OSCE

BRATISLAVA, 23 May 2019 – The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Slovakia’s Foreign and European Affairs Minister, Miroslav Lajčák, congratulated Tajikistan on assuming the four-month Chairmanship of the Forum for Security Co-operation, concluding his visit of three Central Asian countries in Tajikistan on 22 May.

In his meetings with the leadership of Tajikistan, including President Emomali Rahmon, Deputy Foreign Minister Muzaffar Husainzoda and Speaker of the Upper House of the Parliament Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev, the OSCE Chair thanked Tajikistan for its strong and constructive support of the activities of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe for already 25 years, as well as for hosting one of the OSCE flagship initiatives, the Border Management Staff College.

He also expressed the Organization’s commitment to continuing its support of Tajikistan’s engagement with Afghanistan.

When speaking about activities on the ground, Chairperson Lajčák particularly mentioned the OSCE Programme Office’s work on clearing almost four million square meters of mine-contaminated land, contributing to border management and security, promoting gender equality through gender-sensitive police units, or fostering entrepreneurship with its Start-Up programme.

“Tajikistan and the OSCE have come a long way together,” the OSCE Chair said. “Through all of those initiatives, places of insecurity and tension have become hubs of economic opportunity,” he added.

Seeing first-hand the work of the OSCE’s Border Management Staff College, Minister Lajčák stressed that “it embodies the spirit of OSCE co-operation in the region for already ten years. More than 3,300 representatives from 59 countries have learned crucial skills to enhance border management and security. And this includes classes for women border officials – a big step in a traditionally male-dominated field.”

While in Tajikistan, the OSCE Chair also sat down with civil society actors to learn more about their activities and projects in the country. He met with a group of young people whom he encouraged to advocate for multilateralism and make their voices heard as the bridge-builders, peacebuilders and innovators of tomorrow.

The Chair underlined that “the OSCE and the Slovak Chairmanship are here to support Tajikistan in achieving its national priorities, furthering its reform efforts and consolidating stability in the region.”

VIENNA/BRATISLAVA, 23 May 2019 – The second preparatory meeting of the 27th OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum, taking place on 27 and 28 May in Bratislava, will focus on economic progress and security in the OSCE area through energy co-operation, new technologies, good governance and connectivity in the digital era.

Officials and experts from 57 OSCE participating States and 11 Partners for Co-operation will participate in the discussions organized by Slovakia’s 2019 OSCE Chairmanship and the OSCE Secretariat, together with high-level representatives from international organizations, civil society, academia and the business community.

OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger, Slovak State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs František Ružička, First Slovak State Secretary from the Ministry of Economy Vojtech Ferencz and Ambassador Olga Algayerová, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, will open the conference.

The discussion will focus on fostering co-operation and building partnerships for a secure energy future, improving the environmental footprint of energy-related activities, and protecting energy networks from natural and man-made disasters.

Journalists are invited to attend the opening session from 9.30 to 11.00 on Monday, 27 May, at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Bratislava.

Journalists wishing to attend are required to send an e-mail confirming their attendance to Robert.Zolak@mzv.sk no later than 26 May, Sunday, 16.00. The presentation of a valid ID is required for accreditation at the venue.

Please send all requests for brief interviews with the participants of the event to press@osce.org or mersiha.causevic-podzic@osce.org.

Follow the Forum’s activities on Twitter via #EEFOSCE.   

Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

Priority recommendations of the final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on the 24 February 2019 parliamentary elections in Moldova call to eliminate gaps and ambiguities in the legal framework for elections and enhance professionalism of mid-level election administration.

The report, published on 22 May 2019, notes that the elections were competitive and fundamental rights were generally respected. However, the campaign took place against the backdrop of disaffection with public institutions and was tainted by allegations of pressure on public employees, strong indications of vote buying and the misuse of state resources.

The report states that the legal framework generally provides an adequate basis for conducting democratic elections. However, a number of provisions, including those related to the jurisdiction for complaints and appeals and the requirements for collecting and reviewing supporting signatures, lacked clarity, leading to their inconsistent application.

The report notes that most technical aspects of the elections were managed professionally and transparently at all levels. To improve professionalism and effectiveness of district election commissions and to allow for more extensive training, consideration could be given to revising the timeframe for their appointment, the report says.

The report also states that the campaign was competitive and visible throughout the country. However, political parties and civil society representatives reported widespread misuse of state resources. Reports also highlighted pressure on public employees to attend campaign events during work hours and government officials campaigning for political parties. The ODIHR report therefore recommends clarifying provisions related to the misuse of administrative resources and vote buying and introducing an effective enforcement mechanism to prevent these violations.

The report further notes that the electoral dispute resolution process was negatively affected by confusion over which body had jurisdiction to resolve complaints against candidates, jeopardizing the right to an effective remedy. The report recommends clarifying jurisdiction for each type of complaint.

Additional recommendations include providing sufficient authority and resources to the campaign finance oversight body, ensuring that voters are able to cast their votes free of pressure and undue influence, increasing confidence in the law enforcement, promoting a level playing field among contestants, ensuring the separation of state and party and making the tabulation of results more transparent.

For election day, the ODIHR Election Observation Mission was joined by delegations from the Parliamentary Assemblies of the OSCE and the Council of Europe and a European Parliament delegation. 

Politico-military aspects of border security and management in Central Asia were the focus of a meeting of the Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) under Tajikistan’s chairmanship on 22 May 2019 in Vienna.

Participants debated how to further strengthen stability and security in border areas in the OSCE region in general, and in Central Asia in particular. 

Ambassador Idibek Kalandar of Tajikistan, the Chairperson of the FSC, noted that given the Central Asia countries’ proximity to Afghanistan, they face threats related to the illicit cross-border trade of weapons, ammunition and explosives, as well as other forms of trafficking. “These challenges should be addressed comprehensively and in a more efficient and effective way,” he said.  

Facilitating support to improve border security and management in the OSCE region through building capacity of border management staff was another topic of discussion during the meeting.

One of the key speakers, Jonathan Holland, Director of the OSCE Border Management Staff College (BMSC), highlighted the role of the College in enhancing co-operation and information exchange among border agencies in the OSCE area.

The College is an internationally recognized educational institution that delivers expertise and good practices in border security and management, with particular attention to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

Since its inception ten years ago, more than 3,000 representatives of border security agencies from 59 countries have attended its courses.

The College offers specific courses for women border officials, thus contributing to the promotion of gender equality in a traditionally male-dominated field.

Veronika Goncharova, Project Manager at the Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA) described the activities of the Program in assisting the countries of the region in enhancing their capacities in the border management and modernization of local border traffic regimes.

Since 2003, during nine phases the Programme focused on creating in Central Asia a modern border management infrastructure equipped with the necessary facilities, including 45 border crossing points and border stations, seven training centres and seven training classes for border guards, four dormitories for training centres.

Goncharova highlighted the main parameters of the next phase of BOMCA (2020-2025), which along with the Central Asian countries, will also include Afghanistan for the first time as a beneficiary.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

This report is for the media and the general public.

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• Small-arms fire was directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle near Vrubivka.
• The Mission observed trench extensions in and near the Petrivske disengagement area.
• The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line.
• The SMM 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 areas. The Mission’s freedom of movement was also restricted at a non-government-controlled checkpoint near Novoazovsk in Donetsk region.*

• In Chernivtsi, the Mission saw gatherings in relation to the change of religious affiliations of local churches.

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including, however, a similar number of explosions (about 45), compared with the previous reporting period (about 50 explosions). Over half of the ceasefire violations were recorded at southerly directions of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol) and at northerly and southerly directions of Avdiivka (government-controlled, 17km north of Donetsk).

In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including 50 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 280 explosions). Over two thirds of the ceasefire violations were recorded in areas north-north-west of Molodizhne (non-government-controlled, 63km north-west of Luhansk), at easterly and southerly directions of Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) and easterly directions of Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk) (see below).

Small-arms fire directed at SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle near Vrubivka

While conducting a mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight near Vrubivka (government-controlled, 72km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard six shots of small-arms fire about 500m south-east, assessed as aimed at the UAV, which was flying about 1.5km south-east of its position. While landing the UAV, the SMM heard five additional shots of small-arms fire assessed at the same distance and direction. The SMM landed the UAV safely and left the area.*

Disengagement areas[2]

On the evening and night of 20-21 May, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded ten projectiles in flight and a burst, all at an assessed range of 3-6km south-south-east and south (all unable to be assessed as inside or outside the disengagement area), as well as about 85 projectiles in flight and two bursts, all at an assessed range of 1-6km at easterly directions (all assessed as within 5km of the disengagement area’s periphery). On the evening and morning of 20-21 May, positioned at six locations close to the disengagement area near Zolote, and through its camera on the northern edge of Popasna, the SMM recorded about 550 bursts and shots and about 27 undetermined explosions (all assessed as within 5km periphery of the disengagement area).

On 15 May, aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of a 20m-long trench extension running east to west inside the disengagement area near Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), about 100m west of its eastern edge and about 75m north of its southern edge. Imagery also revealed two other trench extensions outside the disengagement area, one 45m in length and one 75m in length, located 800m-1.6km east of the disengagement area’s eastern edge (all trench extensions not visible in imagery from 27 April 2019), all assessed as belonging to the armed formations.[3]

Positioned inside the disengagement area near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed a calm situation.

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

Government-controlled areas

21 May

The SMM saw a surface-to-air missile system (9K33 Osa) heading south on road H-21 near Voitove (33km north-west of Luhansk).

Non-government-controlled areas

15 May

Aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed a tank (type undetermined) north-east of Novoazovsk (40km east of Mariupol).

20 May

An SMM mini-UAV spotted a surface-to-air missile system (9K35 Strela-10) in Katerynivka (formerly Yuvileine, 8km west of Luhansk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside of designated storage sites:

Non-government-controlled areas

19 May

An SMM mid-range UAV spotted ten tanks (six T-64 and four T-72) in a training area near Ternove (57km east of Donetsk).

Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[4]

Government-controlled areas

20 May

An SMM mini-UAV spotted an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-2) near Chermalyk.

The SMM saw an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (Kozak variant) near Krasnohorivka (24km north of Donetsk).

Non-government-controlled areas

20 May

An SMM mini-UAV spotted:

• an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) and three IFVs (BMP-1) near Zhovte (17km north-west of Luhansk);
• two APCs (MT-LB) and an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) in Katerynivka; and
• seven APCs (BTR-60) in Luhansk city. 

SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure

The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to water wells and pipelines in Slovianoserbsk (non-government-controlled, 28km north-west of Luhansk) and Popasna.

The Mission 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).

Border area outside government control

On 20 May, while at a border crossing point near Dovzhanske (84km south-east of Luhansk) for about 50 minutes, the SMM saw ten cars (five with Ukrainian two with Russian Federation and one with Georgian licence plates, as well as two with “LPR” plates), six trucks (four with Ukrainian licence plates and two with “LPR” plates), a bus (with Ukrainian licence plates) and 18 pedestrians (12 women and six men, aged 25-65) entering Ukraine, as well as ten cars (six with Ukrainian and two with Russian Federation licence plates, as well as two with “LPR” plates), three trucks (with Ukrainian licence plates), two buses (with unknown licence plates) and 13 pedestrians (seven women and six men, aged 25-65) exiting Ukraine.

On 21 May, while at a border crossing point near Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk), for 70 minutes, the SMM saw 27 cars (11 with Ukrainian, five with Russian Federation, one with Georgian and one with Polish licence plates, as well as one with “LPR” and eight with “DPR” plates), four trucks (three with Ukrainian licence plates and one with “DPR” plates), a bus (with Ukrainian licence plates) and 32 pedestrians (15 women and girls, and 17 men and boys, aged 5-70) entering Ukraine. The SMM also saw 37 cars (eight with Ukrainian, 15 with Russian Federation and one with Georgian licence plates, as well as one with “LPR” and 12 with “DPR” plates), 145 trucks (57 with Ukrainian, 61 with Russian Federation and five with Belarusian licence plates, as well as 22 with “DPR” plates) and 11 pedestrians (four women and seven men, aged 30-70) exiting Ukraine.

On the same day, while at a border crossing point near Ulianivske (61km south-east of Donetsk) for about 40 minutes, the SMM saw a woman (aged 50-60) exiting Ukraine and no vehicles or pedestrians entering Ukraine.

While at a border crossing point near Marynivka (78km east of Donetsk) for 75 minutes, the SMM saw nine cars (one with Ukrainian, five with Russian Federation and one with Georgian licence plates, as well as two with “DPR“ plates)  entering Ukraine. The SMM also saw 24 cars (five with Ukrainian and 12 with Russian Federation licence plates, as well as seven with “DPR“ plates), a truck (with Ukrainian licence plates) and a bus (with “DPR“ plates) exiting Ukraine.

Gatherings against change of religious affiliations of churches in Chernivtsi

On 20, 21 and 22 May, in Chernivtsi, the SMM saw 24-40 people (mixed gender and ages) gathered in front of the building of the Regional State Administration at 1 Hrushevskoho Street, some of whom were holding signs critical of decisions made by the regional administration to recognize changes in affiliation of churches in Chernivtsi region from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Dnipro and Kyiv.

*Restrictions of SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and other impediments – which vary from day to day. The SMM’s mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations. They have also agreed that the 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, see SMM Daily Report 20 May 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 north of Novoazovsk (non-government-controlled, 40km east of Mariupol), two armed members of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage south to Novoazovsk or east to the border with the Russian Federation, citing an “ongoing operation” in the area.

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 20 May, while conducting a mini-UAV flight near Vrubivka (government-controlled, 72km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 11 shots of small-arms fire about 500m south-east, assessed as aimed at the UAV, which it landed safely.

 

[1] For a complete breakdown of ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. During the reporting period, the SMM camera in Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk) was not operational.

[3] Due to the presence of mines, including on a road between Bohdanivka and Petrivske, the SMM cannot access its camera in Petrivske, and thus the SMM has not been able to access observations from the camera since 22 June 2018.

[4] The hardware mentioned in this section is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.

420335 OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

“Towards Regional Economic Connectivity – National Mechanisms for Trade and Transport Facilitation” was the title of an OSCE regional expert seminar that ended in Ashgabat on 22 May 2019.

The three-day event brought together national experts representing relevant institutions from the five Central Asian countries, as well as Afghanistan and Azerbaijan.

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized the seminar as a follow-up to the 2018 OSCE Regional Ministerial Conference “Good Governance and Economic Connectivity - Best Practices within the OSCE region”. The discussions focused on trade facilitation, transport and transit management through harmonization of border and customs mechanisms, digitalization and public-private partnership.

Natalya Drozd, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, referred to the Ministerial Decision on strengthening good governance and promoting connectivity adopted in Hamburg in 2016, which states that  “connectivity through transport and trade facilitation, including through measures at different levels of government, can enhance economic co-operation that is mutually beneficial and contribute to good-neighbourly relations, confidence-building and trust in the OSCE area”.

“The seminar reaffirms the OSCE’s consistent approach to the strengthening of the regional dialogue and economic connectivity and we believe it will contribute to the development of strategic recommendations,” Drozd said.

The seminar participants shared best national practices, challenges and opportunities in the area of trade facilitation and sustainable transit and transport management as well as reforms of customs and administrative procedures. International experts elaborated on innovations and technologies for sustainable transport and connectivity. The seminar participants produced an outcome document that provides a set of recommendations to further enhance regional economic connectivity and co-operation through trade and transport facilitations and harmonization of border and customs mechanisms.

The regional event will be followed by a national seminar on international standards in effective management of logistics and supply chains, which will take place on 23 and 24 May 2019. The seminar will bring together representatives from Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Finance and Economy and its Institute of Strategic and Sustainable Development, the Ministry of Industry and Communication,  the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Affairs, relevant transport agencies and other institutions. The event will address specific customs, regulatory and administrative procedures, and will discuss best practices and recommendations for further development and implementation of related transport and trade policies.

Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

Elections experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) presented their final report in Yerevan on the early parliamentary elections in Armenia that took place on 9 December 2018.

The findings and recommendations were presented during a series of meetings with representatives of state institutions, including the Parliamentary Committee on State and Legal Affairs, the Central Election Commission, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice and the Commission on Television and Radio. Separate meetings were held with representatives of parliamentary and non-parliamentary political parties, the media, civil society and international organizations.

ODIHR noted that the elections were held with respect for fundamental freedoms and enjoyed broad public trust. However, the experts drew attention to the need to strengthen trust in the integrity of the electoral process, remove gaps and ambiguities from electoral legislation, protect voters’ private data, increase the political participation of women, improve accountability and reporting on campaign finance, and support the editorial independence of the media.

“The will of the main electoral stakeholders to preserve the progress in having democratic elections is commendable and paves the way for an effective follow-up to ODIHR’s electoral recommendations,” said Alexander Shlyk, Head of the ODIHR Elections Department. “Upcoming electoral reform should be based on broad consultation and take place well in advance of the next elections, and ODIHR is ready to support such efforts.”

The potential for ODIHR engagement in providing legal and technical expertise to assist the electoral reforms was discussed in separate meetings with representatives of the parliamentary structures, the Ministry of Justice and the Central Election Commission.

All OSCE participating States have committed themselves to promptly following up on ODIHR electoral assessments and recommendations.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

This report is for the media and the general public.

Summary

• Compared with the previous 24 hours, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region.
• A man was injured by small-arms fire in Donetsk city.
• Small-arms fire was directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle near Chermalyk.
• The Mission saw a tank in violation of withdrawal lines in Luhansk city.
• The SMM 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 areas and elsewhere. The Mission’s freedom of movement was also restricted in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions at a checkpoint near Novoazovsk and a compound of the armed formations in Stare.*
• The Mission saw a gathering in Kyiv on the occasion of the presidential inauguration.

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including fewer explosions (about 50), compared with the previous 24 hours (about 170 explosions). Over half of ceasefire violations were recorded at north-easterly directions of Kamianka (government-controlled, 20km north of Donetsk) and southerly directions of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol).

In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations, including more explosions (about 280), compared with the previous 24 hours (40 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations, including almost all of the explosions, were recorded at southerly, easterly and northerly directions of Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk).

Man injured by small-arms fire in Trudivski area of Donetsk city

At Hospital No.14 in Donetsk city’s Petrovskyi district (non-government-controlled, 15km south-west of Donetsk city centre), the SMM saw a man (55 years old) with bandages on his left leg and bruises on his left arm. The man told the SMM that he had been outside of his house in the south-western part of the Trudivski area of the Petrovskyi district on the afternoon of 8 May when he was shot with one bullet that struck both his left arm and left leg, breaking the lower half of his leg. The man added that ambulances could not reach his house due to security concerns so his wife and neighbour had provided first aid before a neighbour had carried him to the centre of the settlement from where he was transported in a military-type vehicle to an ambulance. A doctor at the hospital told the SMM that the man had arrived at the hospital with bullet wounds.

Small-arms fire directed at SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle near Chermalyk

While conducting a mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight near Chermalyk, the SMM heard two bursts of small-arms fire about 1km north, assessed as aimed at the UAV, which was flying about 1km north of its position. The SMM safely landed the UAV and left the area.*

Disengagement areas[2]

On the evening and night of 19-20 May, the SMM camera in Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) recorded seven projectiles in flight at an assessed range of 2-4km south-south-east (assessed as inside the disengagement area), an explosion at an assessed range of 3-5km south (unable to be assessed as inside or outside the disengagement area), as well as six bursts and 21 projectiles in flight (assessed as outside the disengagement area but within 5km of its periphery).

Positioned inside the disengagement area near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk) and close to the disengagement area near Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), the Mission observed calm situations.[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

19 May

An SMM long-range UAV spotted a tank (type undetermined) in a compound in Luhansk city.

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside of designated storage sites:

Government-controlled areas

18 May

An SMM-mini UAV spotted three towed howitzers (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm) about 20m from residential houses in Dubovo-Vasylivka (73km north of Donetsk).

Non-government-controlled areas

18 May

An SMM long-range UAV spotted:

• 20 tanks (13 T-64 and seven T-72) in a training area near Kruhlyk (31km south-west of Luhansk) and
• 18 towed howitzers (probable 2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm and 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm) in a compound near Khrustalnyi (54km south-west of Luhansk) (for previous observations see SMM Daily Report 16 May 2019).

20 May

The SMM saw:

• eight tanks (four T-64 and four types undetermined) in a training area near Kruhlyk and
• a self-propelled howitzer (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) and four towed howitzers (D-30) in a training area near Myrne (28km south-west of Luhansk).

Weapons permanent storage site

At a permanent storage site in a non-government-controlled area of Luhansk region

20 May

The SMM noted that all weapons were present.

Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[4]

Non-government-controlled areas

18 May

An SMM long-range UAV spotted two armoured personnel carriers (APC) (MT-LB) and a probable anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) mounted on an APC (MT-LB) in Sofiivka (formerly Karlo-Marksove, 40km north-east of Donetsk).

19. May

An SMM mini-UAV spotted two APCs (MT-LB) and an armoured recovery vehicle (VT-55) in Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, 50km west of Luhansk).

An SMM long-range UAV spotted:

• an anti-aircraft-gun (ZU-23) near Holubivske (51km west of Luhansk);
• an armoured combat vehicle near Zemliane (11km north-west of Luhansk);
• an APC (MT-LB) in Katerynivka (formerly Yuvileine, 8km west of Luhansk);
• two infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) (BMP variant) near Nadarivka (64km west of Luhansk);
• an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) near Mykolaivka (15km east of Luhansk); and
• two armoured recovery vehicles (a BREM and a BTS-4A) in Luhansk city.

The SMM saw an APC (MT-LB) in the yard of a non-functioning school in Kalmiuske (formerly Komsomolske, 42km south-east of Donetsk).

20 May

The SMM saw an APC (BTR-80) in Luhansk city.

Government-controlled areas

20 May

The SMM saw:

• an APC (Varta) in Popasna;
• an IFV (BMP variant) in Orikhove-Donetske (44km north-west of Luhansk); and
• an IFV (BTR-4) near Novobakhmutivka (28km north of Donetsk).

While on the northern edge of Popasna on the evening of 19 May, the SMM saw an unidentified UAV (assessed as a fixed-wing type) overhead flying from west to east and then continuing east-north-east at an altitude of about 300m.

Presence of mines and trench extension near Popasna and unexploded ordnance near Tavrycheske

On 17 May, an SMM mini-UAV spotted for the first time about 80 anti-tank mines (TM-62) laid out in three rows in a field about 2km east of Popasna, assessed as not recent. Immediately west of the mines, the same UAV spotted a trench extension running from north to south-east for about 80m (not visible in imagery from 25 March 2019) with Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers digging. 

On 20 May, the SMM again saw a piece of unexploded ordnance (UXO), assessed as a 120mm mortar round, embedded in the asphalt in the middle of the carriageway of road T0519 close to Tavrycheske (non-government-controlled, 35km north-east of Mariupol), about 200m north of the nearest houses.

SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure

The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk), as well as to water pipelines near Zolote and between Zolote-2/Karbonit (government-controlled, 62km west of Luhansk), Zolote-3/Stakhanovets (government-controlled, 61km west of Luhansk) and Popasna.

The Mission 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).

People applying for passports of the Russian Federation in Luhansk region

In non-government-controlled Luhansk city, the SMM observed a queue of about 80 people (mixed genders, 25-50 years old) outside a building in the city. Some of them told the SMM that they had been queuing to submit and finalize applications for passports of the Russian Federation.

People gather in Kyiv on the occasion of the presidential inauguration

On the morning of 20 May, the SMM monitored a gathering of about 5,000 people (all ages and genders) in front of the Parliament building on the occasion of the presidential inauguration. The SMM observed the presence of about 1,000 law enforcement officers securing the areas around the Parliament building as well as adjacent streets. It observed a calm situation during the course of the event.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Dnipro, and Chernivtsi.

*Restrictions of 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, see SMM Daily Report 20 May 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 north of Novoazovsk (non-government-controlled, 40km east of Mariupol), two armed members of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage south to Novoazovsk or east to the border with the Russian Federation, citing an “ongoing operation” in the area.
• Outside of a compound of the armed formations in Stare (formerly Chervonyi Prapor, non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), four members of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area, citing orders from superiors.

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 May, an SMM long-range UAV experienced signal interference, assessed as due to jamming, while flying over government- and non-government-controlled areas of northern and eastern Donetsk region and non-government-controlled areas of southern Luhansk region, including areas close to the contact line.[5]
• On 20 May, while conducting a mini-UAV flight near Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard two bursts of small-arms fire about 1km north, assessed as aimed at the UAV, which it landed safely.

[1] For a complete breakdown of ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. During the reporting period, the SMM camera in Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk) was not operational.

[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 on a road between Bohdanivka and Petrivske, the SMM cannot access its camera in Petrivske, and thus the SMM has not been able to access observations from the camera since 22 June 2018.

[4] The hardware mentioned in this section is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.

[5] The interference could have originated from anywhere within a radius of kilometres from the UAV’s position. 

This report is for the media and the general public.

SUMMARY

Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons decreased at both BCPs compared to the previous week.

OPERATIONAL REMARKS

The OM is currently operating with 21 permanent international staff members, including the Chief Observer (CO). The Mission is supported administratively by a staff member and the Chief of Fund Administration based in Vienna.

OBSERVATIONS AT THE BORDER CROSSING POINTS

Persons crossing the border                                                                                                                                                                                         

The profile of persons crossing the border can be categorized as follows:

1. Adults travelling on foot or by car with little or no luggage;
2. Persons in military-style outfits;
3. Families (often including elderly persons and/or children) travelling on foot or by car with a significant amount of luggage.

The average number of entries/exits slightly decreased from 10,963 to 10,896 per day at both BCPs compared to last week[1].

During the reporting period, the majority of border crossings were to the Russian Federation, with an average net flow of plus 371 per day for both BCPs.

The Donetsk BCP continued to experience more traffic than the Gukovo BCP.

Persons in military-style outfits

During the reporting period, the number of persons in military-style outfits crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs was six this week compared to 18 last week: five of them crossed into the Russian Federation, and one into Ukraine (67 per cent of this category’s crossings occurred at the Donetsk BCP). They continued to cross the border individually or in groups. Most individuals crossed on foot, however, some made use of private vehicles, buses or minivans, making it more difficult for the observer teams (OTs) to observe their movement across the border, especially since some of the private vehicles had tinted windows, and buses and minivans had drawn curtains.

Families with a significant amount of luggage

The OTs continued to report on families crossing the border, sometimes with elderly persons and/or children, at both BCPs with a significant amount of luggage, or travelling in heavily loaded cars. During this reporting week, two families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and six were observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when three families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and two into Ukraine.

Bus connections                                         

Regular local and long-distance bus connections continued to operate between Ukraine (mostly from/to the Luhansk region) and the Russian Federation. In addition to regular bus connections, the OTs continued to observe bus connections on irregular routes. Often the buses did not state their route; instead they had a sign on the windshield stating “irregular”.

During the reporting period, the OTs observed a slight decrease in the overall number of buses crossing the border at both BCPs (351 compared to 358 observed during the previous week). There were 189 buses bound for the Russian Federation and 162 bound for Ukraine. Among the bus connections observed by the OTs, the following “irregular” routes or destinations were noted: Kyiv and Rovenky-Kyiv.

On some occasions, the OTs noticed the bus drivers removing the itinerary signs from the windshields of their buses, while some buses did not display their route at all. The majority of long-distance buses commuting between the Luhansk region and cities in the Russian Federation had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region.

Trucks

During the reporting period, the OTs observed 842 trucks (579 during the previous reporting week) crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs (263 at the Gukovo BCP and 579 at the Donetsk BCP); 439 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation and 403 crossed into Ukraine. Most of the trucks observed by the OTs had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region; however, on a daily basis, the OTs also noted trucks registered in Belarus and the Russian Federation and some with “LPR” plates. In addition, during the reporting week, trucks with Georgian licence plates were also observed.                                                                                           

The OTs also continued to observe tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. During the reporting week, the number of tanker trucks remained on the same level – 50 as during the previous reporting period. These trucks were observed crossing the border at both BCPs. The trucks had the words “Propane” and “Flammable” written across the tanks in either Russian or Ukrainian. The majority of tanker trucks had hazard signs, indicating that they were transporting propane or a mix of propane and butane.

All trucks underwent systematic inspection by Russian Federation officials, which may include an X-ray check. Due to the unfavourable observation position at the Gukovo BCP, the OTs continued to be unable to observe any X-ray checks.

Compared to the previous week, the total number of X-ray checks at the Donetsk BCP increased from 133 to 153: of the total number of trucks scanned, 90 trucks (59 per cent) were bound for Ukraine; the remaining 63 trucks (41 per cent) crossed into the Russian Federation.

Minivans

The OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans[2] crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. The OTs observed minivans predominantly with Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region; however, the OTs also frequently saw minivans registered in the Russian Federation. Compared to the previous week, the number of cargo minivans significantly increased from 82 to 137 vehicles; 74 crossed into the Russian Federation and another 63 into Ukraine.

Trains

The OTs continued to pick up the sound of trains running on the railway tracks located approximately 150m south-west of the Gukovo BCP. During the reporting week, the OTs heard trains on 26 occasions; the OTs assessed that 16 trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and ten to Ukraine (more details are provided in the sections “trends and figures at a glance”). The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine was regularly informed about the trains bound for Ukraine.

Visual observation was not possible because of the line of trees located between the train tracks and the BCP.

Other observations

The majority of vehicles crossing the border had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region, or Russian Federation licence plates. A significant number of vehicles with “LPR” plates were also observed crossing the border in both directions on a daily basis. In addition, cars with licence plates from Georgia, Belarus and Lithuania were also noted.

On 14 May at 15:51, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed a helicopter Mi-8 (green in colour), with white and blue stripes on its body flying from the north in an easterly direction. The aircraft flew only inside the airspace of the Russian Federation.

On 16 May at 13:52, an ambulance entered the Donetsk BCP from the Russian Federation and parked in front of the main building. Three paramedics were observed moving from the vehicle to the main building. At 14:20, the medical crew accompanied a civilian to the ambulance and together they returned towards the Russian Federation.

On the same day at 10:08, the OT at the Gukovo BCP noted two ambulances entering the BCP area from the Russian Federation and driving behind the main building. At 10:29, the ambulances returned towards the Russian Federation.

On 18 May at 06:28, the OT observed a white minivan with the inscription in Russian "ПЛУТОН ритуальный кортеж" (ritual procession) crossing from Ukraine into the Russian Federation.  

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 9 April 2019 to 14 May 2019, please see the attachment here.

[1] Based on data received from the Regional Representation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation

[2] Cargo minivans: light commercial vehicles with a maximum authorized mass of more than 3.5 t and not more than 7.5 t; with or without a trailer with a maximum mass of less than 750 kg (small cargo vehicles which correspond to driving licence C1).                       

ASHGABAT, 21 May 2019 – Visiting Turkmenistan today, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Slovakia’s Foreign and European Affairs Minister, Miroslav Lajčák, underlined the strategic importance of Central Asia for Eurasian security.

“Co-operation and multilateralism are part of Turkmenistan’s history and culture. This country was crossed by countless merchants, traveling on the Silk Road,”  the Chairperson said.

“Turkmenistan has served as the crossroads of civilizations. So, it makes perfect sense that it should play a pivotal role in building bridges - in bringing actors, neighbours and states together,” he continued, commending Turkmenistan’s commitment to hosting both, the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat and the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia. 

Positive messages on regional co-operation and dialogue, including with Afghanistan, were the Chairperson’s main takeaways from his meetings with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, and Chairperson of the Mejlis Gulshat Mammedova.

Speaking about achievements in the 20 years of OSCE presence in the country, during a lecture at the International University for Humanities and Development, Lajčák stressed that much has been done on building a strong and constructive partnership between the OSCE and Turkmenistan. However, he continued, there is still room for more joint activities in line with Turkmenistan’s strategic priorities, in the fields of rule of law, connectivity, good governance and energy security, but also on facilitating trade and transport co-operation.

Concluding his lecture, he expressed his hope that we are entering an age that will be defined by dialogue and co-operation, calling them the “key ingredients for a peaceful and prosperous Central Asia.“

420185 Kunduz Rysbek

The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, led by Head of Office Pierre von Arx, visited the southern provinces of Kyrgyzstan, Osh, Jalal-Abad and Batken from 12 to 18 May 2019 to follow up on and plan programmatic activities with local authorities, implementing partners and civil society.

The visit included meetings with representatives of the Plenipotentiary Representation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan in Osh, Jalal-Abad and Batken provinces. Its Deputy Head, Kaldarali Mamataliev, congratulated the OSCE for its 20-year presence in Kyrgyzstan.

The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek’s programmatic activities, especially in the field of economic development and digitalization, community policing, as well as preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (VERLT), were highly welcomed by local authorities in all three provinces.

The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek was able to visit a number of projects it supports, amongst them the opening of Entrepreneurship Support Centres (ESCs) in both Jalal-Abad and Batken cities. The ESC in Osh had been opened in 2018 and had provided 500 business consultation services since, most of which were aimed at women and former migrants. Further to this, the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek had the opportunity to meet with local police departments and discuss and view Mobile Police Reception (MPR) vehicles which the Programme Office supports.

In line with the “Year of the Regions and Digitalization”, the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek also used the opportunity to discuss digitalization initiatives with counterparts, specifically to increasingly facilitate interagency electronic connectivity, aiming to reduce the use of paper and reduce risks of exposure to corruption for citizens.

Besides meeting with provincial heads and mayors of southern provinces and cities, the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek also met with civil society representatives, namely the Woman Initiative Group in Osh, as well as a number of implementing partners working in the field of judicial reform and human rights.

The visit gave an important impulse for planning and prioritizing programmatic activities in 2019 and 2020.

420179 Kunduz Rysbek SDGs SDGs:  8 - Decent work and economic growth

On 15 and 17 May 2019 the Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, Ambassador Pierre von Arx, together with local authorities, members of the Kyrgyz Parliament and entrepreneurs, opened two new Entrepreneurship Support Centres (ECS) in the cities of Djalal-Abad and Batken, southern Kyrgyzstan. 

The new ESCs will enhance the vital role that small and medium sized enterprises (SME) play in developing Kyrgyzstan’s economy and potentially lead to the opening of new businesses and jobs in southern Kyrgyzstan.  The latter is particularly important, as SMEs generate about 40 per cent of the total gross domestic product and provide jobs to 20 per cent of the working-age population in the country.

The Government’s support to these projects demonstrates the importance they attach to fostering economic growth by creating a more favourable business climate in the country, as well as to the partnership with the OSCE.

The new ESCs have been established together with local authorities in Jalal-Abad and Batken, in partnership with the Young Entrepreneurs Business Association. The two new Centres will provide advisory services and legal consultations to existing and aspiring entrepreneurs, as well as training courses on business-related topics.

They will also help strengthen constructive dialogue between local authorities and the business sector and facilitate the creation of new partnerships among entrepreneurs from other provinces, thus generating new business opportunities.

The opening of the two new ESCs followed the successful opening and operation of an ESC in the city of Osh in December 2017, with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, the German Corporation for International Cooperation GmbH and the UNDP in the Kyrgyz Republic. 

419966 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, jointly with the Parliament of Tajikistan, conducted a conference devoted to the International Day of Families on 15 May 2019.

The conference explored gender inequality issues in Tajikistan, implementation mechanisms of the law on prevention of violence in the family and best practices for dealing with domestic violence cases, as well as protection and support to the victims and survivors of violence in the family.

The event brought together representatives of parliament, law enforcement agencies, including gender-sensitive police units, gender experts, as well as civil society and international organizations working on the promotion of gender equality and combating violence in the family.

Rajabzoda Ravshan Muhitdin, Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Social, Family and Health Issues in the parliament said: “If we want to see positive changes in the family relations, we should start breaking the gender stereotypes within our own families.”

“This conference gave us an opportunity to have an open dialogue and constructive discussions on existing gender inequality issues in the country, which negatively impacts the families,” said Alla Kuvatova, an independent gender expert.

TASHKENT, 20 May 2019 – Kicking off his tour of three Central Asian countries at its very heart, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Slovakia’s Foreign and European Affairs Minister, Miroslav Lajčák, today opened the new OSCE premises in Uzbekistan.

Calling it “not just an office, but a hub of partnership,” the Chairperson underlined the benefits of enhanced regional and international co-operation: “Often, we are working towards the same goals – and we can actually get there faster, if we do it in tandem.” And he thanked Uzbekistan for calling for more from the OSCE, in times when multilateral organizations are often put into question.

Acknowledging Uzbekistan’s role in regional stability and its continuous support to Afghanistan, Lajčák handed over a Slovak Aid donation to the Termez Center for Education in Afghanistan after his meeting with Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov and Deputy-Speaker of the Senate Sadiq Safoev.

“Education is a simple but powerful tool that gives us the chance to create the future we want. It helps us to accumulate knowledge, to change mindsets, to re-think attitudes and to alter behavior. By training young Afghans with the skills they need, the country can thrive economically. And if we are serious about building a safe future, our young people are key,“ the Chairperson stressed.

He added that the Termez Center embodies the spirit of regional co-operation. ”It opens the door to unlimited possibilities. It helps them to dream and to bridge the gap between the reality Afghanistan faces today and the modern, stable and prosperous future it chooses to create,” he continued.

Speaking about the OSCE’s 24 year-long presence on the ground, Lajčák emphasized the solid Uzbek-OSCE partnership and close collaboration led by an annual Roadmap spanning all three dimensions of comprehensive security. The Uzbekistan-OSCE co-operation covers a wide range of issue areas from combatting transnational threats, supporting Uzbekistan’s reform agenda and strengthening good governance, to promoting green economy and building business integrity standards.

He particularly commended the joint initiatives to promote the empowerment of women and the support to female entrepreneurs. And he stressed that “the OSCE and the Slovak Chairmanship stand ready to support Uzbekistan in consolidating stability, and furthering reform efforts.”

The Chairperson-in-Office also met with representatives of civil society.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

This report is for the media and the general public.

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 17 and 18 May, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• Between the evenings of 18 and 19 May, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours.
• Explosions occur close to the SMM near the Zolote disengagement area.
• The SMM recorded ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area.
• The SMM observed damage caused by small-arms fire in residential houses in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka and fresh craters in Pervomaisk.
• The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line.
• The SMM 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 areas. The Mission’s freedom of movement was also restricted at checkpoints in non-government-controlled Staromykhailivka, Verkhnoshyrokivske and Donetsk city, as well as at a heavy weapons holding area in a government-controlled area.*
• In several cities in Ukraine, the SMM observed protests regarding the investigation into the death of activist Kateryna Handziuk.

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 17 and 18 May, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 25 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 110 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas south-east of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol).

Between the evenings of 18 and 19 May, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 170 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours. The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded at southerly directions of Chermalyk, at easterly directions of Hnutove (government-controlled, 20km north-east of Mariupol) and in areas south-west of Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk).

In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 17 and 18 May, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 30 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 670 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations, including all the explosions, were recorded in areas south and south-east of Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk) and north-north-east of Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, non-government-controlled, 50km west of Luhansk).

Between the evenings of 18 and 19 May, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including, however, more explosions (about 40), compared with the previous 24 hours. The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas south-east of Popasna and in areas south-east of Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk).

Explosions close to SMM near Zolote disengagement area

On 19 May, positioned 400m north of the disengagement area near Zolote, the SMM heard two undetermined explosions at an assessed distance of 100m east-south-east, shortly after hearing eight explosions at an assessed distance of 2-3km east. The SMM was unable to assess the weapon used or whether the explosions were impacts or outgoing fire; it immediately left the area.

Fresh damage to residential houses in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka

On 17 May, at 12 Voikova Street in the south-western part of Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), the SMM saw two holes in two west-facing windows in the third-floor apartment of a residential building. The owner (a woman in her forties) told the Mission that she had been in her apartment during the night of 17 May when it had been hit. In the same building, the SMM observed a hole in a west-facing window of a second-floor apartment. A resident (a man in his sixties) told the SMM that shooting had occurred in the early morning hours of 14 May, while he and his wife had been at home. In both cases, the SMM assessed the damage as fresh and caused by small-arms fire. At 13 Voikova Street, about 120m east of the aforementioned building, the SMM observed a hole in the south-facing wall of a second-floor apartment, assessed as fresh and caused by small-arms fire. A resident (a man in his sixties) said that he had heard shooting in the late evening on 16 May, when he had been at home with his family.

On 18 May, at 5 Lizy Chaikinoi Street, also in the south-western part of Zolote-5/Mykhailivka, the SMM saw a hole (6cm in diameter) in a west-facing first-floor window of a two-storey residential building. It assessed the damage to have been caused by small arms. The owners of the apartment (a man and a woman in their fifties) told the SMM that shooting had occurred during the night on 4 May, while they were in their apartment. At 18 Lizy Chaikinoi Street, about 120m east of the aforementioned building, the SMM saw a hole (8cm in diameter) in a north-facing window of a second-floor apartment, assessed as fresh and caused by small-arms fire. The owner of the apartment (a woman in her sixties) told the SMM that the shooting had occurred in the evening of 14 May, while she had been hiding in a shelter in the same building. The SMM observed that positions of the armed formations were located 300m from the aforementioned residential houses (for previous observations in the area, see SMM Daily Report 17 April 2019).

Disengagement areas[2]

On the night of 17-18 May, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded a projectile in flight at an assessed range of 2-3km south-east (assessed as inside the disengagement area), as well as two projectiles at an assessed range of 1-3km east-north-east (assessed as within its 5km periphery). During the same night, while on the northern edge of Popasna, the SMM heard 240 bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire assessed as within 5km periphery of the Zolote disengagement area.

During the day of 18 May, positioned in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk) to monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to a power substation, the SMM heard three bursts of small-arms fire at an assessed distance of 1-2km north-north-west (assessed as within the 5km periphery of the disengagement area), despite security guarantees having been provided that the ceasefire would be adhered to.

During the day on 19 May, positioned 3km north-east of Pervomaisk (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard two explosions at an assessed range of 1-3km north-north-west (assessed as inside the Zolote disengagement area), as well as five shots of heavy-machine-gun fire (assessed as within its 5km periphery). Positioned at five different locations near the Zolote disengagement area during the evening of 18 May and day of 19 May, the SMM recorded 36 undetermined explosions, 75 bursts and 25 shots of heavy-machine-gun fire (assessed as within 5km periphery of the Zolote disengagement area).

On 19 May, while on the eastern edge of Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM heard an undetermined explosion at an assessed range of 5-6km south-west (assessed as outside the disengagement area, but within its 5km periphery).

On 18 and 19 May, positioned close to the disengagement area near Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), the Mission observed calm situations.[3]

Fresh craters in Pervomaisk and damage to a military-type compound nearby

On 17 May, the SMM observed six fresh craters 30-140m south-east of a military-type compound in the south-eastern outskirts of Pervomaisk. It saw two additional fresh craters in a road north of the same compound, as well as shrapnel damage to a concrete fence and two pillars located 10m north of the two craters. The Mission also observed a broken window on the second floor of the north-west facing wall of a building located inside the compound. It assessed that all the craters and damage had been caused by rounds of undetermined weapons fired from a north-north-westerly direction. Five members of the armed formations and workers of a local electricity company repairing power lines allegedly damaged during the shelling were present when the SMM conducted the impact site assessment.

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

Government-controlled areas

17 May

An SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted:

• a surface-to-air missile system (9K33 Osa) near Vidrodzhennia (66km north-east of Donetsk);
• a surface-to-air missile system (9K33) near Vrubivka (72km west of Luhansk); and
• three surface-to-air missile systems (9K33) and two trans-loaders near Raihorodka (34km north-west of Luhansk).

An SMM mini-UAV spotted a surface-to-air missile system (9K33) near Myronivskyi (62km north-east of Donetsk).

18 May

The SMM saw a probable self-propelled howitzer (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) near Romanivka (41km north of Donetsk).

Non-government-controlled areas

18 May

The SMM saw:

• two self-propelled howitzers (2S1) and four towed howitzers (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm) near Bile (22km west of Luhansk); and
• eight towed howitzers (D-30) near Mykhailivka (74km south of Donetsk).

Weapons that the SMM could not verify as withdrawn[4]

At a heavy weapons holding area in a government-controlled area in Donetsk region

18 May

The SMM noted that:

• seven multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) were present and
• 35 MLRS (BM-21) and a self-propelled howitzer (2S1) continued to be missing.

At heavy weapons holding areas in non-government-controlled areas in Donetsk region

16 May

The SMM noted that 15 mortars (PM-38, 120mm) and 17 towed howitzers (D-30) continued to be missing.

Weapons storage site

At a permanent storage site in a non-government-controlled area of Luhansk region

18 May

The SMM noted that all weapons previously observed at the site were present.

Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[5]

Government-controlled areas

17 May

An SMM long-range UAV spotted:

• six infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) (BMP variant) near Kurdiumivka (54km north of Donetsk);
• an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (MT-LB) near Loskutivka (72km west of Luhansk)
• three IFVs (two BMP-1 and one BMP-2) near Zolote;
• three IFVs (BMP variants) near Novotoshkivske (53km west of Luhansk);
• an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23-2) mounted on an APC (MT-LB) near Prychepylivka (50km north-west of Luhansk);
• two IFVs (BMP variants) near Lopaskyne (23km north-west of Luhansk);
• an IFV (BMD-2) and an APC (MT-LB) near Heivka (27km north-west of Luhansk);
• an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) near Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk); and
• an IFV (BMP variant) near Novooleksandrivka (65km west of Luhansk).

18 May

The SMM saw:

• three IFVs (BMP-1) and an APC (Varta) near Popasna;
• an IFV (BMP variant) near Novozvanivka (70km west of Luhansk);
• an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) near Krasnohorivka (24km north of Donetsk);
• an IFV (BMP-2) near Verkhnotoretske (23km north-east of Donetsk); and
• an APC (MT-LB) near Novoselivka (31km north of Donetsk).

19 May

The SMM saw three IFVs (BMP-1) near Popasna.

Non-government-controlled areas

17 May

An SMM mini-UAV spotted:

• 12 APCs (11 MT-LB and one BTR-80) and three anti-aircraft guns (ZU-23-2) in a compound near Pervomaisk (see above section on fresh craters in Pervomaisk); and
• an APC (MT-LB) near Veselohorivka (64km west of Luhansk).

19 May

The SMM saw a probable anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) near Pervomaisk.

Demining activities near Myrne and mine signs near Mykolaivka Druha

On 18 May, the Mission saw for the first time a red mine hazard sign with the words “Danger, Mines” written in Ukrainian and Russian about 4m north of a road about 1.5km north of Mykolaivka Druha (government-controlled, 55km north of Donetsk).

On 19 May, the SMM saw six members of an international demining organisation conducting demining activities in a field south of road T-0512 about 5km south-west of Hranitne (government-controlled, 60km south of Donetsk) (for previous observations in the area, see SMM Daily Report 6 May 2019).

SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure

The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk), as well as to the power lines near “Zolote-4/Rodina” (government-controlled, 59km west of Luhansk) (see above).

The Mission 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).

Border areas outside government control

On 18 May, while at a border crossing point near Marynivka (78km east of Donetsk) for 20 minutes, the SMM saw 14 cars (one with Ukrainian and seven with Russian Federation licence plates, as well as six with “DPR“ plates) and one truck with covered cargo (with Ukrainian licence plates) and a bus (with “DPR“ plates) entering Ukraine. The SMM also saw 12 cars (two with Ukrainian and seven with Russian Federation licence plates, as well as three with “DPR“ plates), eight trucks with covered cargo (three with Ukrainian licence plates and five with “DPR“ plates) as well as a bus (with “DPR“ plates) exiting Ukraine.

On the same day, while at a border crossing point near Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk), for about 45 minutes, the SMM saw several cars (with Ukrainian and Russian Federation licence plates as well as “DPR” plates), a truck with covered cargo and a bus (both with “DPR” plates) entering Ukraine. The SMM also saw several cars (with Ukrainian and Russian Federation licence plates as well as “DPR” plates), 12 trucks with covered cargo (ten with Ukrainian and two with Russian Federation licence plates) and a bus (with “DPR” plates) exiting Ukraine.

The SMM observed protests regarding the investigation into the death of activist Kateryna Handziuk

On 18 May in Kyiv, the SMM monitored a gathering by about 80 people (mixed gender, mostly young) in front of the presidential administration, demanding that the investigation into the death of anti-corruption activist Kateryna Handziuk be intensified and protesting against what they said was a purported unwillingness of the authorities to prosecute her attackers. Over 30 police officers provided security for the gathering, which passed without incident. The SMM observed similar peaceful gatherings of between 12 and 50 people (mixed gender and ages) in Kherson, Kharkiv, Mariupol, Dnipro, Odessa and Lviv.

The SMM continued monitoring in Ivano-Frankivsk.

*Restrictions of SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and other impediments – which vary from day to day. The SMM’s mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations. They have also agreed that the 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, see SMM Daily Report 14 May 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:

• On 18 May, two Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers denied the SMM access into a heavy weapons holding area in Donetsk region, citing the absence of permission from their commander.

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

• The sides continued to deny the SMM full access to 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.

Delay:

• On 19 May, at a checkpoint 600m west of Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, non-government-controlled, 29km north-east of Mariupol), a member of the armed formations requested to see a patrol plan. The SMM declined and was allowed to proceed only after 30 minutes.

Conditional access:

• On 17 May, at a checkpoint in Staromykhailivka (non-government controlled, 15km west of Donetsk), two armed members of the armed formations allowed the SMM to proceed only upon escort by a member of the armed formations.
• On 17 May, at a checkpoint in the Trudivski area of the Petrovskyi district (non-government-controlled, 15km south-west of Donetsk city centre) an armed member of the armed formations allowed the SMM to proceed only upon escort by a member of the armed formations.

Other impediments:

• During the night of 17-18 May, an SMM long-range UAV experienced dual GPS signal interference, assessed as due to jamming, while flying over government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including areas close to the contact line.[6]

 

[1] For a complete breakdown of ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. During the reporting period, the SMM camera in Stanytsia Luhanska  was not operational.

[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 on a road between Bohdanivka and Petrivske, the SMM cannot access its camera in Petrivske, and thus the SMM has not been able to access observations from the camera since 22 June 2018.

[4] 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.

[5] The hardware mentioned in this section is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.

[6] The interference could have originated from anywhere within a radius of kilometres from the UAV’s position.

Marina Živaljević

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro wishes to congratulate the citizens of Montenegro on the occasion of their Independence Day.

On 21 May 2006, Montenegro gained its independence in a peaceful and democratic process through a referendum. Today, 13 years later, Montenegro is recognized as a stable democracy actively promoting regional co-operation and good-neighbourly relations.

OSCE and Montenegro have forged a strong and very practice-oriented partnership, in particular on reforming the electoral system, building a free, resilient and professional media landscape, promoting security sector governance and reform, and strengthening regional youth co-operation in collaboration with the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO).

The Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, Maryse Daviet, said: “Montenegro has made significant progress in consolidating peace and stability, and thanks to the close partnership with the government, institutions, civil society and other stakeholders, the OSCE is well positioned to continue to support Montenegro in meeting their long-term strategic goals in line with OSCE commitments and principles.”

Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

Election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) were in Serbia from 14 to 17 May 2019 to meet government officials and international organization representatives as well as civil society, for the first in a series of visits across the region under the auspices of the  Support to Elections in the Western Balkans project.

In-depth discussions were held with senior officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, the Electoral Commission, the parliamentary Committee on Constitutional and Legislative Issues, the public broadcaster and the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media, as well as representatives of civil society and the international community, including the delegation of the European Union. The visit was organized with support from the OSCE Mission to Serbia.

ODIHR support for the development of training materials for lower election commissions, the use of its expertise in improving the tabulation of election results, and a joint event to discuss electoral participation of people with disabilities were among the areas of co-operation discussed. ODIHR will also work with the state authority for electronic media on addressing recommendations made after the adoption of a new media strategy, and reiterated its willingness to assist the parliament by reviewing the recently adopted law on the central registry. 

“We have discussed many areas for improvement in Serbia since the start of this project in 2017, and we believe more could have been achieved,” said Lusine Badalyan, Senior Election Adviser with the ODIHR Elections Department. “These visits across the Western Balkans provide a much-needed opportunity to discuss the active engagement of the authorities in the electoral reform process.”

This week’s visit was the first of six to be carried out in the course of the three-year project. The project is funded by the European Union and the Austrian Development Agency.

All OSCE participating States have committed themselves to promptly following up on ODIHR election assessments and recommendations, while ODIHR has consistently supported the effective follow-up of recommendations. The project Support to Elections in the Western Balkans builds upon this work.

419960 Marina Živaljević

The importance of introducing gender-responsive budgeting into the state budget was the topic of an OSCE-supported workshop for nine members of parliament and seven state officials from the Ministry of Finance and the State Statistical Office (MONSTAT), on 14 May 2019 in Podgorica.

The workshop was organized by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Parliamentary Committee on Gender Equality, with which the Mission works closely on the implementation of the Action Plan for a Gender Sensitive Parliament.

Gender Expert Maria Risteska led an examination of international good practices in applying gender responsive budgeting, followed by a practical discussion identifying entry points for introducing gender-responsive budgeting into the budget cycle.

It was agreed that gender-responsive budgeting is an important tool to improve the transparency, accountability, effectiveness and efficiency of the management of public expenditure and provides for a more equitable distribution of public finances for women and men. “The budget must deliver equally for women and men in Montenegro,” said MP Nada Drobnjak, Chair of the Committee for Gender Equality.

Risteska also met with senior government officials who discussed piloting gender-responsive budgeting within a segment of the 2020 state budget.

Risteska, together with the Mission colleagues and Biljana Pejović, Head of the Gender Department within the Ministry of Minority and Human Rights, held a meeting in Kolašin on 15 May with officials from that municipality on further steps the municipality could take to implement gender-responsive budgeting in the 2020 budget.

The Mission will continue to work with the parliament, the government and municipalities in developing an approach to implementing gender-responsive budgeting. “This systematic approach will allow us to introduce a gender perspective in all phases of policymaking and budgeting from planning to adoption, execution and audit,” said Lia Magnaguagno, OSCE Democratization Programme Manager.

Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

A two-day high-level conference on “International and Regional Co-operation on Countering Terrorism and Its Financing through Illicit Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime” concluded in Dushanbe on 17 May 2019. The Government of Tajikistan organized the event in close co-operation with the OSCE, the United Nations, and the European Union.

The objective of the conference was to discuss the complex inter-connection between terrorism and transnational organized crime, such as illicit trade in natural resources, cultural artefacts, weapons and trafficking in human beings. The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe supported the host country with relevant organizational modalities and the development of a conceptual framework for the conference.

Foreign ministers of Central Asian participating States and Afghanistan, as well as high-level delegations from other countries, including representatives of regional and international organisations, and diplomatic missions accredited in Tajikistan, participated in the event.

The participants were presented with a consolidated list of recommendations on strengthening regional co-operation in countering terrorist financing and organized crime that resulted from discussions at the High-Level Regional Conference on Countering Terrorist Financing and Organized Crime held in Ashgabat last month. With this list, the OSCE will contribute to global discussions co-ordinated by the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) that will culminate in a UN summit in 2020.

The conference concluded with a declaration emphasizing that “illicit drug trafficking continues to pose one of the major threats to international peace and security and undermine sustainable development, human rights and the rule of law”. It calls upon “all States to promote and strengthen international co-operation in accordance with all their obligations under international law”.

Opening the conference, the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, stated that his country will “continue to work with relevant international organizations, including the United Nations and the OSCE, to effectively respond to these threats.”

In his video statement the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Miroslav Lajčák, emphasized that greater multilateral co-operation is needed: “Government agencies, the private sector and civil society have to work together. Public-private-partnerships are essential to prevent and suppress terrorist financing.“

The Under-Secretary-General of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, Vladimir Voronkov, referred to the previously adopted Joint Plan of Action on Counter-Terrorism as the “first regional initiative of its kind in the world”. He emphasized that the OSCE and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation are allies and partners in countering the financing of terrorism.

The Director of the OSCE’s Conflict Prevention Centre, Marcel Peṧko, underlined that Tajikistan, with its strategic location, is a factor of stability in Central Asia. He noted that the vast and uneasy border it shares with Afghanistan demands closer attention from the international community: "Approaches to address these challenges should include all actors, including government, civil society and private sector, to be effective and sustainable".

In addition to its work on countering and preventing violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism, the OSCE also continues to offer its assistance to Tajikistan in strengthening international legal co-operation in terrorism cases, countering the financing of terrorism and the abuse of the Internet for terrorist purposes. Protecting critical energy infrastructure, as well as safeguarding human rights in counter-terrorism investigations is also a part of such co-operation.

This report is for the media and the general public.

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• A woman was injured from shelling in Oleksandrivka.
• The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line.
• The SMM 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 areas. The Mission’s freedom of movement was also restricted near government-controlled Bohdanivka and near non-government-controlled Zaichenko, Bezimenne and Novoazovsk, all in southern Donetsk region.*
• The Mission saw an LGBTIQ rights gathering and counter-gathering in Chernivtsi.

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, however, fewer explosions (about 110), compared with the previous reporting period (about 150 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded at southerly directions of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol), in areas south of Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk) and in areas south-east of Donetsk city centre.

In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations, including more explosions (about 670), compared with the previous reporting period (30 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations, including about 600 explosions, were recorded at southerly and easterly directions of Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk).

Woman injured from shelling in Oleksandrivka

At a hospital in Donetsk city, the SMM saw a woman (53 years old) with her abdominal area bandaged. She told the SMM that while in Oleksandrivka (non-government-controlled, 20km south-west of Donetsk) on 13 April, she had heard shelling at about 05:00 and had sought shelter in a neighbour’s basement. As she was walking back to her house at about 07:00, she said she had heard whistling and other noise, and then had collapsed after feeling a sharp pain in her stomach. The woman said that she had then crawled back to her house and had been transported towards the hospital in a military-type truck, adding that an ambulance could not visit due to sniper fire concerns. Medical staff at the hospital told the SMM that the woman had been admitted on 13 April with shrapnel wounds to her stomach and left side of her body caused by shelling. At a school in Oleksandrivka, the woman’s neighbour (60-70 years old) told the SMM that she had met the woman on the street just moments before the incident.    

Disengagement areas[2]

On the evening and night of 16-17 May, the SMM camera in Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) recorded nine projectiles in flight and three bursts of undetermined weapons, all at an assessed range of 2-5km east-south-east and south-east (all assessed as inside the disengagement area), a burst at an assessed range of 3-5km east-south-east (unable to be assessed as inside or outside the disengagement area), and seven projectiles in flight at an assessed range of 3-6km east and south (assessed as outside the disengagement area but within its 5km periphery). On 17 May, positioned on the western edge of Pervomaisk (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard two undetermined explosions at an assessed range of 4-6km north (unable to be assessed as inside or outside the disengagement area).

Positioned inside the disengagement area near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk) and close to the disengagement area near Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), the Mission observed calm situations.[3]

Fresh craters between Hirske and Zolote-2/Karbonit

In a field near a bridge south of Hirske (government-controlled, 63km west of Luhansk), the SMM observed at least six fresh craters around 100m east of road T-1316 and around 300m east of an operational school in Zolote-2/Karbonit (government-controlled, 62km north-west of Luhansk) (for previous observations n the area see SMM Daily Report 2 April 2019).

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

Government-controlled areas

16 May

An SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted a self-propelled howitzer (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) near Vrubivka (72km west of Luhansk).

17 May

The SMM saw a surface-to-air missile system (9k33 Osa) in a field west of road M-03 north of Luhanske (59km north-east of Donetsk).

Non-government-controlled areas

15 May

Aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of a tank (type undetermined) in a training area near Novoselivka (37km north-east of Donetsk).

16 May

An SMM mini-UAV spotted:

• a tank (T-64) and three probable tanks (T-64) near Novoselivka (16km west of Luhansk); and
• two mortars (2B14 Podnos, 82mm) near Sentianivka (formerly Frunze, 44km west of Luhansk).

An SMM mid-range UAV spotted a self-propelled howitzer (2S1) near Vesele (92km south of Donetsk).

Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites

Non-government-controlled areas

16 May

An SMM long-range UAV spotted nine tanks (five probable T-72 and four probable T-64) in a training area near Pokrovka (36km east of Donetsk).

Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[4]

Government-controlled areas

15 May

An SMM mid-range UAV spotted an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1) and a probable IFV (BMP variant) near Novhorodske (35km north of Donetsk).

16 May

An SMM long-range UAV spotted an IFV (BMP-2) near Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk).

An SMM mid-range UAV spotted an armoured combat vehicle (ACV) near Vodiane (94km south of Donetsk).

17 May

The SMM saw:

• an IFV (BMP-1) in Muratove (51km north-west of Luhansk);
• a combat engineering vehicle (BAT-2) at a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint south-west of Popasna;
• an IFV (BTR-4) near Novokalynove (29km north-west of Donetsk);
• an IFV (BMP-2) near Yasnobrodivka (25km north-west of Donetsk); 
• three IFVs (BMP-1) in a compound on the eastern outskirts of Popasna; and
• an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (BTR variant) in Odradivka (59km north of Donetsk).

The SMM camera in Berezove (31km south-west of Donetsk) recorded an ACV (BTR-80) on road H-20 north-east of Berezove.

Non-government-controlled areas

15 May

Aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of four ACVs in a training area near Novoselivka (37km north-east of Donetsk).

16 May

An SMM long-range UAV spotted an IFV near Kreminets (16km south-west of Donetsk).

An SMM mini-UAV spotted:

• an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRM-1K) and an APC (MT-LB) near Sentianivka; and
• two ACVs about 50m from a residential house in Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, 92km south of Donetsk).

The SMM saw two IFVs (BMP-1), one parked next to a house, north-east of Dachne (47km west of Luhansk).

UAV seen flying in the security zone

The SMM saw an unidentified UAV (assessed as a fixed-wing type) flying from north-east to south-west at an altitude of about 300m, about 2.5km south-east of Patriotychne (non-government-controlled, 35km north-east of Mariupol).

Presence of mines near Nelipivka and Vodiane and a mine hazard sign near Debaltseve

On 15 May, an SMM mid-range UAV again spotted at least 300 anti-tank mines laid out in two rows near Nelipivka (government-controlled, 40km north-east of Donetsk). On 16 May, an SMM mini-UAV again spotted about 20 anti-tank mines laid out in a single row about 3km north-west of Vodiane.

The SMM again saw an improvised mine hazard sign, a wooden sign with “Mines – Driving Prohibited” written in Russian, on the north-eastern edge of road M-03 near Debaltseve (non-government-controlled, 58km north-east of Donetsk).

SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure

The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk), as well as to water pipelines near Zolote and between Zolote-2/Karbonit, Zolote-3/Stakhanovets (government-controlled, 61km west of Luhansk) and Popasna, and to high voltage power lines near Katerynivka (government-controlled, 64km west of Luhansk).

The Mission 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).

People applying for passports of the Russian Federation in Donetsk region

In non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region, the SMM observed a queue of about 20 people (mixed genders, 20-60 years old) outside a building in the Proletarskyi district of Donetsk city and five people queuing outside a building in Dokuchaievsk (30km south-west of Donetsk). Some of them told the SMM that they had been queuing to submit and finalize applications for passports of the Russian Federation or to apply for a “DPR” “passport”.

LGBTIQ rights gathering and counter-gathering in Chernivtsi

In Chernivtsi, the SMM saw about 15 people (mostly women, 20 to 30 years old) at Theatre Square for an event organized by a non-governmental organization for the “International day of fighting against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia”. About 500 members of the National Police and National Guard were around the group and around the square. On the other side of the square, the SMM saw about 50 people (mostly men, 20-30 years old), some wearing balaclavas, chanting slogans in opposition to the other group. At one point, the SMM saw members of the bigger group spray police with a substance, assessed as probable tear gas, in an attempt to move past the police towards the smaller group. The SMM saw some police with redness in their eyes and on the rest of their faces. The police maintained their position and escorted the smaller group away after about one hour. No further incidents were observed.    

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Kyiv.

*Restrictions of 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, see below). 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 north of Novoazovsk (non-government-controlled, 40km east of Mariupol), an armed member of the armed formations again denied the SMM entrance to the town, citing an “ongoing special operation in the area”.
• At a checkpoint 2.5km west of Bezimenne (non-government-controlled, 30km east of Mariupol), two armed members of the armed formations again prevented the SMM from proceeding further west, citing an “ongoing special operation in the area”.
• At a checkpoint about 800m north of Zaichenko (non-government-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol), an armed member of the armed formations denied the SMM passage westward to Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, non-government-controlled, 23km north-east of Mariupol) and southward to Sakhanka (non-government-controlled, 24km north-east of Mariupol), citing a lack of prior communication to their superiors.  

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.

Delay:

• At a checkpoint north-west of Bohdanivka (government-controlled, 41km south-west of Donetsk), a Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier allowed the SMM to pass only after waiting about an hour and a half and contacting their superior officer for permission.

Other impediments:

• On the evening of 16 May, an SMM long-range UAV experienced signal interference, assessed as due to jamming, while flying over Avdiivka (government-controlled, 17km north of Donetsk) and non-government-controlled areas of northern Donetsk region, including areas close to the contact line.[5]

 

[1] For a complete breakdown of ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. During the reporting period, the SMM camera in Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk) was not operational.

* Please see the section at the end of this report entitled “Restrictions of the SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate”.

[2]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 on a road between Bohdanivka and Petrivske, the SMM cannot access its camera in Petrivske, and thus the SMM has not been able to access observations from the camera since 22 June 2018.

[4] The hardware mentioned in this section is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.

[5] The interference could have originated from anywhere within a radius of several kilometres from the UAV’s position.