News and press releases

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo and the OSCE Mission to Serbia, for the second consecutive year, will organize the Dialogue Academy for Young Women as part of the Follow Us initiative. The initiative gathers prominent women from politics, academia, media and civil society from Belgrade and Prishtinë/Priština and supports the process of dialogue, reconciliation and confidence-building between the two societies...

The SMM observed more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared to each of the previous two days, and noted a high number of ceasefire violations, including 266 explosions, in Luhansk region compared to none on 4 and 5 June. The SMM conducted crater analysis in government-controlled Krymske and at the “LPR” checkpoint on the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. It continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair works to essential infrastructure in the Zolote-Pervomaisk area and in Veselohorivka. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The SMM monitored gatherings in Odessa. Its freedom of movement was restricted on four occasions on both sides of the contact line...

The SMM observed more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region both on 4 and 5 June as compared to 3 June, and observed a similarly high number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region on the night of 3 June – compared to the previous night and fewer during the remainder of the reporting period – compared to 3 June. In particular, a sharp increase of violence was noted in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata area and south-east of Svitlodarsk. On both sides of the contact line, the Mission conducted crater analysis and observed damages to civilian houses caused by shelling; on one occasion, the SMM observed a dead person. The SMM noted that a “DPR” checkpoint had been relocated closer to a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair works to essential infrastructure. The Mission’s operations were restricted by the sides on several occasions...

The SMM observed a lower level of violence in Donetsk region and more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region compared with the previous day. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of heavy weapons; it noted also armoured combat vehicles and other hardware in the security zone. Armed “DPR” members continue to keep the power supply to the SMM’s repeater in Donetsk city disconnected.* The Mission could neither locate nor recover any debris at the presumed crash site of an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in Korsun.

BISHKEK, 3 June 2016 – Wrapping up a two-day visit to Kyrgyzstan, which has included meetings with the Speaker of the Parliament, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and officials at the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, Special Representative for Central and Eastern Asia and Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Christine Muttonen spoke to students today at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek on conflict prevention and peace-building, noting the strengths of the OSCE’s approach, as well as areas for improvement...

The SMM observed more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer ceasefire violations in Luhansk region compared with the previous day. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and noted heavy weapons in violation of withdrawal lines. The SMM also noted armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted several times, mostly in areas not controlled by the Government, including once at the border. An SMM mini UAV crashed south of Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, and the SMM lost all communication with its long-range UAV while it was flying over “DPR” controlled areas.* The Mission observed several peaceful protests in Kyiv...

BERLIN, 3 June 2016 – The resumption of talks in the 5+2 format signals a fresh impetus in the settlement process and provides new momentum to achieve real progress, said Ambassador Cord Meier-Klodt, Special Representative of the German OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process...