This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. The SMM, based on its monitoring – which was restricted by third parties and by security considerations* – observed that fighting continued in areas around the Donetsk airport and Shyrokyne, east of Mariupol.

Between 10:10 and 11:30hrs on 21 March, while stationary* on Artemovskaya Street (“Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled, eight kilometres north-east of Donetsk city centre), the SMM heard sounds of intermittent heavy machine gun fire and 15 explosions, five-six kilometres west of the SMM’s location, in the area of Pisky (government-controlled, 12km north-west of Donetsk). The SMM could not ascertain the type of weaponry or if the fire was incoming or outgoing. At the same location, the SMM heard three outgoing mortar rounds of undetermined calibre, originating approximately 1.5km north-north-west of its location. On 22 March, the SMM had to leave an observation point in Donetsk city* due to two outgoing artillery rounds, whose calibre the SMM could not ascertain, 300m east of its position.

On 22 March, at the Donetsk railway station*, the SMM was told by the deputy head of the station that a projectile had hit a railway administrative building at 8:40hrs on 22 March. The “emergency services” were at the site dealing with the incident. The SMM found a hole in the metal roof in the centre of the building and in the concrete ceiling of the third floor below. Further, the SMM saw pieces of metal (some covered with rust), allegedly part of a rocket. The SMM was not able to conduct a crater analysis, since the exact location of the explosion could not be determined. No eyewitness was available.

While in the area of the Donetsk airport*, between 9:50 and 10:40hrs on 22 March, the SMM heard a continuous exchange of fire, which consisted of heavy machine gun, small arms and light weapons (SALW) fire, automatic grenade launcher, and mortar of undetermined calibre and firing direction (over 40 explosions). The SMM assessed that the small arms fire came from the direction of Spartak (“DPR”-controlled, 11km north-west of Donetsk) and Opytne (government-controlled, 13km north-west of Donetsk). Between 10:05 and 10:38hrs, at the same location the SMM heard 14 explosions five-six kilometres west of its position. The SMM could not ascertain the type of ammunition that caused the explosions or whether the fire was incoming or outgoing. Between 13:45 and 13:55hrs the SMM heard the sounds of eight explosions north-west of the airport area. The SMM could not ascertain the distance or the type of ammunition that caused the explosions, or if the fire was incoming or outgoing.

On 21 March, while positioned* 8km north-east of Donetsk city centre, the SMM observed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at an altitude of approximately three kilometres, flying in a loop pattern in the area of Donetsk airport and Spartak (“DPR”-controlled, 11km north-west of Donetsk). The SMM could not confirm the identity of the UAV.

On 22 March, in Bezimenne* (“DPR”-controlled, 100km south of Donetsk, 30km east of Mariupol), starting at 11:20hrs and for the duration of one hour, the SMM heard multiple explosions assessed to be tank, artillery and undetermined mortar fire west of its position, possibly Shyrokyne (“DPR”-controlled, 97km south of Donetsk, 20km east of Mariupol). The SMM could not ascertain whether the fire was incoming or outgoing. The SMM also heard SALW fire.

On 22 March, the police chief of Avdiivka (government-controlled, 14km north-west of Donetsk) told the SMM that on 20 and 21 March, the town had come under shelling. The SMM saw damage to several buildings. Through crater analysis, the SMM estimated the bearing of the incoming projectiles as east and south-east. Residents told the SMM that the damage had been caused on 20 and 21 March, respectively. Based on shrapnel fragments found on site, the SMM assessed that the damage had been caused by tank projectiles (125mm HE-FRAG). On 20 March, a 35-year-old man was killed after a direct hit to his house, the SMM was told by the police chief and the deceased’s neighbour.

On 22 March, in government-controlled Pisky (12km north-west of Donetsk), whilst at a position held by a Ukrainian volunteer battalion of the Right Sector, between 11:55 and 12:07hrs, the SMM heard a short burst of outgoing SALW fire, estimated to be around 50m from its position, and several rounds of return SALW fire, hitting the location of the outgoing fire. There were also three rounds of automatic grenade launched fire incoming to other areas around Pisky. At 12:17hrs, one mortar round (82mm) impacted approximately 10m from the SMM’s parked vehicles. All SMM members were in a basement of the Right Sector position, where they moved after the start of the SALW fire, and sustained no injuries. Four members of the volunteer battalion sustained minor injuries and one received non-lethal shrapnel wounds.

On 21 March, the SMM attempted to facilitate a temporary local ceasefire on 22 March in Shyrokyne (97km south of Donetsk, 20km east of Mariupol) in order to allow humanitarian relief for civilians remaining there. The SMM asked a local “DPR” “commander”, who said he was not willing to discuss the issue until the SMM had results of an investigation into an alleged incident in which a “DPR” truck had been hit with an anti-tank missile in the vicinity of Zaichenko (“DPR”-controlled, 88km south of Donetsk), killing two “DPR” members. (See Daily Report 18 March.) The “DPR” “commander” also demanded that SMM unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) stop flights over “DPR” positions, adding that the SMM could not enter the area without his permission.* He said further that he saw a new Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint west of Kominternove (government-controlled, 88km south of Donetsk, 22km east of Mariupol) as a provocation and against the spirit of the Minsk Memorandum, adding that consequently he maintained the right to fire at this new position.

In Kominternove, local residents asked for SMM assistance in organizing another effort to remove what they said was unexploded ordnance (UXO) in their village. (See Spot Report 9 March.) The SMM saw two military backpacks each containing three shoulder-held unfired rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), behind the kindergarten wall. Approximately 1.5km west of Kominternove, on the southern side of the road, the SMM observed 17 fresh craters caused by 82mm mortar, estimated as having been fired from an east-north-easterly direction, 2.5km west of the new Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint.

On 21 March, upon arrival at an observation point near Sopyne (government-controlled, 99km south of Donetsk, 15km east of Mariupol), the SMM observed black smoke estimated to come from Shyrokyne, possibly a result of shelling earlier in the morning. Between 6:20 and 7:36hrs, the SMM heard two outgoing mortar rounds. The SMM could not ascertain the calibre or the direction. Impacts were heard south-east of the observation point, consistent with the Shyrokyne area. At 9:55hrs the SMM heard seven impacts; some of the sounds were consistent with heavy artillery impacts in or around the Shyrokyne area. At 10:04hrs the SMM heard intense exchanges of SALW fire, also from the general direction of Shyrokyne. Between 10:30 and 10:40hrs the SMM heard SALW fire and four or five outgoing mortar rounds (calibre unidentified) fired west of the SMM’s position, in an easterly direction, towards Shyrokyne. The SMM could not determine the distance or direction from where these were fired due to strong wind. Between 10:55 and 11:10hrs the SMM heard more than 10 heavy explosions from the west. Heavy smoke was seen rising from the area just north of Shyrokyne. The SMM observed an unidentified UAV, helicopter model, appearing from the Azov Sea and making circles east of the observation point, over Ukrainian Armed Forces positions, west of Shyrokyne.

On 22 March, between 5:55 and 6:58hrs, the SMM heard 26 outgoing mortar rounds (undetermined calibre), fired from 500 metres south-east of the SMM’s observation point near Sopyne, in an easterly direction, impacting in an area four kilometres east of its position, in or around Shyrokyne. Between 16:26 and 17:36hrs, the SMM witnessed ceasefire violations as follows: observed 45 outgoing mortar rounds (82mm) fired from approximately 900 metres east of its position, based on the sound, at targets further east; heard heavy automatic machine gun fire originating approximately one kilometre east-south-east of its position; heard SALW fire four kilometres east of its position; observed 21 82mm mortar impacts approximately two kilometres east-north-east of its position; heard two outgoing 82mm mortar rounds from two kilometres south-east of its position; observed 10 outgoing 82mm mortar rounds fired from approximately one kilometre east of its position, based on the sound, at targets further east.

In Berdianske (government-controlled, 98km south of Donetsk, 19km east of Mariupol), between 9:30 and 12:30hrs, the SMM heard over 70 shell impact, probably mortar (undetermined calibre). This included an intense period of shelling with 40 incoming rounds between 10:45 and 10:52hrs, impacting approximately one kilometre north-north-east of the SMM’s position. This intense barrage occurred minutes after two sports utility vehicles were seen moving towards the contact line on the main highway from Mariupol to Novoazovsk (the main road leading to Shyrokyne). The SMM witnessed 62 outgoing 82mm mortar rounds fired from two Ukrainian Armed Forces positions, 300 and 500m north-west of its position. At 14:20hrs, the SMM observed nine 82mm mortar rounds incoming from “DPR”-controlled territory and impacting 150-200m north of its position, following which the SMM left.

On 22 March, the SMM unarmed/unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) conducted two flights on both sides of the contact line east of Mariupol. In Shyrokyne, the UAV observed several buildings on fire, as well as live firing, including two impacts by artillery or mortar fire, and defensive positions in the western side of the village. On one occasion, during the flight over Shyrokyne, the UAV was jammed. In other locations around both sides of the contact line east of Mariupol, the UAV observed several armoured vehicles (tanks, armoured personnel carriers, crew transport vehicles), artillery systems (towed howitzers and Akatsiya-type self-propelled artillery), multi launch rocket systems (Grad), military support vehicles, and military installations.

On 22 March, at a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint in Trokhizbenka (government-controlled, 33km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM observed two fresh craters in the area. The checkpoint personnel told the SMM that at 22:00hrs on 21 March the checkpoint had been hit by four 120mm artillery shells, with no casualties. Checkpoint personnel said they have a list of local people who are authorized to cross without a permit.

On 21 March, whilst at a position three kilometres from Smile (“Lugansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”)-controlled, 32km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard seven artillery rounds fired from approximately 10km north of its position. The SMM was not able to ascertain whether it was outgoing or incoming fire.

On 21 March, whilst in Sabivka (“LPR”-controlled, 12km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 10 outgoing shots coming from an “LPR” tank training centre located near Oleksandrivsk (“LPR”-controlled, nine kilometres west of Luhansk, less than 15km from the contact line agreed in Minsk on 19 September 2014). The SMM visited the said centre and observed 15 to 20 main battle tanks engaged in a firing exercise.

On 22 March, at the bridge between Krasnyi Lyman (“LPR”-controlled, 30km north-west of Luhansk) and Trokhizbenka (government-controlled, 33km north-west of Luhansk) the SMM saw that the checkpoint in the government-controlled area was operating while there was no “LPR” checkpoint on the other side. People crossing told the SMM that the bridge serves as an alternative to the damaged bridge in Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk).

On 21 and 22 March the SMM revisited five Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapons holding areas, all of which comply with the respective withdrawal lines. All the weapons previously recorded were in situ except for two mortars in one of the places. In another of the mentioned sites, additional weapons had been stored.

On 21 and 22 March, the SMM visited* three “DPR”-controlled holding areas to verify the presence of heavy weaponry. In one of them, the SMM saw only ammunition. The three areas comply with the respective withdrawal lines.

On 20 March, in Dnepropetrovsk, the SMM monitored a “March for Social Justice”, organized, among others, by trade unions representing workers of Yuzhmash industrial plant, Svoboda Party, the All-Ukrainian Union of Veterans, Euromaidan Dnipro, and the “Committee to Fight Corruption, Organized Crime and Violations of Citizens’ Rights”. The march began at the railway station at 10:30hrs and concluded at the city hall at 11:30hrs. Some 300-400 men and women of different ages took part. Participants protested against unpaid salaries of Yuzhmash workers, rising transport costs, and what they saw as corruption in local and central government and inadequate taxation of oligarchs. Around 50 uniformed police were visible throughout the event, facilitating the march by stopping traffic where necessary. The event concluded peacefully.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Kherson, Odessa, Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Lviv and Kyiv.

* Restrictions on SMM access and freedom of movement:

The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by third parties and security considerations including the lack of information on whereabouts of landmines.

The security situation in Donbas is fluid and unpredictable and the ceasefire does not hold everywhere. For this reason, the SMM requires security guarantees from “DPR” and “LPR” which are not always provided. Where such guarantees are limited to escorted movements, and escorts are not provided for all planned patrols or are delayed, this also represents a restriction of SMM freedom of movement.

In particular during the reporting period:

- At a “DPR” checkpoint in Michurine (61km south of Donetsk), SMM monitors were requested to disembark from their vehicles. The “DPR” members performed a thorough search of the vehicles. One SMM member was asked to reveal his nationality. The SMM was allowed to proceed after 25 minutes.

- At a checkpoint on the southern entrance to Horlivka (“DPR”-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk), the “DPR” escort advised the SMM not to visit the western part of the city or use the direct highway from Horlivka to Donetsk, citing security concerns.

- Near a Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapons storage site, four self-propelled 122mm howitzers were brought out and made ready for inspection by the SMM, but then the unit’s press attaché demanded that SMM monitors reveal their citizenship and said that he believed that SMM monitors were passing information about Ukrainian Armed Forces weapons storage to the “DPR”, whilst not checking weapons of the “DPR” side.

- On 21 March, at Lebedynske (government-controlled, 83km south of Donetsk, 16km east of Mariupol) the SMM was stopped at a checkpoint comprised of members of a volunteer battalion and was asked to proceed to their base in the centre of the village to explain the purpose of its visit to the commander. After 20 minutes the SMM was allowed to proceed.

- On 21 March, the SMM was unable to proceed to Shyrokyne on the E58 due to an unmanned roadblock just west of Shyrokyne (on the left flank of Ukrainian Armed Forces stationed there) made up with ammunition boxes and felled trees.

- On 21 March, on its way to Pavlopil (80km south of Donetsk, 25km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM was stopped at a government checkpoint and was requested to show patrol members’ passports. The SMM was allowed to pass after ten minutes.

- On 21 March, the SMM accessed a “DPR”-controlled site to verify the presence of heavy weaponry. A man who identified himself as the “DPR” “field commander” insisted on escorting the SMM to a warehouse, where the SMM saw a stock of ammunition.

- On 21 March, the SMM attempted to observe the damaged bridge in Stanytsia Luhanska (between “LPR”-controlled and government-controlled areas, 16km north-east of Luhansk) and saw in the area a Ukrainian TV crew, escorted by a Ukrainian Armed Forces vehicle. As both vehicles started to approach the SMM, the SMM turned back. The SMM tried to approach the bridge later the same day but was denied passage through the last government checkpoint before the bridge by the deputy commander of “Tornado” volunteer battalion, citing recent sniper activity in the area.

- On 22 March, at a checkpoint near Muratove (government-controlled, 50km north-west of Luhansk), SMM vehicles were inspected by Ukrainian military officers. After the SMM identified themselves with OSCE ID cards and OSCE red books, a Ukrainian military officer asked the SMM to show their national passports. The officer stated that any Russian members of the SMM coming to the area would be killed.

- On 22 March, the SMM attempted to visit the border town of Diakove (“LPR”-controlled 70km south of Luhansk). When approaching the town, the SMM was stopped at a checkpoint by the “commander” who informed that the road to Diakove was closed due to de-mining activity. According to him, 12 farm vehicles had been damaged while trying to cultivate fields in the area and a vehicle of checkpoint guards had been damaged when it ran over an anti-personnel mine while travelling along the road near Diakove. Regardless of these activities, the SMM would not be permitted to patrol in the border area without authorization from the responsible “LPR” structure. When the checkpoint commander was shown the two “freedom of movement letters” one signed by the “LPR” “prime minister”, the second signed by the “commandant” of the “Lugansk People’s Militia”), the “commander” said that neither of these letters mentioned the border zone (areas within 15km of the border).

- On 22 March, the SMM was escorted into the Chervonopartyzansk mine (“LPR”-controlled, 64km south east of Luhansk) after a short delay, during which the Cossack escorts obtained permission to enter.