News and press releases

The SMM observed more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared to the previous day. Several explosions occurred in the vicinity of the SMM near Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of heavy weapons; it also noted armoured combat vehicles, an anti-aircraft gun and an unmanned aerial vehicle in the security zone. The SMM continued to monitor the humanitarian situation and observed a demonstration against discussions surrounding an armed OSCE presence in Donetsk. It also monitored a series of demonstrations in Dnipro, Odessa and Kyiv. Armed “DPR” members kept the power supply to SMM’s repeater in Donetsk city disconnected and the SMM faced one additional restriction on its freedom of movement, in an area not controlled by the Government...

VIENNA, 10 June 2016- On the basis of the holiday ceasefire agreement of 29 April 2016, the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) and representatives of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine have today conducted a video-conference, in order to discuss recent ceasefire violations along the line of contact...

The SMM observed fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous day and some ceasefire violations in Luhansk region compared with none the previous day. Whilst at Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, incoming fire impacted about 100 metres from SMM’s position. The SMM observed craters and damage caused by shelling in Donetsk city and other areas. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and noted heavy weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines; it also noted armoured combat vehicles and anti-aircraft weapons in the security zone. Armed “DPR” members continued to keep the power supply to SMM’s repeater in Donetsk city disconnected; and the SMM faced four additional restrictions of its freedom of movement, mainly in areas not controlled by the Government. The Mission observed in Lviv civic activists demanding the dismissal of the mayor...

An SMM national staff member who had been held in Donetsk city was released. The SMM observed more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared to the previous day. Luhansk region remained calm with no ceasefire violations recorded. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of heavy weapons; it noted armoured combat vehicles and an anti-aircraft gun in the security zone. Armed “DPR” members continued to keep the power supply to SMM’s repeater in Donetsk city disconnected; the SMM faced two additional restrictions on its freedom of movement, both in border areas not controlled by the Government...

VIENNA, 9 June 2016 – Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, in his address to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, highlighted the value of the Human Rights Convention and called on the 57 OSCE participating States to “put these shared standards and common laws at the heart of our approach to stability in Europe and beyond.”...

The SMM observed more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared to the previous day. Luhansk region remained calm with no ceasefire violations recorded. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and noted heavy weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines; it also noted armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. Armed “DPR” members continued to keep the power supply to SMM’s repeater in Donetsk city disconnected, and prevented the SMM from accessing Verkhnoshyrokivske.* The Mission has been working to verify the whereabouts and ensure the safe return of an SMM national staff member missing since 7 June. The SMM observed the situation at the administrative boundary line between Kherson and Crimea...

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...