More than 24 after shots were fired at its monitors in territory controlled by Ukrainian forces, the Organization for Peace and Security in Europe is hesitant to assign blame.
“The safety and security of our team is critical. This seems to be an isolated case and I know Ukrainian authorities will carry out an examination and we will be cooperating,” said Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, at a press conference at Ukraine Crisis Media Center on Nov. 12.
The Monitoring Mission has been walking a fine line over the past few weeks amid both Russian and Ukrainian accusations of bias. The Monitoring Mission is tasked with the observing the ceasefire under the Minsk peace agreement, but is not an enforcement body.
Ongoing fighting has meant rather than investigating sporadic violations the OSCE has had to try and record regular fighting made difficult by safety protocols not intended for that type of situation.
On Nov. 19 two OSCE vehicles were fired at 15 kilometers west of Donetsk in Ukrainian controlled territory near Marinka from a transport truck with two uniformed personnel on board. One of them fired two shots that hit two meters from the second OSCE vehicle, according to a report from the monitory mission on Nov. 19.
The event does not seem to be an isolated incident, as stated by Ambassador Apakan. Monitors have been fired at on Ukrainian controlled territory on Nov. 18. After approaching a bridge also in Ukrainian controlled territory a shot was fired from the people manning the checkpoint at the OSCE vehicle. The OSCE report describes it as a warning shot not to approach the bridge.
Spokesman for the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Andriy Lysenko said he had not received any information about the incidents. He added that the OSCE report did not directly identify those who fired and that the events were likely provocations intended to implicate Ukrainian forces.
Because of continued heavy fighting the OSCE has been lobbying to receive additional armored vehicles for its observers in eastern Ukraine. Ambassador Apakan also announced that Ukraine and the United Kingdom had both donated 10 armored vehicles to be used by monitors. The OSCE currently has 300 monitors in 10 locations in Ukraine though the majority are not in the embattled east. By the New Year they are trying to increase to 500 monitors, with many more operating near fighting.
The OSCE has also faced challenges operating in separatist controlled areas. “We are constantly hindered and and stopped from performing the tasks assigned to under the Minsk agreements,” OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier told reporters in Brussels on Nov. 13. “There is a group of observers in Lugansk and Donetsk, but it is extremely difficult to move beyond the deployment sites. They have to negotiate their routes with the separatist authorities. I suspect the authorities only allow them to see what they want to show them. “
The OSCE’s aerial drones have also been shot at and jammed with advanced military equipment in separatist areas, according to OSCE Monitory Mission spokesman Michael Bociurkiw.
Recently there has been a backlash against the OSCE in Ukraine after a photo was shown showing separatists getting into an OSCE car and accusations that Russian OSCE observers were working for Russia.
Bociurkiw admitted the incident with the car had occurred but said many areas were only accessible when escorted by separatists, though allowing them into OSCE vehicles was not permitted. He added that the OSCE representative in question had been disciplined and all OSCE personnel are subject to a screening process.
