News and press releases

The SMM observed a number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, and several in Luhansk region. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The Mission encountered freedom-of-movement restrictions, the majority in areas not under government control.* It observed new mobile checkpoints in Luhansk region. The SMM continued to monitor the situation affecting the civilian population near the contact line, and saw civilians frustrated at checkpoint queues in Donetsk region. The SMM observed a demonstration in Odessa and visited a border crossing point in Kharkiv region...

BERLIN, 4 February 2016 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier today expressed deep concern following the recent increase in ceasefire violations in Eastern Ukraine and called upon all sides to fully comply with the ceasefire and to immediately end all fighting.

The SMM observed a significant number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and several in Luhansk region. It continued to visit heavy weapons holding areas and permanent storage sites. The Mission encountered freedom-of-movement restrictions in areas not controlled by the Government.* It continued to facilitate and monitor repair works on critical infrastructure. The Mission monitored peaceful demonstrations in Kyiv and Chernivtsi.

Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCP). The overall cross-border traffic decreased at both BCPs. Rotation of the Ukrainian officials who are present in the vicinity of the Donetsk BCP took place...

KYIV, 3 February 2016 – The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) received 20 armoured vehicles donated by the European Union (EU) today during an official handover ceremony held outside the SMM’s head office in Kyiv. The EU’s donation is part of its support to the OSCE in working towards the stabilization and normalization of the situation in Ukraine...

PRAGUE, 3 February 2016 – The leadership of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions visited the Czech Republic on 1 and 2 February to consider the country’s role in responding to the crisis of migrants and refugees currently affecting the OSCE area...

The SMM observed continued ceasefire violations in the wider Horlivka area, but a lower number of ceasefire violations in areas at and around Donetsk airport compared to the two previous days. It continued to visit heavy weapons holding areas and permanent storage sites. In violation of the Mission’s mandate and the Package of Measures, unidentified armed men restricted the Mission’s freedom of movement, especially in parts of Luhansk region not controlled by the Government*. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repair work on critical infrastructure along the contact line. In Kharkiv, the Mission followed up on media reports about a bomb threat. It monitored a protest in Ivano-Frankivsk and one rally in Kyiv...