the case of the mortar attack On July 20 an Adviser of the president Yuri of “humanitarian corridor”, in other case on the bus “Lysychansk-Moscow” there can Lutsenko said on television that Ukrainian after its opening. This is not a complete list be an “excuse” of the Ukrainian checkpoint, military launched an offensive and in particu- of shelling of civilians in those days, there which was next to the bus (although it was lar that they managed to “cut” Lysychansk and were much more. the only at that time available way to leave Severodonetsk from the occupied territory.38

38 www.unian.ua/politics/941832-armiya-otochila-teroristiv-i-rozdilila-jih-na-tri-grupi-radnik-prezidenta.html

14 Obstruction of evacuation of civilians during the armed confl ict in Donetsk and Luhansk regions IV. EXAMPLES OF OBSTRUCTION OF EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS

was carried out and glass in the windows of the bus station was beaten out almost everywhere. Buses didn’t leave already, and in the building itself there were up to a hundred of people hiding, who did not know how to leave. Therefore, passengers of the car agreed with the taxi driver that he would take them out to Severodonetsk. The cars drove through the Petrovsky Bridge (which later the same day was blown up), the last checkpoint of “LPR” before liberated Severodonetsk and turned in a circle near the entrance “Amiak” of the plant “Azot” to the left , toward the bypass road to Rubezhnoye village. They drove at a speed of 70—90 km/h. There were no other vehicles on the road at that time. Further events are described by one of passengers of the car, Igor – a son-in-law of Lyudmyla Markivna: “We drove around the circle to the left and in front of the water station they started to shoot on us to the right side, i.e. of the fence from the territory of the Plant ‘AZOT’. The car was cut on right side, in front and on Bus Sta on Lysy an (Photo ..) back. The driver shouted, taxied to the side of the road near the fence of ‘AZOT’ and we Ukrainian military reached Lysychansk on of the “green corridor” toward Severodo- stopped. Shots were frequent, as if automat- July 22. The main fi ghting took place on the netsk. Although it should be noted that ic-gun fi red,” — says the man. bridges across the Seversky Donets, join- the opening of the “corridor” Ukrainian According to Lyudmyla Markivna, then ing Lysychansk and Severodonetsk, where military announced the next day only. passengers of the car “dropped out of the car the Ukrainian forces came from. IAG blew Group of monitors met the resident and crawled into a ditch, closer to the fence. up two bridges Pavlogradsky Bridge and of Lysychansk — Lyudmyla Markivna They fi red a place where we lay, judging by the Railway Bridge. The last bridge Proletar- (name of the witness is changed by request) sound it was machine-gun burst. We saw that skiy was captured by the Armed Forces of — an elderly woman who that day also the white car ‘Lada’ drove past, in which there Ukraine and later became a major channel decided to go to her relative in Dneprope- was the family, which left from the bus station for the evacuation of civilians in the direc- trovsk. Together with her husband, son in at the same time as we did, that car was also tion to Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk. law and friend they hired a taxi by which subjected to fi re, the car did not stop.” On July 22, when intensive fi ghting at about 8 a.m. on July 22 arrived to the As we see, the victims have diff erent began in the city, among local residents “Bus station Lysychansk”. At that time, versions as for what kind of weapon was there was the rumour about the opening according to the women, active fi refi ght used (automatic or machine gun), however,

Google maps as of 01.04.2015

Plant “Azot”

Trees with traces of sh ells

— Place of sh ooti ng the car; — Che ck point of LPR; — Route of car movement; — Direct ion of sh ots

15 www.ccl.org.ua www.helsinki.org.ua

Scheme of the car Markivna and her husband immediately were sent to the surgery table. According to her, the surgeon pulled out of her lung a splinter of a bullet, and only a day aft er the surgery, doctors found that there was one Son in law of L.M Driver more bullet in the lungs of the women. The operation was too risky, so the victim still walks with a bullet in the lung. Friend of L.M. The car driver was wounded to the head, and they put a few stitches. Lyudmyla Markiv- Lyudmyla na’s husband lost a lot of blood because of Husband of L.M. Markivna shrapnel wound in the back under the shoul- der blade, he was taken to traumatology. The son-in-law was relatively easy shot with glass of the car. A friend got shrapnel in her knee and refused from surgery. Soon the victims were transported to Dnipropetrovsk to City — Direct ion of movement; — Direct ion of sh ooti ng Clinical Hospital №16. Later, Lyudmyla Markivna returned to both say about the bursts, from which it Severodonetsk and appealed to the militia can be concluded that the fi re was from to fi le a statement. The statement was ac- automatic weapons. cepted, but instead of criminal proceedings Lying in a ditch, the passengers of the against attack with using fi rearms, the case cars began to call to the emergency ser- was qualifi ed as “stealing of offi cial docu- vices. But everywhere they got refusal on ments.” The reasons for such qualifi cations the grounds that trips are not carried out will by clarifi ed by legal counsel of Advi- to the war zone, which was confi rmed by sory Centre of Human Rights organization. the offi cial response on the information request of the Center for Civil Lib- (b) Shelling of the intercity erties to State Emergencies Service of bus “Lysychansk — Moscow” Ukraine: “Rescuers in July 2014 didn’t carry On the same day, July 22, 2014, in the out displacement of people from Lysychansk a ft e r n o o n , on the bridge near the plant city in connection with active hostilities at “Proletarskiy”, which joins two banks of the territory of the city at the specifi ed time. the Seversky Donets River, in the direction Residents of Lysychansk city were leaving from Lysychansk to Severodonetsk, near the city on there own and reached Syevero- the Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint donetsk city.” However, the passengers the intercity bus having performed regu- of the car managed to call to relatives in lar trip “Lysychansk — Moscow” stopped Kharkiv, and they have called the SESU for document checks and was fi red with vehicle from Severodonetsk. All this time mortar fi r e . they continued shelling of the place where According to one of the passengers of there were the passengers of the car. the bus, a young female doctor, whom Monitors of the group found traces of monitors of our group communicated with, shots in Lysychansk on a tree on the oppo- there were mostly families with children in site from the fence of JSC “Azot”, side of the the bus. road (photo attached to the map). “We, like most of others, decided at the When the SESU car arrived, ma- last moment to leave Lysychansk for fear of chine-gun bursts stopped. Rescuers were in shootings during the hostilities. We left from armor vests, they ran to the victims, and at the market, at about between two and four this point the shooting resumed. Ludmila in the aft ernoon. Double-decker bus was full. Markivna says: “When the shots started I think about 80 people,”- says the woman. again guys from SESU fell on us, covering At the Ukrainian checkpoint near the with their armor vests. However, they were glass factory “Proletar” bus stopped and very heavy, so that in addition to wounds we all men came out for check of documents. have got cracks in the ribs. Further, under the Only women and children remained in the shelling both SESU guys and we ran to their bus. And suddenly — a loud sound and an car. Shooting continued till we reached the explosion. The woman believes that it was car. At that time I was almost unconscious. the mortar fi red. All thing, documents and car itself, by which “We ran out of the bus and ran across we went, we were forced to leave there. Then the bridge to Severodonetsk. Although when we got back, the car has gone.” around they were constantly shooting. The The victims were immediately brought only thing I saw — that some people ran to to the Severodonetsk city multidisciplinary the wood line and some ran to hide in the hospital where the driver, Lyudmyla checkpoint.”

16 Obstruction of evacuation of civilians during the armed confl ict in Donetsk and Luhansk regions IV. EXAMPLES OF OBSTRUCTION OF EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS

Also monitors managed to talk with the resident of Lysychansk, 57 years old woman, who resided in Lysychansk at the address Proletarska str., 4 in the building, adjacent to the house №2 completely destroyed by direct hit of mines. She said that about 15.00 on July 22 she and her husband decided to take their grandson and run to the center, where to hide from shelling. “We ran up along Proletarska street toward the stop “Turn to Melnikov mine.” At the stop “Bookstore” we saw as from the checkpoint of “LPR” they opened fi re with mortars down, toward the bridge, where there was the Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint. I think it was the mortar. I abruptly turned and saw that they hit a bus to Moscow. It was white, fi lled with people. Two people just fl ew off from the broken bus, most, I think, were killed, some ran Embussing point of daily bus “Lysy an – Moscow” (Photo 16.03.2015) across the bridge.” — says the woman. Lysychansk that “assault of Lysychansk the whole day on 24 July. He said he wit- According to doctors of Lysychansk “ambu- is continued... The terrorists fi r e city from nessed the shots of snipers on civilians that lance”, they could not immediately get to the mortars and easel automatic grenade were evacuated from Lysychansk: “When bus on call, only in an hour – an hour and a launchers.” In addition, the “Donbas” mechanized brigade 51, a special battalion half, since the battle proceeded around. On ar- battalion commander reports about the of Ministry of Internal Aff airs “Chernigov” rival at the place of the incident they took only organization of “humanitarian corridor” and battalion “Donbas” were fi xed in front those 10 injured passengers with children who “Those who exactly decided to leave out – of Proletarskiy Bridge, an agreement with remained in the wood line or near the bridge. the organization humanitarian corridor for representatives of IAG on “green corridor” So, most of the passengers of the bus, didn’t WOMEN AND CHILDREN was arranged by was reached.” In about an hour people be- look for help from the hospital, and respective- one of the local journalists. Write to private, gan to leave the city, many cars drove at high ly their injuries were not documented. he will coordinate with the group and the speed to manage to slip. They have not been Perhaps this was the reason why both location. Please do not walk in the streets checked. And at that time before my very witnesses, who communicated with our until the end of hostilities” eyes from the top a red car “Zhyguli” drove monitors, were not interviewed by the mi- According to doctors of two “am- to the middle of the bridge and a sniper shot litia or the Security Service. Later charred bulance” brigades being on duty at from the heap, shot a passenger, an elderly remains of the bus stayed at the check- “Proletarskiy Spusk” (the highest point of man of 60—70 years old, right to the head. point for a half of a year before Communal Proletarska street, coming down to the Pro- Our combatants took everything off , took a enterprise cut it for scrap. letarskiy bridge), the civilian population blanket and under heavy fi re brought him that tried to leave the city across the bridge to the other side of the bridge. But, unfortu- (c) Shooting of “humanitarian was fi red from the direction of Lysychansk. nately, he was already dead. My impression corridor” July 24, 2014 This is confi rmed by theauthorized is that the car was shot for it to block the On July 23 “Donbass” battalion com- representative of the head of ATO in bridge. Otherwise why else to wait until it mander Semen Semenchenko reported Luhansk region on Lysychansk Vitaliy reaches to the middle. that fi erce fi ghting are conducted for Shvedov, who was on Proletarskiy Bridge According to the doctor of Lysy-

Photo: www.podrobnosti.ua/986297-v-osvobozhdennom-Lysychanske-provodjat-polnuju-zachistku-ot-terroristov-foto.html chansk “ambulance” at Proletarskiy Map: Google maps as of 01.04.2015 р. Spusk on July 24 there were only 2 brigades of “ambulance” because almost no one wanted to work in the area where the most intensive shootout continued. “So, one brigade included a paramedic and a driver, and the other one two paramedics because the driver refused, — says the man. — They were at “turn Melnikova” in the street Sverdlov. Many vehicles were leaving. But even more people went on foot across the bridge, many of them with children and luggage. Therefore, our vehicles took people and gave them lift s to the checkpoint of Ukrainian Armed Forces, that is to say took them from the top down to the bridge. We made several trips. Our vehicles were not shot on purpose, but when the ambulance drove, the shelling of the checkpoint of Ukrainian Armed Forces did not stop. There were a lot of wounded: both (as of 14:00 22.07.2015) — Place of bus ﬆ op; — Che ck point of Military Forces of Ukraine ; — Direct ion of mine hit bullet and shrapnel injuries. Simply before

17 www.ccl.org.ua www.helsinki.org.ua

very eyes of one of the crew on the bridge the shot from the side of Lysychansk broke through the glass of a black car “Mitsubishi” and hit the driver in the head. All victims were taken away to the Lysychansk hospital.” Vitaliy Shvedov said that on July 24 military eliminated at least 4 snipers of IAG, who shot just over the bridge. Three of them were found in heap in front of Glass factory “Proletar”, one — on the building of the plant. Since the position of snipers was signifi cantly higher than the position of UAF, to eliminate snipers on the heap and at the factory they used a tank that is still visible by the hole in the building of the plant. “In addition, a mortar point — as noted Vitaly Shvedov — was also at the ‘Iron market’ (market of auto parts in Lysychansk), from which they also shot over the bridge during the ‘Green Corridor’. There were a lot of snipers in the city.” To the point, the evening of July 24, aft er the liberation of the city the Infor- mation Center of National Security and — Ambulance; — Che ck point of Military forces of Ukraine ; — Firing points of IAGs Defense Council of Ukraine spokesman Andrei Lysenko said that IAGs were (d) Shelling of “Melnikov turn”. to prevent victims among civilians. When blocked, they were cut off the retreat and Information that in Lysychansk a we were at one of the checkpoints through he reported about “operational measures “green corridor” will be opened for several which people fl ed, terrorist sniper killed to detect sabotage terrorist groups.” So, hours appeared in media on July 24, the an elderly man. It happened in the time on July 24, some members of IAGs were day aft er notifi cation of military battalion of inspection of the car, a man stand in still in the city, in particular, acted as ‘Donbas’: “For residents of Lysychansk line with a soldier at that moment and the sabotage groups. And two days aft er the exit through Proletarskiy Bridge is open. sniper fi red. And other townspeople told us liberation of the city, on July 26, Defense Ukrainian military created for people so- that during the evacuation of the city they Ministry reported that “while moping-up called ‘green corridor’ through which you fell under fi re of militants. “I went through the city Lysychansk combatants of highly can leave the ATO zone. Those who man- bushes, they fi red on me.”39 mobile assault troops of Armed Forces of aged to pass through it reported that you The monitors also managed to meet Ukraine (AFU) neutralized sniper group of need to have a passport at you.” in Lysychansk a man whose father was terrorists.” Despite that, shelling of civilians leav- shot dead on July 24 in that “humanitar- Vitaliy Shvedov believes that ing the city continued. ian corridor”, according to the man, with shooting on “humanitarian corridor” In particular, in the story of Ruslan sniper bullet. It happened at the crossing may be due to the fact that the part Smeschuk, correspondent of TV channel of Sverdlov and Pervomaisk streets, which of IAGs, which Armed Forces agreed “Inter”, of July 24, it was told about the locals call “Melnikov turn” from the name about ceasefi re at that time either had liberation of the city and in particular of the mine, located nearby. This case no impact on the individual snipers about the “humanitarian corridor” the was described in detail in our previous and fi ring point or had no connection following: “Hundreds of people leaving report (www.ccl.org.ua/wp-content/up- with them. the city... Unfortunately, there is a failure loads/2013/07/Zvit-LNR-5.01.pdf)

39 www.podrobnosti.ua/podrobnosti/2014/07/24/986190.html

18 Obstruction of evacuation of civilians during the armed confl ict in Donetsk and Luhansk regions IV. EXAMPLES OF OBSTRUCTION OF EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS

2. NOVOSVITLIVKA — HRYASCHUVATE, SHELLING OF A CONVOY OF CIVILIANS IN THE “HUMANITARIAN CORRIDOR” AUGUST 2014

hooting of a convoy of civilians be- of the convoy, were photos from Hryaschuvate 44, tween settlements Hryaschuvate and also (the day before) the following and Novosvitlivka belongs to the information appeared: “Aydar evacuated period when the Ukrainian army from Novosvitlivka several dozens of fam- went on the off ensive in many ilies, including the breastfed children. The Sdirections, the event took place shortly be- created convoy of refugees of 26 cars (fully fore Ilovaisky tragedy. On the eve the media fi lled with civilian people), was fi ered with reported about the success of the Ukrainian direct fi re by the Russian tank from the top army, which entered also Hryaschuvate and of Lysa hill. The corridor created for dis- even reached Luhansk. placement of refugees from Hryaschuvate, The fi rst report on the shooting of civil- was shelled by Russian troops — those ians in the convoy that was moving for the people were burned alive...” — was said in evacuation of the settlement Novosvitlivka, the statement.45 In this video, recorded on appeared on August 18, 2014 around 10 am. August 20, combatant of “Aydar” says about The head of the press center of Operative shelling of 15 civilians in the “corridor” in Headquarters “North” Anatoly Proshyn Hryaschuvate with involvement of Russian said that “about 9:40 during displacement troops, however, he does not specify exact- of refugees from settlements Hryaschuvate ly which trucks were shot 46. To the point, and Novosvitlivka militants opened massive Armed Forces Military talks about elling the video ten days later (August 28) fi xed fi re on that convoy with mortars and rocket on ba ground of one of ZIL- whi the vehicle of medical service of “Aydar” launchers ‘Grad’. As the result, there is a came under ﬁ re – one whi survived with relevant identifi cation marks of red large number of victims. People burned (screensh ot from the video of UAF) cross, cut when leaving the Hryaschuvate straight in cars, by which they were taken with fragments of MLRS “Grad”, howitzer, out. People just did not have enough time to transport had the white fl ag.42 One vehicle self-propelled artillery weapon 47. leave the vehicles.”40 The National Security was damaged, the other broken in pieces, However, in the future we could not and Defense Council stated that “Grad” and tell people. get confi rmation of shelled 26 cars. One of mortars were transferred from the Russian Regarding the number of dead, the next the victims, whom monitors talked with Federation. Security Council speaker men- day it was reported about 17 dead, including K.Kupriyanova notes that together with ZIL tioned that trucks for transportation of women and children. There was no possibility there were passenger cars in the convoy, civilians were provided by military, how- to take all dead of the scene, because since however, how many of them she doesn’t ever noted that the column contained all then the area was controlled by the IAGs 43. known because passenger cars were sent identifying marks, including white fl ags41. Armed Forces Military talks about shell- later. Information about 26 cars, also was The same day, August 18, the video ap- ing on the background of one of the ZIL-131 not confi rmed by combatants of the battal- peared in which civilians who were in the which came under fi re – the one which ion “Aydar”, who was in Hryaschuvate on convoy moved by provided for their trans- survived (screenshot from the video of UAF) those days. In particular, military with call portation trucks ZIL-131, talk about shelling Later, on September 3, on social sign “Orest” says that civilians were taken with two mortar shells (“Grad” was not network page of the volunteer battalion fi rst by bus and then were moved to the mentioned already), and also confi rm that “Aydar”, which organized the withdrawal trucks, which, in fact, were hit with shells.

40 www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/08/18/7035073/?attempt=1 41 www.tyzhden.ua/News/117136 42 www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dVK3QFCv2E 43 www.lb.ua/news/2014/08/19/276651_presstsentr_ato_17_chelovek_pogibli.html 44 www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1482886358647042.1073741830.1430526587216353&type=1 45 www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1482880315314313&id=1430526587216353 46 www.youtube.com/watch?t=170&v=7SW747BPq5Y 47 www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdk5QpWUHxg

19 www.ccl.org.ua www.helsinki.org.ua

He affi rms that the shelling was carried out from one of the nearby mines. He says he

watched the fi re from the mine with own Valiyivka eyes, however, failed to specify what kind of mine (he does not know the name). Hryaschuvate At the same time, “Orest” confi rms that at that time from the party of IAGs there were regular Russian troops present already, namely the Pskov paratroopers 48. The same fact was told at the end of August, by the “Aydar” battalion commander Sergey Melnichuk, according to him, in Hryaschuvate area Russian tank

sub-divisions and paratroopers joined the Novosvitlivka fi ghting 49. As for the weapons used, “Orest” talks about self-propelled artillery weapon, tanks, 120-millimeter mortars and MLRS “Grad”. He suggests that fi ring on civilians who were evacuated could be carried out Red ot ows approximate point of a a of ZIL-, in whi re was with mortars. family who suﬀ ered The monitoring group managed to communicate with another witness of events in covered the road across the fi eld between “It was made quite deliberately — said Hryaschuvate, a volunteer of the “Aydar” Novosvitlivka and Hryaschuvate towards K.Kupriyanova. — They were warned about battalion with the call sign “Beret”, who settlement Lutugino. “That area is easily passage of the convoy of civilians, they ob- is now a military commandant of Luhansk visible (and swept) that is why there was an viously were waiting for us. Our vehicle went TPP (Schastya town). According to him, the agreement without a clear defi nition of the fi rst and we’ve been waiting on the road for truck has shot with a tank. However, he is not time on passage of the convoy of civilians” the second ZIL for a long time. This enabled talking about ZIL but about KrAZ (perhaps — the woman said. K.Kupriyanova affi rms to aim us,” — a woman is sure. mistakenly, because the trucks visually that the “corridor” has been agreed with 5 hours aft er the incident the woman quite similar). “When people were taken out of “LPD”, they confi rmed its opening. At the with her husband and two children, and Hryaschuvate, fi rst went KRAZ, which was hit time of displacement the convoy counted two of their neighbours (one undamaged, by a tank. They didn’t want to shoot civilians, about 50 people. They were placed in another had legs broken) spent in a trench but civilians were in a military vehicle. Yes, they two ZIL-131 trucks, which have been next to the road. In 5 hours they were were of diff erent colors, but we also are colorful. transferred to “Aydar” by Armed Forces picked up by “Aydar” medical service They fi red on a military car,” — says the military. of Ukraine, as well as in passenger cars and were taken for medical assistance to He believes that it is not a planned attack on (as mentioned above, the exact number Novosvitlivka accompanied by infantry the convoy of civilians (by the way, “Orest” of cars the victim does not specify). The combat vehicle. says the same), but the accident, but it is im- transport had the identifi cation mark – a K.Kupriyanova husband was wounded portant to note that this view is contrary to the white canvas. According to the woman, to trachea by a grenade fragment, he was information that mobile group received from shelling started at 9.40, which coinciding operated in the hospital of Luhansk airport. one of the victims of the fi re. with the offi cial report of the National Woman had her leg torn with shrapnel below The monitoring group managed to get ev- Security Council. “I went by the fi rst ZIL the hip, she got the help from “Aydar” medi- idence from the resident of Hryaschuvate, of convoy (it generally was the fi rst vehicle cal service. The eldest daughter of the couple Kupriyanov Ksenia L. born in 1980, who in the column). There were 25 people in the got deep burn of right forearm, she had a was in one of the mentioned two ZIL-131 truck, including two elderly people who are skin transplant in Lutuginsk CRH, aft er that trucks. Now the woman is in the territory of not able of move independently and four she had treatment at Kharkov burn center. the Russian Federation. Unlike the military, children.” When the truck drove from the Younger daughter had the burn of an ear, she she is confi dent that the convoy, which went road sign “Hryaschuvate” for one and a was treated in Lutuginsk CRH. All things and through the “corridor”, was sighting shot. half kilometre, it came under fi ring attack. documents the family had with them, burned K.Kupriyanova was leaving Hryaschuvate Red spot shows the approximate point in ZIL. The family didn’t fi le the statements on August 18, 2014 with her family of four peo- of attack of ZIL-131, in which there was the to the enforcement agencies. Aft er treatment, ple, with her husband and two children (girls family who suff ered they went to relatives to the RF. — 6 and 2,5 years old). At that time (from K.Kupriyanova affi rms that it was a IAGs describe the story of August 18 August 13), the city was under the control of direct hit in a car with a grenade launcher. in Hryaschuvate in a diff erent way. “Army “Aydar” battalion, it was also responsible for As a result of strike, ZIL, in which she went of the People’s Republic of Luhansk never the evacuation of civilians. On the possibility with her family, burned, 6 persons out of fi red refugees and citizens” — said “Acting to leave the family learned spontaneous- 25 survived (dead 19). In particular, elderly Chairman of the LPR” Igor Plotnitskiy. ly, there was no special announcement, people have died and two children — a Meanwhile, the consolidated data of IAG, means of communication were not avail- boy 17 years and 1 year old girl. The shell- published on the website of “Press Centre able as well, everything was decided very ing, according to the victim, came from DPR”, state that their forces attacked the quickly. The “Humanitarian Corridor” Novosvitlivka. Ukrainian army near Hryaschuvate. “As the

48 www.gazeta.ru/social/2014/11/10/6297181.shtml 49 www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8FEgrKeoBc&t=15

20 Obstruction of evacuation of civilians during the armed conflict in Donetsk and Luhansk regions IV. EXAMPLES OF OBSTRUCTION OF EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS

result of artillery attack of Ukrainian Armed relevant case.52 At the same time, victim with the call sign “Orest” said to the mobile Forces positions in Hryaschuvate the enemy K.Kupriyanova says that it is precisely group that with own eyes saw that shelling suffered losses, probably 30 dead,” — said known that on fact of shelling the truck, of ZIL of August 18 was carried out from one in the report of “DPR”50. At that, “the which she and her family went by, there is of the mines. As he noted above, he does vice-premier of the DPR” Andrew Purhin a criminal prosecution. She does not have not know the name of the mine, but un- promptly made an attempt to justify the the details, as she is outside the country. derlines that saw that with his own eyes, “colleagues” from “LPR”, giving interview August 20, according to the informa- because at that time he investigated the to reporters of Reuter, stating that “rebel tion and analytical center NSDC, near area. The direction of shelling on August forces” do not have such military capabili- the village Hryaschuvate there was 18 and 20 was the same. So, we can as- ties for such an attack51. again a shelling of the car, which the sume that it was carried out approximate- At the moment, according to the infor- family of IDPs traveled by. The car moved ly from the same place. In the second case mation provided to us by Luhansk Regional with a big white flag. The bombardment the National Security Council announces Prosecutor’s Office, the case concerning the was carried out from the direction of village about settlement Samsonivske, Krasno- shelling of the convoy near Hryaschuvate Samsonivske, Krasnodon district. The man don district. It is in that village there is was investigated by the Department of and a 5-year-old child died on the spot. The the mine “Samsonivska-Zahidna”, owned SSU in Luhansk region. However, during woman died in the hands of physicians, is by LLC “Krasnodonvugillya” (Metinvest the telephone conversation with one of said in official report. The mobile group Group). Perhaps it was the mine from the representatives of the SSU of Luhansk doesn’t possess more details on the incident. where the firing was carried out on August region, he told the mobile group, that he At the same time, it is worth to pay 18. By the way, before August 17, this mine and his colleagues are not aware about the attention to the following fact. Volunteer was fired.

3. DEBALTSEVE, SHELLING OF POINTS OF GATHERING FOR EVACUATION February 1, 2015

own Debaltseve (Donetsk region), church was covered with MLRS “Grad” in Artemovsk, said that it was a “provoca- which is an important transport shells. Headquarter of Joint Center for con- tion, as those who shot probably knew that hub, is at the administrative trol and coordination of the ceasefire and in the morning people would go to church.” border between Donetsk and stabilization of the boundary of the parties January, 20 the town was actually cut Luhansk regions. Shelling of (hereinafter — Joint Center) announced off from communications: electricity, water TDebaltseve used to happen since the sum- about at least 30 rockets that hit the center and mobile communications. From that mer. After signing the Minsk protocol of of Debaltseve and the surrounding areas. time and until the final de facto occupation September 5, 2014 the town became part OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (herein- of Debaltseve by illegal armed groups of of the “buffer zone”. Due to its location, after — SMM) confirmed that the shelling “DPR” (February, 17, 2015) the evacuation Debaltseve was, in fact, on the verge of was carried out from Horlivka town, which of people from the town and surrounding spheres of influence of groups belonging to is under the control of illegal armed areas was carried on mainly by own affords the “DPR” and “LPR” that in January-Feb- groups (IAG) of “DPR”. Chief Department of people and with the support of State ruary 2015 also hampered evacuation from of Ministry of Internal Affairs in Donetsk Emergencies Service of Ukraine, Ukrainian the area where only from the part of “DPR” region announced about the death of three military, local government, and to a large simultaneously operated “DPR troops”, civilians (including 12-year-old boy) and extend by efforts of volunteer (as a rule the Russian regular army units and armed twelve injured (including 12-year-old girl).53 last took care about the evacuation of so- group of “Cassack.” Larisa Yakovenko, bed-bound disabled cially vulnerable groups). Evacuation was Shelling of Debaltseve intensified of 1 category, at the time of the visit of the carried out mainly to Artemivsk, Sloviansk, on January 19, 2015, the day when the monitoring group in Donetsk region at the Kramatorsk and other cities of Donetsk Orthodox celebrate Epiphany. About 7.45 beginning of March was at one of the places region. By some estimates, from more than a.m. the center of the town, including the of compact settlement of displaced persons 30 thousand people at the beginning of

50 www.bbc.co.uk/ukrainian/politics/2014/08/140819_hryaschuvate_update_bodies_dt 51 www.novorosinform.org/news/id/6464 52 www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dVK3QFCv2E 53 www.dt.ua/UKRAINE/v-rezultati-artobstrilu-debalceve-postrazhdali-10-osib-8-richna-divchinka-u-vazhkomu-stani-161731_.html

21 www.ccl.org.ua www.helsinki.org.ua

February about 7 remained. Debaltsevo City Those leaving the town were indirectly Council threatened with bombing by illegal armed (Sovetsk aya ﬆ r., 81) groups. In such way it is possible to inter- Separated subdivision pret a statement on January 30 which was of Debaltseve Stati on (Lenin ﬆ reet, 12 ) made by one of the leaders of the “DPR” Alexander Zakharchenko aft er the capture of Vuhlehirsk (town near Debaltseve) by forces of illegal armed group (IAG): “road can be covered with fi re completely. All those who will come out of the trap, will come under cross artillery fi re.”54 Of course, fi rst of all Ukrainian military were meant, who they tried to entrap, however, it was the only way which, in principle, was possible to leave the town by. It was the road where there was the section between towns Debaltseve and Logvinova which was under the shelling most of all. — She lling place; — area, from whe re more likely, it was ﬁ red. In such circumstances, the civilian population had to leave the town. For town were brought to several predetermined move people into the bomb shelter where example, it was January 30, when Galina locations. There they were moved into more they staid for about 1.5 hours. Out of means Alentyna, a worker of one of the kindergar- commodious transport and were sent to of transportation the car of volunteers was tens of the town, was leaving Debaltseve, the government-controlled Ukrainian cities damaged most of others, and had to be left and at the time of the visit of monitors was further from the front line. The main points in the town because of its unsuitability for at one of the places of compact settlement of the gathering were at the bomb shelter further usage. of displaced people in Artemivsk. About in Lenin street, 12 (Separated subdivision According to Andrew, who aft er the 18.00 she was evacuated by private car of of Debaltseve Station) and Debaltseve City shelling had got the ear concussion (acute the family friend. “Road was under the fi re, Council (Sovetskaya str., 81). acoustic trauma), shelling was carried out everything was moving around. Shells fall In Lenin str., 12, in addition to gath- from a distance of 1 km, i.e. from the town down both to the town and to the road,”— ering people and moving into more com- limits. Presumably, from the Zavodskiy says the woman. Fortunately, she managed modious transport, there was the point of district (The plant administration), which, to leave the town uninjured. distribution of humanitarian aid, food and according to his information, the Ukrainian At the end of January (the exact date water, which was delivered there by State military checked not too carefully on can not be specifi ed)69-year-old Ivan M. Emergencies Service of Ukraine. That is presence of sabotage and reconnaissance Solovey also had been leaving Debaltseve. why quite oft en there was quite massive groups (hereinaft er — SRG). It was that He was taken away by volunteers. The accumulation of civilians there. Between place probably where all three salvo fi re pensioner says that the road at that time 12.00 and 13.00 on February 1 it was were made from. The weapon, which was was under the fi re, forcing the driver to that point that has been suff ered under probably used for fi ring was rather mobile. continuously jerkily change the speed (i.e. the artillery strike. According to Andrei Being disassembled it can be carried by 80 km/h, 50 km/h) and to maneuver, to Haluschenko who has an experience of three persons, it can also be installed on make it impossible to aim and hit the car. combat, shots were made from 82-millime- an off -roadster. To the question whether, according to his ter mortar (also known as “Vasyliok”) with “It took about 40−50 seconds from mind, the car was under the aimed fi re, the mines with fragmentation eff ect. Within when the transport was pulled up to the man replied: “Of course. Our bus was driv- approx. 20 minutes there were made three bomb shelter. This is just a fl ying time for ing with a white fl ag. They were still shooting. solvo fi res of 15–20 shots each. At the time mines on small distances. Trajectory was From Chornuhyno, Faschivka, from the part of the shelling there were about 70 people high-angle — Andrey describes. — Mines of “DPR.” The pensioner also fortunately near the bomb shelter, including children, fell from above. This may indicate that fi re remained uninjured, as of now he lives in who were waiting for evacuation. Also was carried out from close distance. The fi re a place of compact settlement in Donetsk. there was transportation there, for taking was exact, with high accuracy and precision But not everyone was so lucky. out people, in particular the bus “Bogdan” (mines fall down into a square 100 by 50 February 1, 2015 in Debaltseve two (it was one of the four buses allocated for meters), although there was no signs of get- locations, where there were points of the evacuation by Kyiv city authorities ting the range, which may indicate that the gathering of civilians for further evac- on the request of volunteers, in the result aiming device l was spotted in advance and uation came under fi re. Members of the of shelling, it remained without window namely to that place”, — assumes Andrew monitoring group managed to talk to the panes), minibus and cars. Aft er the fi rst Haluschenko. volunteers who had organized evacuation. salvo fi re 13-year old girl was injured to the According to Andrew, and also vol- Volunteer Andrew Haluschenko, who neck (she was transported to Kharkov and unteer Diana Makarova, founder of was the member of the volunteer groups that she was operated there, as of now she is in the Diana Makarova Foundation, who took part in arranging the evacuation from a stable condition). A driver of one of the also organized the evacuation on that day Debaltseve, says that for the further evac- buses also got injury with shrapnel. Aft er and came under fi re, from the Chief of De- uation people from diff erent points of the the fi rst salvo fi re volunteers managed to baltseve militia town department Colonel

54 www.fssb.su/smi-monitor/smi-monitor-wars/1837-ukoainskiy-izlom-30-yanvarya.html

22 Obstruction of evacuation of civilians during the armed confl ict in Donetsk and Luhansk regions IV. EXAMPLES OF OBSTRUCTION OF EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS

Eugene Yuhanov (later, on February 10, he was almost empty — except for the driver these fl ashes. Bus was cut with shrapnel, was killed while trying to assault of one and several volunteers at that time it was window panes were shot out. The bus could of SRG of Debaltseve Town Department55) empty. not drive further because of the damage. they repeatedly received information that The same day, February 1, about 14.00 We sat there for three hours. Out of 18 only there are several SRG in the town. Accord- there was the shelling of the Executive six left , the rest of us were taken by the bus ing to the point of view of both volunteers Committee of Debaltseve but probably that was driving nearby. Some went on foot. (who were interviewed by participants of with other weapons — MLRS “Grad”. In Three hours later the bus of volunteers from the mobile group separately), salvo fi re the result of that shelling the Chief of the Artemivsk arrived and took us six,” – says could had been carried out by one of these Headquarter assigned to the Joint Center the man who at the time of the monitoring two groups. of Ukrainian Armed Forces was wounded group visit was in the hospital of Chasiv Yar According to both volunteers — An- (at that time Joint Center was based in town of Artemivsk district (there he had the drew Haluschenko and Diana Makarova, Debaltseve Executive Committee, it should leg amputation, but it was a routine opera- there were no roadblocks or positions of be noted that by that time Russian military tion not connected with the results of the Ukrainian military near bomb shelter in have left the town already, they moved to shelling). The man said that in the result of Lenin str., 12. While in the building, where Soledar where the Joint Center locates now), the shelling there were injured in the bus, there was the bomb shelter, there was the and two civilians were also wounded56. In although he was not injured. military offi ce, but it occupied just one addition, one of the buses was put out of Apparently, in the same bus with the room, where there were the commandant action, it was used by State Emergencies previous interviewee, there was Volody- and two soldiers. Before the shelling the Service of Ukraine for gathering people for myr Saltyn (origin from Vuhlehirsk, who car of battalion “Donbass” with several evacuate namely from that place, 8 people left the city earlier). As of February 1, he military drove onto the site of the building. from that bus were struck by shrapnel, was in hospital №2 in Debaltseve, having According to another volunteer who partic- which just was departing from the Town already the shrapnel wound to the head. ipated in the evacuation — Tim Zlatkin, in Executive Committee for Artemovsk. Be- He says that at the time of the evacuation one of the nearby administrative buildings fore that two buses of State Emergencies of February 1 (which was announced by battalion “Donbass” was creating its own Service of Ukraine managed to safely nurses) mines fall several times next to the deployment. However, it should be noted leave. According to the Chief Department hospital, the building was already without that at the place of the shelling at the time of Ministry of Internal Aff airs of Ukraine in windows. About the evacuation itself the there were at least 70 civilians (among Donetsk region, shelling took place at 14.50. man says that mines fall near the bus, but them — children) who were preparing for 9 people were injured.57 did not hit transport. However, as a result evacuation. Oleksiy Korotkyi, born in 1948, was the transport was put out of action and he Diana Makarova said that the shelling going to leave Debaltseve from City Exec- was taken from Debaltseve by another bus. took place on the third day of their active utive Committee on February 1, exactly by First he was taken to Artemivsk, but as work on evacuation of people from Debalt- the bus that was put down in the result there were no vacant places in the hospital, seve. Previous days people gathered at the of the shelling (he is a pensioner, native he was moved to Chasiv Yar, namely where same place. This is another argument that from Chornuhyno where his house was monitors had met V.Saltyn. may indicate that the shooting was aimed. destroyed by a shell in January). “As soon The chief doctor at the town hospi- That is why at the time of evacuation as we departed from the Town Executive tal of Chasiv Yar town sais that for the volunteers constantly appealed to journal- Committee – and the shelling immediately period of battles for Debaltseve in the end ists not to inform in open sources, the evac- began. I do not know how our bus was not of January and February 2015 15 people uation point and route of transportation of covered. Mines exploded nearby, I saw from among the civilian population with civilians. In their opinion, these reports led to attacks. In particular, one of the volunteers Tim Zlatkin (facebook.com/akvilifer), who took part in organizing the evacuation, wrote in the social network that through these messages IAG “conduct aimed fi re on our buses and cars.” It was him who placed the photo of bus “Bogdan” attacked near the bomb shelter. In addition, in the conversation with the monitor Tim said that a few days before (he could not remember the exact date) one of the buses meant for evacuation of civilians, was hit by shelling nearby Debaltseve on the road. He believes that the mortar fi ring in that case had also been targeted because it hit a bus aft er it stopped due to technical reasons and that made it possible to put it on sight. Fortunately, during that shelling no one was hurt, because the bus Bus “Bogdan” that was elled near bomb elter. Photo by Tim Zlatkin

55 www.censor.net.ua/photo_news/324148/nachalnik_gorotdela_militsii_debaltsevo_evgeniyi_yuhanov_pogib_pri_otrajenii_popytki_zahvata_zdaniya 56 www.osce.org/ukraine-smm/138616 57 www.facebook.com/Vyacheslav.Abroskin/posts/1416019025357434

23 www.ccl.org.ua www.helsinki.org.ua

injuries got as the result of battle actions water, gas, electricity, the bakery was blown evacuated from Chornuhyno on February were delivered to the hospital. At the time up, commercial carriers do not work...”58 6, which allegedly journalists of Channel of the monitoring group visit 10 remained A few days later the shelling of De- “Russia 24” and Russia Today came under62. in the hospital (4 at the department of baltseve was intensified and on February Because the area was currently occupied, therapy, 6 at surgery department). Their 4 SMM OSCE called for creation of the the mobile group didn’t manage to check injuries except the said man with the head “humanitarian corridor” for civilians could the reliability of this information. wound, were not related to battle actions, leave the territory under the fire59. On Feb- In addition, Diana Makarova tells about but were related to extreme conditions in ruary 5 the call to create the conditions for an attempt of provocation near school №6, which people had to stay while there we the evacuation of civilians from places of where there was one of the bomb shelters fighting at Debaltseve. intense shelling publicly was supported by and whence volunteers also tried to take At the time of our visit to Artemivsk the UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon60. people. “When we approached the school, Central District Hospital, last civilian As a result of further negotiations it there was a crowd of 150−200 people there, wounded, who received injuries in Debalt- was possible to arrange “corridor” on mostly women. Around there were small seve, was just released. In general, as the February 6, thanks to which a significant groups of men in black. It turned out that Deputy Chief Doctor on the Medical number of civilians were taken from the people were told that we have to bring hu- Work Gubskiy Ivan said, from February conflict zone (first of all — people with dis- manitarian aid. The crowd was “wound”, we 1 to March 2, 87 people applied to the hos- abilities who are unable to move on their were greeted with shouts and threats. They pital with injuries of varying complexity own) and who, fortunately, was not fired. began to surround us, jerk, accusing, shout- resulted by battle actions. However, not all According to State Emergencies Service ing demanding to take the military away. We of them – were affected at Debaltseve. For of Ukraine for evacuation of people there miraculously managed to calm them. Just example, 9 got injuries due to the shelling were involved 25 buses, 2 armored vehicles wonder that the crowd didn’t tear us apart, at Artemivsk of February 15. “KrAZ” and 2 vehicles of “ambulance”. 753 — says Diana Makarova, adding that she is Monitors also managed to talk by people including 81 children and 3 persons sure — it was an attempt of provocation.” phone with the chief of the department who could not move independently were An elderly woman with two daugh- of internal policy of the Debaltseve evacuated from Debaltseve, nearby villages ters, who wished to remain anonymous, Town Council Oleksyuk Ivan, who Novohryhorivka, Comuna and Chervonyi and who at the time of monitoring visit was involved in the evacuation. The man Orach, Artemivsk district, town Myronivka was in the hospital of Chasiv Yar town, refused to meet personally, because of and Avdiivka. moved out of Debaltseve on February 6 the time, but confirmed the shelling of In response to the information request because they needed urgent medical care. transport by which the evacuation was to from the Center for Civil Liberties Their entire street had already been evacu- be carried out at the Executive Committee. State Emergencies Service of Ukraine ated (talking about the area of “8 Bereznia” He said he knew people who suffered as reported that “humanitarian corridor” street in Debaltseve). They hoped to the last a result of the shelling, but they refuse to was organized on February 6 from 6.00 to sit until it became known that the elderly communicate (even by phone and even for three days. However, it was a man- woman needed urgent surgery. Volunteers anonymously) because of the fear, because agement decision of ATO Headquarter. In took them from the house, after that evac- they intend to come back and continue to fact, as you know, corridor operated only uation was arranged from the Town Execu- live in Debaltseve. for one day – February 6. But even that tive Committee. They confirmed that they In the case of Debaltseve it should be day, according to volunteers who have per- were able to leave the city without obstacles. underlined the responsibility of the formed evacuations IAG tried to provoke This family was lucky, because they didn’t Ukrainian government for untimely bloodshed. Volunteer Diana Makarova know about the announcement of the “hu- arranged evacuation of vulnerable said: “It was possible to agree on two hours manitarian corridor” as they didn’t have groups among the civilian population. cease-fire on the way Artemivsk — Debalt- access to any means of communication. Since the end of January 2015 volunteer seve, after that for four hours — the town, They knew about the possibility of leave by initiatives always stated the need for evac- and then again two hours — way. While chance. uation of the population. In particular, in we were driving to the town, the road itself It is rather difficult to prove the intent on one of the publications in the press on Feb- was not shelled but from the side of “LPR” obstructing the evacuation. However, the ruary 3 the civic initiative “Station Kharkiv” “tornadoes” flied talking( about MLRS relevant motivation may be indicated, for stated that there are 100−200 applies per “Smerch” – Editor’s note). In addition, example, by the following situation. As you day for help with the evacuation. Fifteen overnight forces were pulled to Debaltseve: know, February 6 Debaltseve “humanitari- hundred applications were received during howitzers, curtain-sided trucks from Do- an corridor” for evacuation was organized the week by “Ukrainian Frontiers” NGO. netsk, armored units, SRGs. They began in two directions: to Artemovsk controlled “We work, but State doesn’t — said then the to assault the Ukrainian military positions by Ukraine and to Donetsk controlled by coordinator of “Humanitarian aid mission on the outskirts, they had to shoot back.” IAG (20 buses, according to “Ombudsman for civilians at zone of military conflict” The shelling of the town on the day of the of DPR” Daria Morozova). In the end, 766 Eugene Kaplin. — A month ago we said that “humanitarian corridor” February 6 was people left in direction to Artemivsk and 42 Debaltseve soon will be at tense situation so also stated by ATO Headquarters61. At that in direction to Donetsk. According to the vol- far. Most people either sit in the basements, “LPR” argued that Ukrainian forces opened unteers who organized the evacuation, next or try to go to relatives. The town has no fire on a convoy of civilians, who were day from the part of Russian participants

58 www.m.day.kiev.ua/uk/article/cuspilstvo/yak-organizuvaty-systemnu-evakuaciyu 59 www.radiosvoboda.org/content/article/26830562.html 60 www.112.ua/politika/gensek-oon-prizyvaet-sozdat-v-debalcevo-gumanitarnyy-koridor-184882.html 61 www.glavred.info/zhizn/boeviki-narushili-dogovorennosti-o-gumanitarnom-koridore-utrom-obstrelyali-zhilye-kvartaly-debalcevo-302172.htm 62 www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=2333769

24 Obstruction of evacuation of civilians during the armed conflict in Donetsk and Luhansk regions IV. EXAMPLES OF OBSTRUCTION OF EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS

of the Joint Center there were remarks that, published report in early March, the Office of from the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk they said, the Ukrainian party almost the High Commissioner for Human Rights of regions, said that, on the one hand, for forced people into buses. Openly there were the UN, illegal armed groups reported 1,100 the entire time that he was engaged in also accusations that the Ukrainian party evacuees, mostly elderly and children from the evacuation of people he never hear “didn’t notified residents about the possi- Vuhlehirsk and Chornuhyno and adjacent about are full “humanitarian corridors” bility to go to the DPR.” These accusations areas to the territory under their control.63 for “regime of silence had never adhered seem groundless to us, we have not met any In response to a request for informa- to.” Actually, he said, no one was waiting evidence, while people who moved to Arte- tion State Emergencies Service of Ukraine for the “humanitarian corridors”, they mivsk on February 6, said that evacuation to said that in the period from January 22 to evacuated people despite the shelling. that area seemed safer for them. Volunteers February 9, 2015 the displacement was Oleksiy did not conduct any negotiations believe that through such blatant unpopu- carried out by a structural subdivision of with the IAG as for the safe evacuation of larity of “Donetsk direction” in the next days State Emergencies Service of Ukrainian, civilians. He doesn’t consider it appro- of ‘humanitarian corridor’ mode was broken State Enterprise “Mobile Rescue Centre”. priate, since “the territory is controlled by the IAGs. The Agency also gives the chronology of simultaneously by several groups and it One of a displaced from Debaltseve the displacement and the number of dis- is impossible to agree with all,” he said. also told to monitors about the rumors as placed persons. During that evacuation Volunteer says that the greatest number if during the battle for Debaltseve in Febru- there were involved 28 buses of different of people in need of evacuation in those ary, many people were killed on the railway models (presented by the local authorities) periods when there were the most intense line, which they crossed in order to leave and 2 armored special operational and battles (600−700 people a day) during pe- the town. “It seems that the snipers were medical vehicles on chassis KrAZ-5233 riods of so-called Truce initiative took out killing people when they tried to get out of (from the State Enterprise “Mobile Rescue about 70 people per week. Total for the the town across the railway line. Everyone Centre of State Emergencies Service of entire period of armed conflict in Donbas was afraid to go there.” However, none of Ukraine”), which came to certain places of Protestant community states about evac- our other interviewees confirmed this in- gathering and evacuees were loaded and uation of approx. 55 thousand people by formation, sniper activity was not observed performed transportation in the opposite there own efforts. in Debaltseve. direction. Monitoring of local Debaltseve online The following days it occurred not possi- Among representatives of the State forums may indicate that at the time of ble to arrange any “humanitarian corridor” Emergencies Service of Ukraine there termination of evacuation there still were from Debaltseve to other Ukrainian towns. are also victims of attacks. One of them left a lot of people who wanted to leave February 8 State Emergences Service got shrapnel injuries of hands, the other the war zone. There is, for example, of Ukraine reported that “the evacuation of got concussion — rupture of the eardrum. the following message of February 17: citizens from the towns Avdiivka, Debaltseve, According to State Emergencies Service of “Both sides claim that there are no civilians as well as located near settlements (No- Ukraine, it happened due to mortar fire on wishing to leave the territory of Debaltseve. vohryhorivka, Comuna, Myronivske, Krasny February 1 (probably it is about the first This is not true. It is not possible to carry out Pahar, Chornuhyne), as it happened in previ- described case near the bomb shelter). In the evacuation because of shelling — this is ous days, was not carried out in connection addition, “because of mortar attacks near the fact. But there is a lot of willing to leave. with active battle actions. The management the city Debaltseve and performing of dan- People didn’t move away since they hope to of antiterrorist operation to ensure safety gerous maneuvers to escape from under fire the last moment for the better, besides, in of people did not allow KrAZ vehicles and area during evacuation of people” armored addition they were afraid to be killed under buses that were scheduled for evacuation to special operative and medical vehicles on the shelling during the evacuation. I ask, mentioned settlements.” chassis KrAZ-5233 were partially damaged. volunteers and caring people, we must unite In total, according to the Agency in re- This happened despite the presence of iden- and do everything possible to ensure that sponse to an information request from the tification marks. State Emergencies Service civilians were given the opportunity to leave Center for Civil Liberties, of January of Ukraine notes that all the equipment, the sector without danger to life.” 28 about 5000 people, about 1 thousands of owned by the Agency has the appropriate However, starting from February whom were children were evacuated by res- marks64. 7 Debaltseve for representatives of the cuers and volunteers and left on their own Volunteer Oleksiy Fedchenko Ukrainian government and the most of the from settlements of Donetsk region, which from the Protestant community who volunteer groups was not available through were in the line of fire. According to the was engaged into evacuation of civilians the occupation by IAG.

63 As State Emergencies Service of Ukraine informs, from February 1, 2015 in the Donetsk region there were launched 2 additional transit points for meetings of IDPs in cities Sloviansk and Kostiantynivka. 4733 people addressed these points. Also by the efforts of State Enterprise “Mobile Rescue Centre of State Emergencies Service of Ukraine” during February 18-19, 2015, at Artemivsk city there was deployed a meeting and reception point for evacuated from ATO area, which 20 people addressed for help. Overall, from June 6, 2014 State Emergencies Service of Ukraine actively deployed 7 transit point for meeting people in Donetsk, Luhansk and Dnipropetrovsk regions: in cities Krasnoarmiisk, Volnovakha, Mariupol, Svatove, Lysychansk, Schastia and village Orly. Currently there are transit points of meeting in city Krasnoarmeysk of Donetsk region and Svatove of Luhansk region and also on the basis of State Emergencies Service of Ukraine in Luhansk region there were deployed 6 points for a temporary stay of evacuees from Luhansk region. As of March 24, 2015 to transit points in the cities Sloviansk and Konstantinovka of Donetsk and Svatove Luhansk region 8 thousand 721 person addressed and registered.

64 Marking vehicles belonging to State Emergencies Service of Ukraine and which carried out the evacuation of civilians are as follows: “direct equilateral cross with diverging ends of orange and gold (yellow) borders. In the center of the image there is the Symbol of the Princely State of Volodymyr the Great of gold color on a blue field framed with a wreath of oak leaves of golden color. On the cross sides there are the images of equilateral triangles of blue color directed to the center of the emblem, between cross sides there is stylized image of flames of orange color with gold (yellow) borders. In addition, transport that has been involved in evacuation of people from abovementioned settlements had specific marks of transportation of evacuees (white flag), and special armored operative and medical vehicles on chassis KrAZ-5233 painted white with drawings of the international marks of sanitary and medical services (Red Cross) on both sides and the relevant inscriptions “Medical Ambulance” “ 25 www.ccl.org.ua www.helsinki.org.ua

4. SHELLING OF AMBULANCE VEHICLE NEAR LUHANSKE

APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN FEBRUARY 7 AND 13, 2015

ew details are currently known on the evacuation of people from the line of towns Miron- ovsky−Luhanske−Svitlodarsk. Meanwhile, in the social net- Fwork appeared the photo of ambulance vehicle suff ered under the shelling on the roadside near the village of Luhanske. It was placed by an international journalist Alec Luhn on February 15. The journalist himself informed the mobile group that this car was struck by fi re before February 15, as he saw it a few days before he made the picture when drove past that place for the fi rst time. Alec describes that the car was on the western part of the road that goes south from Artemivsk to Luhansk. Photo was taken near Luhanske. Since the car was on the part of the road, which is under control of Ukraine, it can be suggested that the shelling was carried out by the IAG. This was not the only car with traces of fi re, which was on that road, said the journalist. He also gave us another photo of shelled transport, however, vehicle, fi xed there was of military trucks From the volunteers we have heard about civilian cars with traces of shelling on the side of the road. Fragment of Twi er page of Alec Luhn

5. CHORNUHYNE, OBSTRUCTION OF EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS FEBRUARY 10, 2015

ccording to Assistant of of escalation of the situation in the area of during intense battles for Debaltseve was Governor of Luhansk Debaltseve arose from evacuation of peo- occupied by one of the “Cossack” groups. region Gennady Moskal ple from village Chornuhyne (Luhansk At the beginning of February, in order to Svyatoslav Galas the big- region, Popasna district, in peaceful times evacuate civilians from Chornuhyna there A gest problems at the moment there lived about 6000 people there), which were conducted the negotiating with IAG 26 Obstruction of evacuation of civilians during the armed confl ict in Donetsk and Luhansk regions IV. EXAMPLES OF OBSTRUCTION OF EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS

on opening of the “corridor” with involving to the negotiation process Russian offi cers from the Joint Center. Logistics and transport was provided by Luhansk Regional State Administration. There was appointed a day for evacuation – February 10. However, there was no chance to carry out the evacuation of several hundred people who were going to leave, because of blocked transport. This story is detailed on the website of Gennady Moskal, it was also confi rmed by S. Galas during a personal meeting in Severodonetsk. “At 7 a.M. we went to Chornukhyne from Severodonetsk, but managed to get to the crossing at Mironovsky (Donetsk region) only, which is 15 km from Debaltseve. Now there is the last checkpoint of Ukrainian security forces there controlled by soldiers S. Galas believes that the reason for the the shelling of penal colony №23 of of the Department of Internal Aff airs Min- failure of the evacuation was in the lack of medium level of security for men in istry in Donetsk region. Nobody is allowed coordination between diff erent groups the village Chornuhyne from where at to go further than the checkpoint by on of IAG and inconsistency of their actions, the beginning of intense battles 375 peo- highway, as long as Lohvinove village, “Chornuhyne was just on the administrative ple were not evacuated (and this should which is located nearby, is blocked with border between the Donetsk and Luhansk be considered the responsibility of the armored vehicles and manpower of mili- regions, and there were a lot of parties Ukraine). Together with prisoners of other tants. The highway is constantly shelled involved. It seemed as if everything was colonies of Luhansk and Donetsk regions, with “Grad” and artillery... Chornuhyne agreed, and then they went out with tanks in fact, they were held hostage. According and Troitske, which were in the theater — and that’s all.” to the Kharkiv Human Rights Group, as of battle actions around Debaltseve were Although this was not the focus of of now 28 of 36 institutions of State Penal completely blocked. It is possible to evac- attention of the mobile group and this Service of Ukraine of two regions are at the uate people from there only in the direction issue needs to be reviewed in a separate temporarily occupied territory and this is of so-called LPR. Now village people who report, but it is worth of noting also the from twelve to fi ft een thousand people66. can move independently, leave Chor- problem of evacuation of people from The exact number of prisoners who died nuhyne on foot and go to the direction of places of unfreedom, it is also accented due to shelling and while trying to escape the occupied territories”, — said the head in the mentioned report of the Offi ce of to the territory controlled by “LPR” (as re- of the Luhansk Regional State Adminis- the High Commissioner for Human Rights ported earlier with reference to one of the tration Gennady Moskal 65. of the UN. In particular, the story about prisoners) is currently unknown.

6. ZHOLOBOK, OBSTRUCTION OF EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS JANUARY 2015

rom an Assistant of Governor of district, Luhansk region). A journalist several days. Aft er several days delay ci- Luhansk region monitors also Sergei Ivanov67 was the fi rst who reported vilians fi nally left the village by two cars, received confi rmation of infor- about that case. According to Minsk agree- one of which blew up on a fougasse nearby mation about the case that, as ments Zholobok was in the “buff er zone”. the Ukrainian checkpoint № 29. The initial previously reported, occurred When the settlement was blocked by IAG report of the journalist Sergei Ivanov, with Fon January 28 between 29 (Ukrainian) and regular Russian troops, some people the reference to the military said that the and 31 (captured by IAG) checkpoints expressed their wish to leave. Volunteers fougasse was radio-controlled (at the exit near the village Zholobok (Popasna negotiated on the “corridor” for them for from Zholobok the car was inspected by

65 www.moskal.in.ua/?categoty=news&news_id=1474 66 www.khpg.org/index.php?id=1423827575 67 www.news.liga.net/news/politics/4908345-pod_29_m_blokpostom_kazaki_vzorvali_avtomobil_s_zalozhnikami.htm

27 www.ccl.org.ua www.helsinki.org.ua

he personally talked with, said that it was namely the fougasse that exploded, but not the other explosive device. However, S.Ga- las is not ready to confi rm the fact that the fougasse was radio-controlled. People who were in the car were seri- ously injured (one man lost one leg and vehi e damaged in result of fougasse the second leg was broken, the woman vehi e damaged in result of fougasse explosion. Photo from Facebook page of was delivered to intensive care, the third explosion. Photo from Facebook page of passenger got not such serious injury). Sergey Yevremov (www.on.fb.me/1DU4CYY) Sergey Yevremov (www.on.fb.me/1DU4CYY) When communicating with the governor, “Cossacks”), and the aim was to blow up they, according to S. Galas, confi rmed that retired professional military, suggests that the Ukrainian checkpoint. According to before the evacuation they were forced to the IAG therefore tried to protect them- Assistant of H.Moskal, one of the victims stay in the village for two days and were not selves from the leak of information about was a retired professional military, whom allowed to leave. One of the passengers, a the location of their military equipment.

7. COSSACK VILLAGE LuhanskA, OBSTRUCTION OF EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS MARCH 17, 2015

ne of the most notable cas- As Victoria Ivleva told to the moni- the personal data of its members (names, es that may indicate IAG toring group, she was detained by two phone numbers). She suggests that per- policies aimed at blocking persons with IDs of “Great Don Troops” sonal information could be obtained by the evacuation of civilians, and with the corresponding patches (as representatives of IAG through the SMM has to do with quite recent it is known, it is one of the most active OSCE (that fact was not commented by the Oevents. It happened on March 17, 2015 “Cossack” IAG acting in the temporarily international organization). at the checkpoint near the Cossack occupied territory and in addition practic- While staying at the checkpoint being village Luhanska, which was at the so- ing mass kidnapping of civilians with the de facto a hostage Victoria didn’t get any called buff er zone and was established use of tortures and abuse to them, mobile charges from the representatives of IAG. in accordance with the provisions of the group participants repeatedly used to However, when she called to the “deputy of Minsk agreements. Victoria Ivleva was de- interview such people). One of them intro- ‘LPR’ ” Olga Kobzeeva, whom she contacted tained there68, a Russian photographer, a duced himself as a local forester “Nikolai earlier, and expressed dissatisfaction with volunteer who had been involved for nearly Ivanovich Kuzmin,” he took photos of the behavior of people with weapons, the a year into evacuation of civilians from all papers of Victoria (including lists of “deputy” began to threaten her, saying that the temporarily occupied territory. By the people who wish to leave) which later, in “would get even in Moscow.” group with several other volunteers, they her own words, simply were stolen from Later it was found out that volunteers tried to take out of Luhansk region the her. The second man introduced himself in the local media have already been an- group of 45 people (mostly residents of as “Rustam Hohol.” Victoria suggests nounced “kidnappers.” In particular one Alchevsk), most of whom were women that he was a resident of Cossack village of the articles says the following: “LPR re- with young children — from several Luhanska or settlements nearby. The strained the attempt of kidnapping of Kiev months to 12 years. Victoria Ivleva, whose volunteer convinced that these people did Hunta” referring to “LuhanskIformCenter”, voluntary activities, according to her own not make decisions alone, that her deten- which cites the “the LPR Council of Minis- words, were known to “LPR”, was detained tion was not their own initiative. Holding ters Deputy Chairman” Vasily Nikitin69. at the checkpoints around 14.40 and kept her at the checkpoint, they always went When the bus with people arrived to for 4 hours, and the bus was taken under out and called to someone. In addition, Luhansk Regional State Administration, convoy of “LPR KGB” and brought to the Victoria claims that they had the order for the women with children were already former building of Luhansk Regional State detention of namely that volunteer group, waited by local television. On the same day Administration. having details of the group including the story that Ministry of State Security of

68 www.kp.ua/incidents/494824-smy-lnr-ne-pustyly-v-ukraynu-avtobus-s-zhenschynamy-y-detmy 69 www.mianews.ru/2015/03/18/v-lnr-presechena-popytka-poxishheniya-detej-kievskoj-xuntoj/

28 Obstruction of evacuation of civilians during the armed conflict in Donetsk and Luhansk regions IV. EXAMPLES OF OBSTRUCTION OF EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS

LPR managed to restrain the mass kidnap- Moreover, there was the information in Zaporozhye. Elena Moroz, born in ping went on the air70. in mass media that in “LPR” they seems to 1975, resident of the city Alchevsk, Victoria Ivleva said that people who intend “to institute criminal proceedings” on March 17, tried to leave temporarily express a wish to leave occupied territories against Victoria Ivleva. However, the vol- occupied territory (“of despair”) together temporarily controlled by “LPR” are intim- unteer is not aware of such fact. with the family of three children (1994, idated and are told outright lies about what In the air on Civic TV one of the evac- 2001, 2003 year of birth) and 9-month- is happening in the territories controlled uees from Alchevsk women (although she old granddaughter. “When we arrived to by Ukraine. Personally against Victoria left earlier) noted that “it is not true when Cossack village Luhanska checkpoint, we Ivleva, in fact, there was launched an infor- they told that we are taken into slavery.” were immediately told that the bus with mation campaign. Residents of temporarily So, apparently, at areas controlled by the children would not be allowed to pass. At occupied territories are shown pictures of IAG they on purpose spread rumors that the checkpoint the Chief approached the mutilated human bodies, affirming that it people are displaced to control by Ukraine bus, but he did not speak with us, but with was the work of Victoria. That campaign is territory not for the purpose of evacuation, the driver. He said that they were warned also proved by social networks. but for “slavery.” that this bus takes women in prostitution “These people were taken into slavery. This information was confirmed and slavery, and children for organs and The criminals planned to take away their during our conversation with the wom- that we allegedly were taken by force. Al- documents and to force them to take part in an, who could not leave on March 17, but though we were not, we ourselves wanted illegal beggary business. The ethnic criminal who was evacuated later together with to leave... When we arrived to Luhansk, groups are checked for any involvement in her family. At the moment these people, the reporters were already waiting for us, the crime”– is said at the post of Vkontakte according to our information, are safe in we were given baby food and dry snack.” account “Synopsis of Novorossyia militia”71. one of the places of compact residence

8. SHELLING OF AVDIYIVKA DURING EVACUATION OF CHILDREN JANUARY 2015

n March, the Head of the Chief Depart- Internal Affairs of Ukraine in Donetsk re- Thus, Juvenile Criminal Militia De- ment of Ministry of Internal Affairs of gion Vitaly Bodnaruk, January 24 during partment of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in Donetsk oblast Vyacheslav the evacuation of children from Avdiivka Ukraine in Donetsk region say that there Abroskin mentioned on his FB page that there was the shelling of the town outskirts, were no cases of aimed fire on columns, workers of regional chief department while in the center children were gathered which transported children for evacuation. had to take out children from Debaltseve for further evacuation. And January 25 the According to the workers of the Depart- I 72 under fire . At the Department of Juvenile powerful bombardment of Mariinka ment managed by V.Bodnarukom, resi- Criminal Militia of Ministry of Internal and Krasnogorovka with heavy artillery dents of Avdiivka, Mariinka and Krasnogorov- Affairs of Ukraine in Donetsk region they was carried out (Krasnogorovka in greater ka addressed Chief Department of Ministry of specified that it was said about the period extend) just during the evacuation of children Internal Affairs of Ukraine in Donetsk region (January 2015) when their staff had to deal from the town. Fortunately, no injuries, none asking to provide the evacuation of their with displacement of children from the cities of shells aimed the transport. children because of a difficult situation with of Donetsk region, which were subjected to However, Vitaly Bodnaruk stresses shelling after they knew about evacuation of systematic shelling. Namely: January 5 — 58 that each time during preparation of children from Debaltseve (by prior agreement, children were taken out from Debaltseve, children evacuation the Management of children were taken to recreational areas of January 24 — 34 children were taken from Regional Militia informed as widely as Dnipropetrovsk region, talking about children Avdiivka, January 25 — 68 people were dis- possible on the campaign of Displacement who are deprived of parental guardianship). placed from Mariinka and Krasnohorivka, in mass media, social networks, OSCE rep- Forming lists of willing was made through the January 26 — 8 children previously displaced resentatives, NGOs, and members of IAG departments of education and social services, from Debaltseve were brought back to Debalt- and requested to provide “quiet mode”, anyone could be registered. The evacuation seve on the request of families, while 8 were i.e. cease fire for safe removal of children. of children to the recreation area in Dniprop- evacuated from the city. Nevertheless, says V.Bodnaruk on those etrovsk region was accompanied by “parent According to Head of the Juvenile crim- days shelling of towns on the contrary councils” (formed by the parents of several inal militia department of Ministry of was intensified. children), as well as militia officers.

70 https://vk.com/wall8816425?z=video8816425_171326993%2F94a4c26366b51c99b9 71 https://vk.com/wall8816425?z=photo8816425_359556516%2Falbum8816425_00%2Frev 72 www.facebook.com/Vyacheslav.Abroskin/posts/1438332683126068?notif_t=notify_me

29 www.ccl.org.ua www.helsinki.org.ua

9. USING EVACUATED CHILDREN FOR PROPAGANDA PURPOSES

owever, the situation with Apparently, no wonder the journalist As for the passes. Have you been of- evacuated children from De- mentioned the “procedure for the exchange fered to arrange them following usual baltseve of January 5, 2015 of prisoners,” because it was the story procedure? can be seen as another at- told to parents of children: so to say your They say, make the pass and go to take tempt of IAG to use children children were exchanged for 16 Ukrainian them away without problems, it was, they Has a propaganda resource. At the beginning prisoners. This was told to monitoring say, Ukraine when we took them, and now of January, Chief Department of Ministry group by phone by a woman named Irina we can not do anything. Make a pass for of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in Donetsk Kravchenko, who now lives in Debalt- yourself and go to take away there are no region offered parents of Debaltseve to take seve. Her 13-year-old son Mykola was one problems... But it’s all money, it’s all time. their children to Dnipropetrovsk region. of 8 children who were brought back to De- It is not given for nothing. You need to wait According to Vita Andronova, who has baltseve on March 29. We report the text of for two months, and who wants to make it since that time accompanied the children our telephone conversation with a woman quickly they ask 1000 hryvnia for it, for these and constantly was together with them, as close to the original dialogue as possible passes. first they had to come back on January (conversation was in Russian). Where asked? 25. But as it is known, right at that time in We were offered to send children for They called there. Well, I do not know. Debaltseve massive shelling started which rehabilitation. Who was the sponsor of all of There’s one mother, she dealt with all that. caused death including children. Therefore, this we did not know — says Irina. — They She says she was called and they offered: if parents were suggested to leave the chil- had to come back to Debaltseve on January you want to have it done quickly — a thou- dren in Dnipropetrovsk region for a longer 25. On January 19 here, of course, strong sand hryvnia. And I say what a thousand period. 8 families out of 52 decided that shelling began. On January 22 General hryvnia? Now such time, you do not know... their children have come back to Debalt- (talking about the Head of the Chief Then it is not clear in what perhaps bypass seve. In their place other 8 children were Department of Ministry of Internal way we took our kids. brought whose parents expressed a desire Affairs of Ukraine in Donetsk region You say they were insulted there. to have their children displaced from the V.Abroskin — editorial note) suggested Where? war zone. There were no obstacles created because of that situation to keep children In Nikopol. They were not on their own for taking the children back. “Everything longer, because where to take them at that there, there are many children there. Age is was fine until the fighting on Debaltseve end- time? At that time it was really dangerous different. There were many children of all of ed. Then someone decided to hype himself to bring them back – there were shellings those, from all over Ukraine. And so I say or to solve own issues on the account of that in the city and on the road. We agreed. Ev- thank you to all those who helped us, even story — suggests V. Andronova — In the end erything was fine, they stayed at the same took... And in the same manner there are everything was distorted in the media.” rest-home. Then parents started to ask three children left there, they didn’t let back V. Andronova implies story that was when their children would be brought back, three children. aired the day after the return of 8 children, and they said, come to take them yourself This is another story, there is no March 30 in the central Russian “Channel 1”. if you need. And we can’t come out there, legitimate reason to give them. This is The main subject of the story was that these you need to have a pass, because it is the another subject. children allegedly were detained by force territory of Ukraine, the “foul-up” started. Yes-Yes. and under various pretexts were refused to And they move them from that rest-home to Did you have a one child there? be brought back to parents. Correspondent some other one. They brought them there, Yes, only one. A boy of 13 reports: “And now the long-awaited meeting conditions were awful there, the child said And now, does he go to school? is in a minute. Everything reminds procedure – dirty, they brought us God knows where. Yes, we have the school opened just for the exchange of prisoners. Straight road They all began to complain, the general yesterday, everything is fine with us. And to the west of Donetsk. The column from the representative arrived and transported now there are so many problems, we have a one party, the column from the other. The them to the orphanage in Nikopol. It was disaster in the city. The city is very affected, transfer of children takes place at neutral terrible. It’s not that they were on their own, the water is still not supplied. Electricity, of territory between two checkpoints on the the boarding school is the boarding school course, was supplied, but the water no one one side there is a Ukrainian checkpoint on they humiliated them there... We started knows when. There are lots of breakouts the other — the militias. After three months to apply to all institutions: how to take the everywhere. But we hope for the better. What of separation children are together with their children, it was a problem for us. March 17 we have experienced... I say, on the one parent again. Hugs and smiles and tears. (actually March 29 — editorial note) hand, it is good he was not here, because They want to talk about lots of things, but it hardly managed to take, thanks God, all what was going on here... But they’ve seen is not the best place to communicate.”73 This helped us. Red Cross, and from Donetsk they everything on television and the Internet, message was immediately spread by mass helped us that we had taken them away. And and if he had been here, it could just drive media of “Novorossyia”. with the bus they helped us... mad. It was awful.

73 www.1tv.ru/news/world/280728

30 Obstruction of evacuation of civilians during the armed conflict in Donetsk and Luhansk regions IV. EXAMPLES OF OBSTRUCTION OF EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS

Did you leave? Third, voiced story of “exchange of Finally. Humanitarian organizations No, we stayed here. 16 prisoners to 8 children” represents the that conducted visits to children from De- What was the date when your son woman as a victim of propaganda. baltseve, refuse to comment information came back? Fourth, about the passes: the woman concerning living conditions due to reasons 27 or 28… Last week (in fact it was refers to “one mother”, who learned the related to their activities and mandate. March 29 — editorial note). For a month details of making a pass and who alleged- However, the escort Vita Andronova con- we were walking. There is hardly such a ly was announced the charge of thousand vinces that expressed information about place where we didn’t applied to, correspon- hrivnas. We know that the problem with inadequate conditions is false. dents came and the Red Cross came. We are the system of passes exists and bribes Chief Department of Ministry of Inter- contacted everyone. Daria helped us in Do- and corrupt schemes in the system are nal Affairs of Ukraine in Donetsk region netsk, who deals with the rights of prisoners likely to exist as well, however, Chief considers the way the story was presented of war (talking about so-called “DPR Department of Ministry of Internal Af- on Russian TV, a provocation. They do not Ombudsman” Daria Morozova, who al- fairs of Ukraine in Donetsk region claims rule out the possibility that parents were so appears in the story of “Channel 1” — that it was ready to grant passes for the pressured in order to use them and their editorial note) I do not know whether it’s parents of children under the simplified children in propaganda campaign and the truth or not, but they say they exchanged procedure, and it is unlikely a lie taking information war. 16 prisoners of war on our 8 children. I say into account the publicity that received We should note that the use of chil- it’s a horror... this story. And yes — Ukrainian law dren in propaganda purpose is one enforcement representatives since the of the features of the armed conflict. For In the story of I.Kravchenko it is neces- moment of occupation of Debaltseve by example, at the beginning of June 2014 sary to pay attention to several points. representatives of IAG really do not have to the center of social and psychological First, as to involvement of the Red access to the city. rehabilitation of disabled children in Kra- Cross. The fact that the Red Cross helped to Fifth, obvious deliberate or caused by matorsk subordinate to Ministry of Social “return children” was told both by “Channel the influence attempt to present wishful Policy was visited by armed representatives 1”, and by our interviewee. However, the for Russian propaganda thinking as the of IAG together with journalists of Russian International Committee of the Red Cross true one. The issue is that three children channel “NTV”. They warned management assured us that they did not participate at allegedly “were not given back” (again, it of the center that next day they are going to the negotiation process and in the transfer was picked up by Russian “Channel 1”). shoot the story of how children are hiding of any children. “Let us inform you that the In fact, it is about children under the care of in the bomb shelter, although the city has International Committee of the Red Cross state and whom the state is responsible for, not been under attacks yet. Then manage- was not involved in this case. Therefore we and the request to bring them back came ment of the institution and local social can not comment on information contained from the woman having the status of moth- service organized secret evacuation of in the article,” — told us at the ICRC. er-educator living in Debaltseve. The militia children because of which the director of Second, the woman in the end admits men did not have the right to bring them the center and local officials were called for that it was not so bad that her son was out back to the territory outside the control of “the investigation” and accused of kidnap- of the town at the time of fire. the government74. ping children75.

74 Head of the Chief Department of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in Donetsk region V.Abroskin comments this in the following way: “The request of mentioned mother, who sent three of the four adopted children for evacuation from the fire area, was denied. Under the law, they are on full state support, and she is only the mother-educator, receiving monthly payments from the state for each child. In this case, the competent authorities should have full access to observe the holding of children. Taking into account that the woman lives on the territory temporarily occupied by militants, representatives of the Ukrainian government can not fulfill this requirement, the same as will not be able to help children if necessary. Officers offered “mom” either to move to the territory controlled by Ukraine and continue bringing up children or to terminate the contract of their bringing up. The woman refused both options. As of now children remain in Dnipropetrovsk region.” www.facebook.com/ Vyacheslav.Abroskin/posts/1438332683126068?notif_t=notify_me

75 www.gazeta.zn.ua/socium/operaciya-evakuaciya-gosudarstvennye-deti-_.html

31 www.ccl.org.ua www.helsinki.org.ua

10. OBSTRUCTION OF EVACUATION OF NEUROPSYCHIATRIC BOARDING INSTITUTION IN SLAVYANOSERBSK JANUARY 2015

n the 9th UN report it is told about In such a way, the volunteer Victoria by Ukraine that is just a few kilometers away complicated evacuation from social Ivleva tells about one more case of blocking — says Victoria. — They decided that they will institutions, particularly for the el- evacuation by the IAG representatives from move them to home for elderly people, and most derly and bedbound disabled people. the Neuropsychiatric Boarding Institu- of its inhabitants will be appointed to other Often, as it said in the report, they do tion in Slavyanoserbsk (district center residential institutions. But when they realized Inot agree themselves for the displacement, in Luhansk region). “LPR” refused to that in order to move bedbound patients the however, “members of armed groups have evacuate people starting from there last year. ambulance has to make 50 trips, they changed repeatedly stated that will not allow evacu- “In January Slovianoserbsk again came under their mind to evacuate. “In such way, residents ating people from such institutions to areas fire. Then they decided that they will evacuate of Neuropsychiatric Boarding Institution have controlled by the government.” This tend bedbound patients to Anthracite, which is in not been evacuated from the zone of armed can find plenty of evidences. 100 kilometers, opposed to territory controlled conflicts and potential armed escalation.

11. OBSTRUCTION OF EVACUATION OF PUPILS OF KRASNODON REGIONAL ORPHANAGE BOARDING SCHOOL AND ROVENKY REGIONAL ORPHANAGE BOARDING SCHOOL 2014−2015

ccording to the Office children (in this case they are of 2nd displace people who because of their of the Ombudsman of profile, i.e. people who can move inde- serious condition require evacuation by Ukraine, today in the ATO pendently) are not evacuated. “ambulance” (and not by ordinary buses). area there are 126 pupils Starting from the last year and till Among other things, this putsKrasno- of Krasnodon Regional Or- now IAGs are engaged into effective don Regional orphanage and Rovenkiv Aphanage, 80 of whom are — children. control of the territory of settlements regional orphanage on the edge of a hu- Most of pupils of the institution are se- Krasnodon and Rovenki (Luhansk manitarian catastrophe. Food (and some riously ill (so called 3−1 and 4 profile) region.) obstruct the evacuation of chil- individuals need special food due to the and they can not move independently. dren of mentioned boarding institutions. specific diseases), medicine and human- In addition 195 pupils of Rovenky Without such consent and the mature itarian aid in general they received only Regional Orphanage, 27 of whom are agreements it is in fact, impossible to from volunteer organizations.

32 Obstruction of evacuation of civilians during the armed conflict in Donetsk and Luhansk regions IV. EXAMPLES OF OBSTRUCTION OF EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS

Next, we present a brief chronicle of attempts of illegal forced displacement (i.e. in fact kidnapping) of children from child care institutions of Donetsk and Luhansk regions to the Russian Federation.

t should be noted that such attempts • June 24 armed representatives of crossing of Ukraine-Russia border wave triggered to a great extent by IAG prevented the evacuation of by 206 pupils of Amvrosievsk, untimeliness of the decision of the children to Kharkiv region from one Maryinsk and Donetsk boarding Ukrainian government to displace more childcare institution of Krama- schools; July 11 — 53 pupils of Mary- children from the ATO area. Because torsk – it was orphanage “Antoshka”. insk boarding school; July 13 — 150 of this, they, in fact, were also held hostage. “Once we wanted to take the children pupils of Maryinsk and Donetsk I 78 According to the Office of the Commissioner away, the armed men came to us... boarding schools . of the Verkhovna Rada (the Parliament) of and announced that the Kramatorsk • At night of July 21−22 36 children Ukraine on Human Rights, of June 2014, the city, Donetsk region is in the state of from Maryinsky boarding school representatives of IAG of “DPR” and “LPR” war with Ukraine, that it is an enemy №3, who were retained for two demanded from local authorities informa- state and we have no right to send weeks with the children from the tion about orphans and children deprived children to the enemy state”, — said boarding school №1 of Donetsk city, of parental care, references about their the doctor of the child care institu- were managed to be take from ATO health and written consent of managers of tion Anatoly Romanov, who was zone to Sviatohorsk79. children care institutions for their displace- threatened by armed persons in • July 27 61 orphan children returned ment to the Russian Federation. case he tried to carry out the evac- to Ukraine from Luhansk city, who • June 12, 2014 the bus with 25 uation.76 “The negotiations were were illegally displaced into the ter- children from the town. Snizhne, conducted constantly. Five to seven ritory of Russian Federation80. Luhansk region, was intercepted by times a day, terrorists had changed • July 28 the National Security Council IAG on the way to Dnipropetrovsk their terms — told about evacuation reported that “in Donetsk region they region and taken through the check- the Adviser of Minister for Internal continue to hold 135 sick children from point “Dovzhanskiy” controlled by Affairs Zorian Shkiryak. — When the Donetsk city and regional orphanages IAG to Rostov region of the Russian agreement was allegedly reached and Makeyevka orphanage “Maliatko” Federation. However, the next day it Hirkin and Abwehr, who then were where HIV-infected children stay. Mil- was announced about the return of in Sloviansk, flatly refused to release itants categorically forbid to evacuate the bus with children to the territory the children. After all, children were children from ATO area” 81. of Ukraine. Thus, the European Court evacuated, but no in organized • August 8 IAG kidnapped 8 children of Human Rights ordered to Russia column. They were taken by one aged from 8 months to 2 years, in- to immediately return abducted chil- vehicle, one or two in a few times. mates of an orphanage who were dren from Snizhne to Ukraine. And once, according to our operative hospitalized in one of the hospitals • June 15 Ukrainian Ombudsman information, it was planned to shell of Luhansk. They were forcibly and Valery Lutkovska informed that the vehicle with a grenade launcher, illegally displaced by armed persons “representatives of the so-called Do- to present everything later as the across the state border crossing netsk People’s Republic seized lists occasional shell from the Ukrainian point Izvaryne, Luhansk region of orphans and try to take Ukrainian side. Off the hook...” 77. to Rostov region. August 13, they children from Donetsk, Horlivka, Kra- • July 4 MFA of Ukraine appealed were transferred to the Ukrainian matorsk, Yenakiyevo, Donetsk region to the competent authorities of the Commissioner and the chief doctor

away from Ukraine on the pretext of Russian Federation with the re- of the orphanage in Donetsk town of

82 $ rehabilitation.” quirement to prevent unauthorized# Rostov region .

76 www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXdoZEMPMhE 77 www.gazeta.zn.ua/socium/operaciya-evakuaciya-gosudarstvennye-deti-_.html 78 www.gazeta.zn.ua/socium/operaciya-evakuaciya-gosudarstvennye-deti-_.html 79 www.ombudsman.gov.ua/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3885:2014-07-24-09-11-11&catid=14:2010-12-07-14-44-26&Itemid=75 80 www.ombudsman.gov.ua/ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4018:2014-07-24-09-11-46&catid=14:2010-12-07-14-44-26&Itemid=75 81 www.tyzhden.ua/News/115556 82 www.tyzhden.ua/News/116726

33 Center for Civil Liberties

Founded in Kyiv in 2007 to promote and strengthen the values of human rights, democracy and solidarity, the principle of human dignity in Ukraine and Eurasia. The main goal of the CCL is to protect fundamental rights and freedoms. Our organization represents the interests of the society, carrying out control of national authorities a nd regional authorities on the subject of human rights.

01004 Kyiv 9-G Basseina Str., office 25 www.ccl.org.ua [email protected]

Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union

Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union (UHHRU) is the largest association of human rights organizations in Ukraine. Created on April 1, 2004 as a non-profit and non-political organization, it currently brings together 30 independent NGOs. The goal of UHHRU is to protect human rights. The Union constitutes itself as the part of the Helsinki movement and continuator of traditions and activities of the Ukrainian Helsinki Group to promote the implementation of the Helsinki Accords on Human Rights.

04070 Kyiv 3/34 Frolivska St., 3-rd floor www.helsinki.org.ua [email protected]

The Coalition of non-governmental organizations and initiatives “Justice for Peace in Donbass”

The Coalition "Justice for Peace in Donbass", which includes 14 NGOs and initiatives, was created at the end of 2014. The purpose of its activity is to document human rights violations and create a unified electronic database, which can then be used as a source of primary information on crimes within the national and international investigation, as well as publishing regular subject reports on human rights violations and restrictions on fundamental freedoms. NOTES