Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 19 June 2019 KYIV 20 June 2019
This report is for the media and the general public.
Summary
Compared with the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region. One civilian was injured by shelling in Donetsk city. The Mission saw fresh damage from shelling to facilities part ofa children’s hospital in Donetsk city. The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in non- government-controlled areas, including multiple launch rocket systems near Miusynsk. The SMM saw for the first timeanti-tank mines near Shyrokyne and unexploded ordnance near Novooleksandrivka. The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure. Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued in all three disengagement area and elsewhere. Its freedom of movement was also denied at checkpoints near Novoazovsk and Novolaspa, in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region.*
Ceasefire violations[1]
In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including fewer explosions (30), compared with the previous reporting period (about 125 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded at south-easterly directions of Pyshchevyk (government-controlled, 25km north-east of Mariupol)and at southerly and northerly directions of Avdiivka (government-controlled, 17km north of Donetsk).
In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations, however a similar number of explosions (about 115), compared with the previous reporting period (about 120 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded south-south-east of Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk).
Man injured by shelling in Donetsk city
At a hospital in the Petrovskyi district of Donetsk city (non-government-controlled, 15km south-west of the city), medical staff told the SMM that a man (58 years old) with a shrapnel wound on his right leg had been admitted to hospital on 14 June. At the hospital, the man told the SMM that on 14 June at around 19:00, while walking on Levchenko Street in the Trudivski area of the Petrovskyi district, he had heard two explosions and had sustained injuries from a round that had impacted 20m from him. On 14 June, the SMM observed damage to a house located in the same area (see SMM Daily Report 17 June 2019).
Fresh damage from shelling to facilities part of a children’s hospital in Donetsk city
In the Petrovskyi district of Donetsk city,about 90m north-west of the Donetsk Children’s hospital No. 4, which provides day-time medical care, the SMM saw broken branches and a partially burned tree (assessed as fresh), assessed as caused by the impact of a round (unable to assess the type of weapon or direction of fire). About 50m south-west of the tree, at a one-storey laundry building of the hospital, the SMM saw nine shattered north-north-east facing windows and several holes on the north- north-east facing wall, and debris on the ground, as well as a hole in the washing machine inside the building. About 15m east of the laundry building, at a one-storey building of a heating plant which provides hot water to the hospital, the SMM saw broken roof sheeting, two shattered windows and bricks that had crumbled and debris on the ground below, all on the north-north-west facing side of the building. The SMM also saw two shattered north-facing windows and three shattered east- facing windows on the same building. The SMM assessed the damage to both buildings as fresh and caused by shrapnel from the same explosion.
Medical staff at the hospital told the SMM that a security guard and a staff member at the heating plant had heard an explosion at 04:30 on 19 June.
Disengagement areas[2]
On 18 June, inside the disengagement area near Stanytsia Luhanska (government- controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) again spotted an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) among uninhabited damaged houses, about 400m north of the southern edge of the disengagement area and about 600m west-south-west of the checkpoint of the armed formations south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, near previously reported positions of the armed formations. About 100m further south-west, the same UAV spotted five members of the armed formations, one loading and unloading items from a military-type truck.
During the day on 19 June, positioned about 1km north of Kalynove- Borshchuvate(non-government-controlled, 61km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard eight shots of small-arms fire, assessed as within the 5km periphery of the disengagement area near Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk).
On 19 June, positioned north of the disengagement area near Petrivske (non- government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), the SMM observed a calm situation. [3] Withdrawal of weapons
The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Memorandum and the Package of Measures and its Addendum.
In violation of withdrawal lines
Non-government-controlled areas
16 June
Aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of nine multiple launch rocket systems (types undetermined)at a training area near Miusynsk (62km south- west of Luhansk) (for previous observations see SMM Daily Report 5 June 2019).
19 June
The SMM saw an anti-tank guided missile system (ATGM) mounted on an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-2) in Holubivka (formerly Kirovsk, 51km west of Luhansk).
Beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites
Government-controlled areas
18 June
An SMM long-range UAV spotted:
a surface-to-air missile system (9K33 Osa) in the north-eastern outskirts of Kalynove (35km north of Donetsk) and a surface-to-air missile system (9K35 Strela-10) in Ocheretyne (31km north- west of Donetsk).
19 June
An SMM mini-UAV spotted a tank (T-64BM) in a compound on the south-eastern edge of Kostiantynivka (60km north of Donetsk).
Non-government-controlled areas
14 June
Aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of a tank on road M-14 near a checkpoint of the armed formations on the north-eastern edge of Novoazovsk (40km east of Mariupol).
16 June
Aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of: 24 tanks and four surface-to-air missile systems at a training area near Buhaivka (37km south-west of Luhansk) (for previous observations see SMM Daily Report 5 June 2019); 12 tanks and four surface-to-air missile systems, 13 pieces of towed artillery or mortars (types undetermined) and nine pieces of self-propelled artillery or mortars (types undetermined) at a training area near Miusynsk (see above); and 12 tanks at a training area near Shymshynivka (27km south-west of Luhansk) (for previous observations see SMM Daily Report 7 June 2019).
Other weapons observed[4]
Non-government-controlled areas
16 June
Aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of 26 pieces of towed artillery or mortars (types undetermined) and 22 pieces of self-propelled artillery or mortars (types undetermined) in a training area near Buhaivka (see above).
Weapons that the SMM could not verify as withdrawn[5]
At heavy weapons holding areas in government-controlled areas of Luhansk region
19 June
The SMM noted that nine self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) and three self-propelled mortars (2S9 Nona-S, 120mm) were presentand that 28 self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) and 26 anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) were again missing.
Weapons permanent storage site
At a permanent storage site in government-controlled area of Luhansk region
19 June
The SMM noted that the site was abandoned and that 30 tanks (T-64) and 15 mortars (11 2B9 Vasilek, 82mm and four BM-37, 82mm) were again missing.
Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[6]
Government-controlled areas
16 June
Aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of three probable armoured combat vehicles south-east of Hnutove (20km north-east of Mariupol).
18 June An SMM mini-UAV spotted an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol).
An SMM long-range UAV spotted:
an IFV (BMP-2) near Krasnohorivka (24km north of Donetsk); three IFVs (two BMP-2 and one BMP-1) in Taramchuk (29km south-west of Donetsk); and an IFV (BMP-2) near Chermalyk(31km north-east of Mariupol).
An SMM long-range UAV spotted for the first time a 150m-long extension of a Ukrainian Armed Forces trench (not visible in imagery from 19 April 2019) about 600m south-east of the south-eastern edge of Marinka (government-controlled, 23km south- east of Donetsk), near recently observed trench extensions.
On 19 June
The SMM saw an IFV (BTR-4) near Novobakhmutivka (28km north of Donetsk).
Non-government-controlled areas
18 June
An SMM mini-UAV spotted fortified previously reported trenches and positions, assessed as belonging to the armed formations, north of Stepove (27km west of Luhansk) (not visible in imagery from 10 May 2019).
An SMM long range-UAV spotted:
two IFVs (BMP-1) near Bila Kamianka (51km south of Donetsk) and nine IFVs (six BMP-2 and three BMP-1) in a training area near Svobodne (73km south of Donetsk), in a zone within which deployment of heavy armament and military equipment is proscribed according to Point 5 of the Memorandum of 19 September 2014.
19 June
The SMM saw two IFVs (a BMP-1 and a BMP-2) in Holubivka (see above).
On 16 June, aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of 58 recent craters caused by undetermined weapons, in an area between the forward positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the armed formations, about 2.8km south-west of Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, non-government-controlled, 23km north-east of Mariupol) (not visible in imagery from 6 June 2019).
On 18 June, an SMM long-range UAV spotted an armoured personnel carrier (MT-LB) and eight trucks (Kamaz and Ural) in an area between the forward positions of the armed formations near Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, non-government- controlled, 29km north-east of Mariupol) and the forward positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Pyshchevyk.
Anti-tank mines seen for the first time near Shyrokyne and unexploded ordnance (UXO) near Novooleksandrivka
On 18 June, on the north-eastern outskirts of Shyrokyne, an SMM mini- UAV again spotted 28 anti-tank mines in a field, assessed as belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. About 400m south-east, the same UAV spotted for the first time seven anti-tank mines across road M-14, and another 11 anti-tank mines laid out in two rows across the same road and in a field about 350m east, all assessed as belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. About 600m east of the latter mines, the same UAV spotted for the first time 25 anti-tank mines (including one burned out) laid out across the same road, all assessed as belonging to the armed formations.
On 18 June, in the area between the entry-exit checkpoint near Pyshchevyk and the checkpoint of the armed formations in Verkhnoshyrokivske the SMM saw again a tailfin, assessed as part of a 120mm mortar, stuck in the middle of a road regularly used by civilians.
On 19 June, on road T-0504 used regularly by the SMM, around 50m west of the T- junction leading south to Novooleksandrivka (government-controlled, 65km west of Luhansk), the Mission saw for the first time a tailfin, assessed as from a mortar round, embedded in the asphalt around 1m north of the southern edge of the road.
SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure
The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable demining activities and repairs to a water pipeline Novotroitske (government-controlled, 36km south-west of Donetsk) and repairs to a water pipeline near Pervomaisk (non- government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk).
The SMM also facilitated the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station (15km north of Donetsk) and continued to monitor the security situation in the area of the pumping station near Vasylivka (non-government-controlled, 20km north of Donetsk).
The SMM continued monitoring inKherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro,Chernivtsiand Kyiv.
*Restrictions of the SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate
The SMM’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines, UXO and other impediments – which vary from day to day. The SMM’s mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations. They have also agreed that the Joint Centre on Control and Co-ordination should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance. Nonetheless, the armed formations in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions frequently deny the SMM access to areas adjacent to Ukraine’s border outside control of the Government (for example, SMM Daily Report 12 June 2019). The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April 2017 near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations.
Denial of access:
At a checkpoint at the northern entrance to Novoazovsk (non-government- controlled, 40km east of Mariupol) two armed members of the armed formations denied the SMM passage south into the town, citing “military training”. At a checkpoint on the eastern edge of Novolaspa (non-government- controlled, 50km south of Donetsk) two armed members of the armed formations denied the SMM passage west into the village, citing orders from their superiors “not to let anybody enter the village”.
Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:
The sides continued to deny the SMM full access to the three disengagement areas, as well as the ability to travel certain roads previously identified as important for effective monitoring by the Mission and for civilians’ movement, through failure to conduct comprehensive clearance of mines and UXO.
Other impediments:
On the evening and night of 18-19 June, an SMM long-range UAV experienced signal interference, assessed as caused by jamming, while flying over government- and non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region.[7] An SMM mini-UAV experienced on two occasions GPS signal interference, assessed as due to probable jamming, while flying near Vasylivka (non- government-controlled, 47km south of Donetsk). At a hospital in Horlivka (non-government controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk), medical staff refused to provide information related to a civilian casualty to the SMM without the official permission from senior members of the armed formations.
[1]For a complete breakdown of ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.
[2]Disengagement is foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016.
[3]Due to the presence of mines, including a road between Bohdanivka and Petrivske, the SMM’s access to its camera in Petrivske remains limited, and thus the SMM has not been able to access observations from the camera since 22 June 2018.
[4]The SMM was unable to assess whether these weapons were in violation of withdrawal lines in the absence of information on their calibre.
[5]The SMM observed weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage did not comply with the criteria set out in the 16 October 2015 notification from the SMM to the signatories of the Package of Measures on effective monitoring and verification of the withdrawal of heavy weapons. The Mission noted that one such site continues to be abandoned.
[6]The hardware mentioned in this section is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.
[7]The interference could have originated from anywhere within a radius of kilometres from the UAVs’ positions.
See the table of ceasefire violations
Contacts Dragana Nikolic-Solomon Chief of Press and Public Information Unit OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine 26 Turhenievska Street 01054 Kyiv Ukraine Office: +380 44 392 08 55 Mobile: +380 95 291 99 18 [email protected] [email protected]
Liudmyla Palamar National Outreach Officer OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine 26 Turhenievska Street 01054 Kyiv Ukraine Office: +380 44 392 0965 Mobile: +38 067 828 06 79 Mobile: +38 050 387 93 98 [email protected] [email protected]