The SMM continued to monitor the implementation of the provisions of the Minsk Protocol and Memorandum and the activities of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC). The SMM visited the border crossing point between Ukraine and the Russian Federation in Novoazovsk (122km south of Donetsk).
In Kharkiv the situation was calm.
While on patrol in Ukrainian Government-controlled Mikhaylyuki (68km north of Luhansk), the SMM was informed by several villagers that they had witnessed the movement of Ukrainian army troops. At 12:00 while in Verkhbogdanivka (20km east of Mikhaylyuki), the SMM heard non-specific artillery shelling coming from the area of Stanitsa Luhanska approximately 30km south of the SMM position. At 12:30 in Mikhaylyuki the SMM heard incoming heavy artillery as well as outgoing Grad artillery counter fire.
The overall situation in the city of Donetsk and the surrounding area was tense. The SMM heard intermittent explosions consistent with intensive incoming shelling in the northern outskirts of Donetsk city, where the airport is located.
The SMM followed up on the shelling in Stepanenko Street (3km north-west of Donetsk). The SMM visited the site of the reported incident. At the site the SMM visually identified ten shell impact sites. Due to ongoing nearby shelling, the SMM was forced to leave the site. (See SMM Spot Report 7 November.)
The SMM visited the headquarters of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) in Debaltseve (55km north-east of Donetsk) and received a joint log sheet from Ukrainian and Russian military representatives of incidents reported during the previous 24hrs. The log sheet indicated a trend of increased ceasefire violations in the period between 3 and 6 November, following a relative lull attributed to the so-called “elections” on 2 November.
The existence of military grade jamming capacities within Donetsk region, as used on 3 November against the SMM unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), remains a substantial concern for UAV flights. Following a flight risk assessment, the SMM UAV was not deployed on 6 November.
The SMM conducted monitoring patrols in three villages to the east and north-east of Mariupol; Vynohradne (97km south of Donetsk), Sartana and Talakivka (both 90km south of Donetsk). The SMM observed civilian life as normal with regular traffic on the streets and at the Ukrainian army checkpoints between the villages.
The SMM visited the Ukrainian army checkpoint in Vugligorsk (15km south-west of Debaltseve) on the road to Enakieve. A Ukrainian army officer at the checkpoint stated that more civilians were seen in the streets than a few weeks ago. The SMM indeed observed pedestrians crossing the checkpoint in both directions.
The SMM observed that the Ukrainian army checkpoint next to a damaged road bridge over the railway (25km north-west of Debaltseve) is being fortified with trenches being dug and the checkpoint post winterized.
The SMM visited the police in Krasnoarmiisk and Dimitrov (54km north-east and 52km north-east of Donetsk). In Krasnoarmiisk the SMM was told that the situation had deteriorated due to on-going fighting in Piski village near Donetsk airport. In Dimitrov the police assessed the security situation as deteriorating.
The SMM accompanied the Dutch MH17 recovery team to the crash site in Hrabove (80km north-east of Donetsk) and assisted the Team in gaining access to the site and facilitated contact with the “Donetsk Peoples’ Republic (DPR)” members.
The SMM visited the border crossing point between Ukraine and the Russian Federation in Novoazovsk (122km south of Donetsk). The SMM observed the situation as calm.
On 5 November the SMM met a member of the Civilian-Military Co-operation Unit of the Ukrainian armed forces in Dnipropetrovsk. The interlocutor said he was negotiating terms with the “DPR” to send civilian teams to recover the bodies of soldiers from the Donetsk area. Since September 160 full sets of remains and five human fragments have been recovered. The interlocutor stated that the number of Ukrainian soldiers’ bodies or remains that were in the Donetsk area for recovery was unknown.
In Kherson, Odessa, Chernivtsi, Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk the situation was calm.
On 5 November the SMM monitored a gathering in front of the General Prosecutor’s office inKyiv. The group constituted of 10 relatives of soldiers of the 51st brigade accused of desertion, their lawyer and several AutoMaidan activists. The relatives of the soldiers explained that the soldiers did not desert but retreated after they ran out of ammunition.
The SMM monitored a protest in front of the Kyiv Parking Service building, which is a municipal enterprise under Kyiv City Council. The group of approximately 100 persons from different organizations demanded the resignation of the Parking Service director due to corruption, mismanagement and poor working conditions for the employees. The protestors entered the building and forced the director to come out. A group of approximately 20 anti-riot police arrived on the scene and, despite some tension, the protest ended peacefully.
