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Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 14 December 2018

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Ukraine
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OSCE
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This report is for the media and the general public.

Summary

Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region. The SMM recorded over 60 ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area. The Mission observed weapons in violations of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential civilian infrastructure as well as damaged houses in Marinka and Krasnohorivka. It continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. Restrictions of the Mission’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. The SMM was also restricted at a compound near Donske.* The Mission monitored a public gathering in Kyiv.

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including, about 200 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 460 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded at southerly directions of Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk) including about 30 explosions assessed as outgoing rounds and impacts of artillery and mortar fire.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 310 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 30 explosions). About half of the ceasefire violations were recorded in areas north-north-west of Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, non-government-controlled, 50km west of Luhansk) and south-south-west of Almazna (non-government-controlled, 55km west of Luhansk).

Disengagement areas[2]

In the late afternoon of 13 December, the SMM camera in Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) recorded six undetermined explosions at an assessed range of 1.5-4km south-east and south-south-east, 55 projectiles in flight (the majority from northerly to southerly directions) and one muzzle flash, all at an assessed range of 1.5-4km at directions ranging from east-south-east to south-south-west (all the above were assessed as inside the disengagement area) as well as a projectile in flight (from north to south) at an assessed range of 2-4km east-south-east (assessed as outside the disengagement area).The following day, the same camera recorded a projectile in flight south to north at an assessed range of 2-4km east (assessed as outside the disengagement area).

On the afternoon of 14 December, while on the eastern edge of Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM heard two undetermined explosions at an assessed range of 4-6km south-east (assessed as outside the disengagement area).

Withdrawal of weapons

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Memorandum and the Package of Measures and its Addendum.

In violation of the withdrawal lines

Government-controlled areas

13 December

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

a towed howitzer (D-20, 152mm) under camouflage netting near Dyliivka (49km north of Donetsk); and a surface-to-air missile system (9K35 Strela-10) near Ozarianivka (formerly Pershe Travnia, 52km north of Donetsk). Non-government-controlled areas

13 December

An SMM long-range UAV spotted:

two towed howitzers (2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm) near Novyi (54km west of Luhansk). Indications of military presence in the security zone[3]

Government-controlled areas

13 December

An SMM long-range UAV spotted:

two infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) (BMP-2) near Hladosove (51km north-east of Donetsk); two IFVs (BMP-2) near Dacha (53km north of Donetsk); and an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) near Ozarianivka. 14 December

An IFV (BMP-1) near Orikhove-Donetske (44km north-west of Luhansk); An IFV (BTR-4) near Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk); four anti-aircraft guns (ZU-23, 23mm) near Karlivka (25km north-west of Donetsk); An armoured personnel carrier (BTR-70) and five IFVs (BMP-2) near Novobakhmutivka (28km north of Donetsk); and An IFV (BMP-2) near Trudivske (47km south of Donetsk). The SMM also heard the sound of rotary wing aircraft (probably helicopter) flying in areas near Zolote-2/Karbonit (62km west of Luhansk).

Demining activities

The SMM saw that a previously observed piece of unexploded ordnance had been removed from the asphalt on road H-15 near the checkpoint of the armed formations east of Kreminets (non-government-controlled, 16km south-west of Donetsk).

SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure

The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair works to the Petrivske water pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk) and to damaged houses in Marinka (government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk) and Krasnohorivka (government-controlled, 21km west of Donetsk). The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station (15km north of Donetsk).

Public gathering in Kyiv

The SMM saw a peaceful public gathering in front of the cross outside the Parliament building. The SMM saw about 200 people (mixed gender and ages) and ten priests, assessed as members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, leading the group in prayers. The SMM also saw ten law enforcement officers and four police buses, three buses of the National Guard and four anti-riot camouflaged transport vehicles stationary nearby. The SMM observed a calm situation.

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