News and press releases

VIENNA, 6 March 2015 – In view of the next round of the Geneva International Discussions which is scheduled for 17-18 March, the co-chairs held consultations with participants in Tbilisi, Sukhumi, Tskhinvali and Moscow. Ambassador Angelo Gnaedinger, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus, visited Tskhinvali, Sukhumi and Tbilisi from 16-20 February and Moscow on 5 March together with his fellow co-chairs, EU Special Representative Herbert Salber and UN Representative Antti Turunen...

KAMENSK-SHAKHTINSKY, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both BCPs. The overall cross-border traffic increased at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The net flow considerably decreased confirming OM’s predicted return movement into Ukraine. The OM also observed an increase of the number of persons in military-style clothing crossing the border in both directions...

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Based on its monitoring – which was restricted by third parties and by security considerations* – the SMM assessed the security situation in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as relatively calm.

KYIV, 05 March, 2015 — Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, today expressed his sadness and regret at reports that several dozen had been killed in a mining accident in eastern Ukraine. He sent his deep condolences to the families of the victims.

On 04 March 2015 at 07:21hrs (Moscow time), a Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of 83 vehicles were checked by the Russian border guard and customs services. All the vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 17:18hrs on 04 March.

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements”. The SMM, based on its monitoring – which was restricted by third parties and by security considerations – assessed the security situation in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as relatively calm, but noted continued fighting in certain locations, notably on the outskirts of Donetsk city, and continued military activity around the village of Shyrokyne, close to Mariupol...

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements”. The SMM, based on its monitoring – which was restricted by third parties and by security considerations – noted the security situations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions to be relatively calm, although distant shelling and gunfire were heard by the SMM. The SMM also monitored “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled Shyrokyne – which has experienced recent fighting...