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 slightly decreased at both BCPs...

BRUSSELS, 30 August 2016- Gernot Erler, Special Representative of the Federal Government of Germany for the OSCE Chairmanship, and Lamberto Zannier, Secretary General of the OSCE, today spoke about OSCE-EU co-operation during an address to the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs in Brussels...

In Donetsk region, the SMM noted a relative decrease in the number of explosions recorded (nearly 400) compared with 28 August (nearly 1,000). In Luhansk region, the SMM neither registered ceasefire violations during the night of 28 August nor the daytime of 29 August. It followed up on reports of civilian casualties and analysed craters in Petrovskyi district, Yasynuvata, Horlivka, and Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove). The SMM observed preparations for the start of the school year. The Mission visited two border areas not controlled by the Government. It faced four restrictions to its freedom of movement, all but one in areas not controlled by the Government.* The Mission observed a calm situation along the administrative boundary line with Crimea. The SMM monitored public gatherings in Kyiv...

The SMM recorded more explosions in Donetsk region on both 27 and 28 August compared with the previous reporting period.

The SMM recorded fewer explosions in Donetsk region on 26 August (at least 406) compared with the previous reporting period (over 543). The SMM also recorded significantly fewer explosions in Luhansk region (at least eight) compared with the previous day (nearly 200). It followed up on reports of civilian casualties and analysed craters on both sides of the contact line, in Donetsk city, Kostiantynivka, Stanytsia Luhanska, Marinka and Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove). The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and noted the presence of armoured combat vehicles and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the security zone. The SMM monitored the situation of civilians travelling across the contact line at Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, and two border areas not controlled by the Government. It faced two denials to its freedom of movement.* The Mission observed a calm situation along the administrative boundary line with Crimea and observed three public gatherings in Kyiv and the cancellation of a public hearing at the city council in Odessa...

MINSK, 26 August 2016- Ambassador Martin Sajdik, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group on the implementation of the peace plan in the East of Ukraine, made the following press statement after today's meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group and its four Working Groups in Minsk today...

KYIV, 26 August 2016 – Challenges such as the lack of employment and inadequate housing that face both internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the host communities in which they live could be major potential triggers for strained relations between the two and lead to secondary displacement, says a new report issued today by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM)...