Crossing In Plain Sight
OSCE sees Russian military equipment moving in both directions at checkpoint in easternUkraine
Crossing In Plain Sight

OSCE sees Russian military equipment moving in both directions at checkpoint in eastern Ukraine

On July 22, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, while attempting to cross at the non-government-controlled checkpoint near Novoazovsk, Donetsk Oblast, observed multiple “military type” vehicles near the checkpoint. These observations, along with statements from the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) and social media reports within a few days of the SMM’s observations, indicate a possible Russian military buildup along Ukraine’s eastern border.
(1/2) #OSCE SMM’s been waiting for over 1hr @ Novoazovsk CP. SMM patrols see a lot of military type movement there https://t.co/aozXN0FFQa
— OSCE SMM Ukraine (@OSCE_SMM) July 22, 2017
(2/2)JCCC fails 2 remove the impediment. Senior so-called “DPR razvedka” member cites “orders” for denial of access 2 #OSCE SMM. #supportSMM
— OSCE SMM Ukraine (@OSCE_SMM) July 22, 2017
More military type movement in direction to&from UA-RF border.SMM stopped @ CP in Novoazovsk 4 over 2hrs already- continuing Minsk violation
— OSCE SMM Ukraine (@OSCE_SMM) July 22, 2017
After +3hrs waiting,SMM leaves Novoazovsk, but will be back.#OSCE SMM continues 2 monitor& pursue full access all over #Ukraine as mandated
— OSCE SMM Ukraine (@OSCE_SMM) July 22, 2017
Minsk violation: #OSCE monitors are prevented access 2 Novoazovsk again. 2 SMM patrols stopped @ CP. Other civilian traffic moves freely pic.twitter.com/XZvRKz9KuA
— OSCE SMM Ukraine (@OSCE_SMM) July 22, 2017
In violation of the Minsk agreements, the so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic” (DNR) denied the SMM access to the Novoazovsk checkpoint, even though it continued to allow other civilian traffic through the same location. The SMM stated that a senior-level member of the DNR intelligence/reconnaissance service cited orders to deny access to the unarmed civilian observing mission.
[facebook url=”https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/videos/831249273710998/” /]
As often reported by the SMM, civilian traffic from government-controlled areas to non-government-controlled areas is fairly frequent. For example, there are regular marshrutkas (shuttle-like minibuses) that travel from Taganrog, Rostov Oblast, Russia, (near Pokrovskoye and Rostov-on-Don) to Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, stopping at the international border crossing point in Maksimov, Rostov Oblast, Russia, and going through the checkpoint that the SMM was stopped at in Novoazovsk, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine.

While attempting to cross, the SMM observed one BTR-80 armored personnel carrier (APC) traveling from the direction of Russia to Novoazovsk. During the three-hour wait, the SMM observed five military-type trucks (inscribed with “ТБГ”) transporting men in military-style attire from the direction of Novoazovsk toward Russia. They later saw the same five trucks, empty, returning toward Novoazovsk without the men.

These observations may find some explanation in recent statements by the UAF and recent social media reports. Chief of the General Staff and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Viktor Muzhenko alleged that Russia recently increased its military presence on Ukraine’s eastern border, with three motorized rifle divisions in the Russian cities of Smolensk (144th Motorized Rifle Division), Valuyki (3rd Motorized Rifle Division), and Novocherkassk (150th Motorized Rifle Division).
Генштаб: РФ стягнула до кордону 3 дивізії, призначені для швидких наступальних дій https://t.co/mkCOPLAbmA pic.twitter.com/Uw3OunVrZI
— Українська правда ✌️ (@ukrpravda_news) July 23, 2017
Social media reports also indicate that there could be a military buildup along the border. Photos show rows of tanks at a train station in Pokrovskoye, Rostov Oblast, Russia, just west of Rostov-on-Don, where Russia’s Southern Military District is headquartered. A video shows nine tanks — what appear to be BMP-2 tanks — one marked “131” with a square with a diagonal line in it, in a field near the same train station.

Jul22 #Rostov rgn, Russia: 9 BMP-2 near Ukraine-Russia border. Probably not far from occupied #Novoazovsk https://t.co/7YaSKifzJN pic.twitter.com/XFx63bWYd8
— English Lugansk (@loogunda) July 23, 2017
Taken together, each piece of information indicate a high likelihood that Russia is moving military equipment into the non-government-controlled areas of eastern Ukraine. This is not necessarily a buildup of military equipment — the SMM observed equipment moving in both directions, so it may be part of a regular rotation schedule. In either case, these actions are in clear violation of the Minsk agreements and are further evidence of Russian military activity within Ukraine’s borders.
Follow the latest Minsk II violations via the @DFRLab’s #MinskMonitor.
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