News and press releases

Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons increased at both BCPs...

CHISINAU, 12 October 2016 – The Special Representative of the German OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process, Cord Meier-Klodt, today concluded his seventh visit to the region in 2016 to meet with chief negotiators in Chisinau and Tiraspol...

The SMM recorded a higher number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous day, whereas in Luhansk region the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations compared with the previous day. The SMM followed up on reports of shelling and civilian casualties in “DPR”-controlled Sakhanka. The Mission continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; the SMM was restricted in its freedom of movement in all three areas. The SMM monitored the situation of civilians queuing at entry-exit checkpoints and observed a demonstration in Luhansk city against the deployment of an international armed mission...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, including 150 and 127 explosions on 8 and 9 October, respectively, compared with 363 explosions recorded on 7 October. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded no ceasefire violations on 8 October and 47 explosions on 9 October, compared with 29 explosions on 7 October. The Mission followed up on reports of civilian casualties, an explosion and a shelling. The Mission monitored the withdrawal of weapons and saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines. The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. During the reporting period the Mission could not verify the status of disengagement in the Zolote and Petrivske areas due to restrictions to its access. On 9 October the SMM noted that no disengagement took place in the Stanytsia Luhanska area, where it also faced restrictions to its access. The Mission observed mine hazard signs and new UXO in the security zone, including near populated areas. The SMM monitored six border areas not controlled by the Government. The SMM noted a calm situation along the administrative boundary line between Kherson and Crimea...

The second edition of the OSCE Dialogue Academy for young women leaders from Prishtinë/Priština and Belgrade, organized under the auspices of the “Follow Us” Initiative, was held from 30 September to 9 October at Stadtschlaining, Austria...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, including 363 explosions compared with the previous reporting period (848 explosions). In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including 29 explosions compared with nine during the previous reporting period, while 23 of the explosions were attributable to live-fire exercises outside the security zone. The Mission continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; the SMM was restricted in its freedom of movement in all three areas.* The SMM observed pullback of forces and hardware from the disengagement area both in Petrivske and Bohdanivka following the announcement by both Ukrainian and Russian Armed Forces representatives to the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) about the start of disengagement. The Mission monitored the withdrawal of weapons and saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines. The SMM monitored the situation of internally displaced persons in Odessa...

The SMM recorded a significantly higher number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM followed up on reports of shooting in Marinka. The Mission continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; the SMM was restricted in its freedom of movement in all three areas. The SMM monitored the situation of civilians living near the contact line and of civilians queuing at entry-exit checkpoints. The SMM visited border areas outside government control, as well as border areas in Chernihiv and Vinnytsia...