News and press releases

BAD REICHENHALL, Germany, 14 July 2016 – A two-day conference on confidence-building measures in the Transdniestrian settlement process was held in the town of Bad Reichenhall in Germany on 12 and 13 July 2016. As in past years, the conference, which traditionally takes place in the German state of Bavaria, brought together political representatives of the sides and international 5+2 partners in an informal setting to address the challenges at hand and advance confidence-building measures that would strengthen the process...

VIENNA, 13 July 2016 –The importance of international fora and mechanisms in addressing the consequences of the 2008 conflict in Georgia and in increasing stability and transparency in the region was highlighted at the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation’s meeting today...

In Donetsk region the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations compared to the previous reporting period. Most of the fighting was recorded in the areas around Donetsk city, Yasynuvata, Horlivka and Shyrokyne. In Luhansk region for the third consecutive day, the SMM continued to record a relatively high number of overnight ceasefire violations in government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska, including 237 explosions. The SMM followed up on reports of shelling and conducted crater analysis on both sides of the contact line, in Sakhanka, Zaichenko and Stanytsia Luhanska. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure in Slovianoserbsk, Pryshyb and Shchastia. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and the situation of civilians at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line. The Mission monitored a border area not controlled by the Government and encountered a restriction of its freedom of movement there; overall, the Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted on five occasions, four of which were in areas not controlled by the Government...

KYIV, 12 July 2016 – Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), today expressed his unease following a recent sharp increase in fighting in eastern Ukraine. He said a ceasefire is a KEY step towards the restoration of stabilization, normalization and ultimately, peace. Adherence to a full and sustainable ceasefire is a basic requirement of the Minsk documents. It is a political and moral obligation, he added.

The SMM recorded a similarly high number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared to the previous reporting period, with violence focusing around Donetsk city and the Avdiivka/Yasynuvata area. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations compared to the previous day. It followed up on reports of shelling and conducted crater analysis in Heorhiivka, Marinka, Popasna and Novooleksandrivka. The Mission continued to observe withdrawal of heavy weapons, observing weapons in violation of the withdrawal line and the presence of armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. The SMM faced restrictions to its freedom of movement.* The Mission followed up on reports about an explosion in Kharkiv.

KAMENSK-SHAKHTINSKIY, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall cross-border traffic decreased at both BCPs.

The SMM recorded a similarly high number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region on 9 July compared to 8 July and fewer ceasefire violations on 10 July, respectively compared to 9 July, with violence focusing around Donetsk city and the Avdiivka/Yasynuvata area. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations on both 9 and 10 July, respectively compared to 8 July, noting a sharp increase of violence on the night of 9 July in Stanytsia Luhanska. It followed up on reports of shelling and conducted crater analysis in Marinka, Lebedynske, Sakhanka, Stanytsia Luhanska, and Horlivka. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable the transfer of the body of a deceased person near Shchastia. Armed “LPR” members repeatedly denied the SMM access to Stanytsia Luhanska bridge...