News and press releases

At 18:16 (EET) on 2 June the SMM lost all communication with an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) while it was flying at an altitude of 9,000ft in the area between “DPR”-controlled Korsun (31km north-east of Donetsk) and “DPR”-controlled Shevchenko (28km north-east of Donetsk)...

Addressing the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on 2 June 2016, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors described country engagement and highlighted the disturbing increase in hate speech. The statement covered the High Commissioner’s activities since her last statement to the

PARIS, 3 June 2016 – The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Ambassadors Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, James Warlick of the United States of America, and Pierre Andrieu of France) met with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Brussels on 31 May and with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian in Paris on 2 June to discuss implementation of the decisions from the 16 May summit in Vienna. The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, also participated in the meetings...

The SMM observed a similar 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 weapons and noted heavy weapons in violation of withdrawal lines. The SMM also noted armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. Armed “DPR” members continue to keep the power supply to SMM’s repeater in Donetsk city disconnected.* The Mission observed a peaceful protest in Ivano-Frankivsk, organized by family members of soldiers...

BERLIN, 2 June 2016- Strengthening parliamentary control and oversight of the security sector through raising awareness of the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects is vital to building trust among OSCE participating States and to prevent conflicts, said participants at the start of a two-day conference in Berlin today...

BERLIN, 2 June 2016- OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier today welcomed the resumption of negotiations on the Transdniestria conflict from 2 to 3 June 2016 in the guesthouse of Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, Villa Borsig, in Berlin...

The SMM observed a high number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, although fewer than on the previous day. In Luhansk region, the Mission observed more ceasefire violations- all overnight – than on the previous day. The SMM followed up on reports of shelling and shooting in Yasne and Stanytsia Luhanska. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and noted armoured combat vehicles in the security zone. In Lviv, the SMM monitored protests in front of the regional council. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted several times, both in areas controlled and not controlled by the Government...