News and press releases

The SMM recorded more explosions in Donetsk region on 25 August (at least 543) compared with 24 August (over 350). In Luhansk region the SMM recorded a similar number of explosions compared with the previous day. It conducted crater analysis in Molodizhne, Petrovskyi district and Hannivka. The Mission facilitated repairs to essential infrastructure in Obozne and Shchastia. The SMM monitored three border areas not controlled by the Government.* It faced two freedom-of-movement restrictions in areas not controlled by the Government. The Mission observed a calm situation along the administrative boundary line with Crimea. The SMM also followed up on reports of an explosion at an administrative building in Bila Tserkva...

The SMM observed a significant decrease in the number of explosions recorded in Donetsk region on 23 August (approximately 170) compared with 22 August (531), although the number of recorded explosions doubled on 24 August (over 350) compared with the previous day. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded twice as many explosions on 23 August (over 140) and thrice as many explosions on 24 August (over 200) compared with 22 August (60). The Mission observed ceasefire violations involving proscribed weapons in close proximity of its positions in Yasynuvata and Stanytsia Luhanska. The SMM conducted crater analysis and observed the results of shelling on both sides of the contact line, in Popasna, Hranitne, Solodke, Petrovskyi district, Novooleksandrivka, Stanytsia Luhanska, Avdiivka, Krasnohorivka, and Krymske. The SMM faced four freedom-of-movement restrictions, all but one in areas not controlled by the Government. The Mission continued to observe a calm situation along the administrative boundary line with Crimea. The SMM also monitored celebrations marking Independence Day which were held on 24 August...

On 25 August 2016 at 06:55hrs (Moscow time), a Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of 39 vehicles were checked by the Russian border guards and customs services prior to them crossing into Ukraine. All of the 39 vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 16:15hrs on 25 August...

The Observer Mission continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The number of border crossings by persons increased at both BCPs.

BERLIN, 24 August 2016 – Following recent incidents targeting patrol teams of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) in the country’s east, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, issued the following statement...

The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and an increase in the number recorded in Luhansk region.

At 14:28 on 22 August, an SMM patrol comprising four SMM staff members and a paramedic in two vehicles was stopped by three armed men at a checkpoint in “DPR”-controlled Lukove (72km south of Donetsk). One of them demanded in a hostile manner to search the SMM vehicles...