News and press releases

The SMM observed more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on a report of a civilian casualty in Avdiivka and damage to houses from shelling and gunfire in Shevchenko and Dokuchaievsk. The Mission monitored the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access there and elsewhere remained restricted.* It continued to observe weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM visited three border areas currently not controlled by the Government in Uspenka, Novoazovsk, and Dovzhanskyi. In Kyiv, the SMM followed-up on media reports and monitored the situation around the district court building...

The SMM observed fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of civilian casualties in Avdiivka, Marinka and Novoazovsk. The Mission monitored the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access there and elsewhere remained restricted. It continued to observe weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM noted no changes and a calm situation at the blockade sites near Hirske and Buhas. The SMM continued to observe the presence of mines, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and the presence of mine hazard signs...

OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier met Albania’s Minister of Defence Mimi Kodheli on 7 April 2017 during her bilateral visit to Austria...

VIENNA, 7 April, 2017 – Fostering a better understanding of threat perceptions is the focus of discussions among senior officials from capitals and ambassadors of the participating States to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna (Kahlenberg) today...

The SMM observed more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24 hours, despite a recommitment to the ceasefire on 1 April. The Mission followed up on two reports of civilian casualties in Troitske and Verkhnotoretsk. The Mission monitored the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access there and elsewhere remained restricted.* It continued to observe weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM facilitated and observed demining activity as well as the restoration of operations at the Donetsk Water Filtration Station. The Mission monitored a border area currently not under government control. The SMM noted no changes and a calm situation at the blockade sites near Hirske and Buhas. Shots were fired near an SMM mid-range unmanned aerial vehicle on the outskirts of Luhansk city. The SMM followed up on a recent incident when a hand grenade was reportedly detonated in a café in Dnipro. In Balakliia, the SMM saw repair work underway and that a local school resumed operations following explosions at the ammunitions depot...

VIENNA, 6 April 2017 – The mandate of the OSCE Observer Mission at the Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk was extended by three months to 31 July 2017 following a consensus decision today by participating States at the OSCE Permanent Council...

Around 14:00 of 5 April, the SMM observed, in violation of the respective withdrawal line, heavy weapons moving in the vicinity of an aerodrome in Luhansk – 1.2km north of the road M04. (For example, at 14:47, the SMM observed one multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122 mm) heading south-east on the road M04)...