This report is for media and the general public.
The SMM observed a similarly high level of explosions in Donetsk region and an equally low level of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region compared to the previous day. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. It reached one border crossing point not controlled by the Government. Long queues of vehicles were observed at checkpoints near the contact line. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure. In Odessa, the Mission monitored a protest in support of Nadiya Savchenko.
The SMM observed a high number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, with a similar number of explosions as the previous day [1]. During the evening hours of 22 March, the SMM heard 71 undetermined explosions and two bursts of small-arms fire 7-10km south-east, north-east, north-north-west, north-west and south-west of its position in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city centre. From a position at Donetsk central railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk city centre) between 07:55 and 15:00hrs on 23 March the SMM heard 14 undetermined explosions and multiple bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire at locations ranging from 3-8km north-north-east, north-east, north, north-north-west, north-west, west and south-west of its position.
While in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk) between 16:47 and 23:03hrs on 22 March, the SMM heard 40 undetermined explosions, ten impacts of mortar rounds, 24 automatic-grenade-launcher impacts, 28 rounds fired from infantry fighting vehicles (BMP-1 and BMP-2), along with a spike in heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire all in areas 2-3km south-south-east of its position.
While in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) during the evening of 22 March, within ten minutes, the SMM heard 65 outgoing rounds of automatic grenade launchers and two bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 5-6km west of its position.
The SMM continued to record numerous ceasefire violations in the area between government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) and “DPR”-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk). While in Avdiivka between 10:37 and 14:51hrs on 23 March, the SMM saw and heard 17 impacts of mortar rounds (82 and 120mm) and heard six impacts of automatic grenade launcher rounds 3km east of its position. Whilst near Yasynuvata railway station between 09:37 and 15:00hrs, the SMM recorded 178 undetermined explosions, 27 single shots of small arms, and 124 bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire 1-5km west and west-south-west of its position.
Whilst near government-controlled Starohnativka (53km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard three undetermined explosions 7-10km south of its position in the vicinity of government-controlled Hranitne (47km north-east of Mariupol). While in Hranitne, the SMM heard two undetermined explosions and seven bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 10km south-east of its position.
In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations compared to the previous day. Whilst in “LPR”-controlled Myrne (28km south-west of Luhansk) the SMM heard four undetermined explosions caused by mortar and approximately 50 shots of small-arms fire 2-3km north of its position, all assessed as live-fire training in areas outside the security zone. Near government-controlled Troitske (69km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard ten shots of small-arms fire 3km south-east and one undetermined explosion 5-7km south of its position.
The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure. The SMM observed the security situation in “LPR”-controlled Krasnyi Lyman (30km north-east of Luhansk) as the Luhansk water company conducted repairs and maintenance activities at the water system located approximately 600m north of the village. According to the water company, the system consists of nine wells out of which two were repaired during the day. Water will be delivered to residents in "LPR"-controlled Krasnyi Luch (56km south-west of Luhansk), Alchevsk (40km west of Luhansk), and Antratsyt (52km south of Luhansk).
In relation to the implementation of the Addendum to the Package of Measures, the SMM revisited Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent storage sites whose locations corresponded with the withdrawal lines and observed that 31 tanks (T-64, 125mm) and eight towed howitzers (D-44, 152mm) were missing, as has been the case since 16 February. The SMM observed also additional weapons at the sites.
The SMM also revisited “DPR” permanent storage sites whose locations corresponded with the withdrawal lines and observed that all weapons previously verified as withdrawn to those sites were present.
The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of heavy weapons foreseen in the Minsk Package of Measures. The SMM has yet to receive the full information requested in the 16 October 2015 notification. The SMM revisited locations known to the SMM as heavy weapons holding areas, even though they do not comply with the specific criteria set out for permanent storage sites in the 16 October 2015 notification.
In government-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM revisited such locations and observed ten self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) and four towed anti-tank guns (T-12 Rapira, 100mm).
In “DPR”-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM revisited such locations and observed 11 towed howitzers (D-30, 122mm) and nine Addendum-regulated mortars (PM-38, 120mm). Eleven towed howitzers (D-30, 120mm) were missing as has been observed since November 2015.
In violation of respective withdrawal lines, the SMM observed 15 anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) in "DPR"-controlled Zelene (28km east of Donetsk).
The SMM observed the presence of other hardware in Donetsk and Luhansk regions: one armoured personnel carrier (APC) (BTR-80) in “LPR”-controlled Stakhanov (50km west of Luhansk); two multi-purpose armoured vehicles (MTLB), one mounted with a 14.5mm anti-aircraft gun, both stationary in “LPR”-controlled Kalynove (58km west of Luhansk); one military-type truck (Ural) mounted with an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) near “LPR”-controlled Vesela Hora (16km north of Luhansk).
In government-controlled areas the SMM observed: one APC (BTR-70) in the area of Voitove (34km north of Luhansk); one APC (BTR-80) in the area of Myrne (40km north-east of Mariupol) heading east; and one APC (BTR-70) 5km north-west of government-controlled Shchastia (16km north-west of Luhansk).
While at the Yasynuvata railway station, the SMM was approached by three armed “DPR” members all wearing brand new military-type clothing, one of whom had a patch on the left sleeve displaying three fine stripes coloured white, blue and red. They informed the SMM about an on-going process for establishing a new “Komendatura” in Yasynuvata.
The SMM continued to observe the presence of unmarked mines and noted areas that the sides had marked as mined. In the area between the “DPR”-controlled checkpoint in Olenivka (23km south-west of Donetsk) and the Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint in government-controlled Berezove (31km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM observed newly placed, visible mine warning signs on both sides of highway H-20. In “LPR”-controlled Novooleksandrivka (66km west of Luhansk) the SMM observed near a cemetery two improvised and clearly visible mine warning signs and a local resident said that armed “LPR” members had placed the “mine” signs two days ago. Near “DPR”-controlled Sakhanka (24km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM observed a previously known road blocked by masonry and shrubs as well as a mine warning sign placed approximately 1.5km north of the village.
The SMM observed long lines at checkpoints close to the contact line. At the checkpoint in “DPR”-controlled Olenivka and government-controlled checkpoints in Berezove and Novotroitske (36km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM observed at least 560 civilian vehicles heading south towards government-controlled areas. In the afternoon, at the same checkpoints, the SMM observed approximately 200 civilian vehicles heading north and an equal number of civilian vehicles traveling in the opposite direction. At the Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk) the SMM observed approximately 500 people heading towards government-controlled areas and approximately 300 people travelling in the opposite direction.
The SMM monitored the situation affecting civilians in areas close to the contact line. At the clinic in government-controlled Luhanske (60km north-east of Donetsk), a nurse told the SMM that the facility lacked running water, central heating and needed electrocardiogram equipment. According to her, the clinic had recently received medicine from Caritas international organization and materials for roof repairs from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The SMM monitored a border area not controlled by the Government. At the Chervonopartyzansk (64km south-east of Luhansk) border crossing point, the SMM observed a calm situation with 21 civilian vehicles (all with Ukrainian licence plates, except for three with Russian Federation license plates) and three civilian trucks (two with Ukrainian licence plates and one with Russian Federation license plates) waiting to cross into the Russian Federation. The SMM observed that the trucks did not display any markings.
The SMM continued to monitor areas along the international border between Ukraine and the Transdniestrian section of the Moldova-Ukraine border, north and north-west of Odessa: Frunzivka (120km north), Kotovsk (167 km north-west), Velykoploske (109km north-west), Slovianoserbka (94km north west), Hrebenyky (86km north-west), Slobidka (183km north-west) and Tymkove (185km north-west) where it observed a calm situation, one that was also confirmed by the state border guards.
In Odessa the SMM monitored a protest outside the Russian Federation Consulate in support of Nadiya Savchenko. The SMM observed 20 people (among them four women), including known members of the Maidan Co-ordination Council and the Batkivshchyna party, who denounced the conviction of Nadiya Savchenko. The protestors pelted the Consulate building with eggs and then dispersed without further incidents. Fifty police offices in anti-riot gear, nine uniformed police officers and 20 National Guard officers monitored the event. Two mini buses full with police officers were parked nearby.
The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Kherson, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnepropetrovsk Chernivtsi and Kyiv.
- Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to the fulfilment of its mandate
The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by the parties and security considerations, including mine threats, damaged infrastructure, and the unpredictability of the situation in Donbas.
Denial of access:
In “LPR”-controlled Novosvitlivka (15km south-east of Luhansk), the head of the village council refused to speak with the SMM citing the need of prior authorization from “LPR”.
[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.
For PDF attachments or links to sources of further information, please visit: http://www.osce.org/ukraine-smm/230061
Contacts:
Iuliia Poberezhna
26 Turhenievska Street
01054 Kyiv
Ukraine
mobile: +380 67 467 75 65
iuliia.poberezhna@osce.org
Iryna Gudyma
26 Turhenievska Street
01054 Kyiv
Ukraine
mobile: +38 067 4021716
Iryna.Gudyma@osce.org