News and press releases

Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region. It recorded a ceasefire violation inside the Zolote disengagement area. The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM observed fresh craters near Kalynove-Borshchuvate. The Mission saw anti-tank mines for the first time near Marinka. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable demining activities and repairs to essential civilian infrastructure on both sides of the contact line. Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. Its freedom of movement was also restricted near non-government-controlled Starolaspa...

Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The SMM observed damage from a mortar round to a house in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka. The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The Mission recorded ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential civilian infrastructure on both sides of the contact line. Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. It was also restricted at a railway station in government-controlled Kostiantynivka and near non-government-controlled Korsun and Zaichenko...

Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region. The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines at a railway station in government-controlled Kostiantynivka. The Mission recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote disengagement area. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential civilian infrastructure on both sides of the contact line. Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. It was also restricted while driving on a road north of Dokuchaievsk, at a heavy weapons holding area and at a checkpoint near Zaichenko, all in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region...

VIENNA, 4 April 2019 – Despite the latest recommitment to cease fire, beginning on 8 March, the security situation in eastern Ukraine remains volatile, the Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, said in his address to the OSCE Permanent Council today in Vienna...

KYIV, 4 April 2019 – On the occasion of International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, observed to raise awareness about mines and progress towards their eradication, the Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, Ertugrul Apakan, and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, Henrik Villadsen, highlighted the importance of mine action in the conflict-affected areas of eastern Ukraine...

Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region. The SMM saw fresh damage to residential buildings in Yasynuvata and Dokuchaievsk. The Mission recorded ceasefire violations and military hardware inside the Zolote disengagement area. The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. A civilian car driven by men in military-style attire drove aggressively toward an SMM patrol twice. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential civilian infrastructure. Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. It was also restricted at a checkpoint near Zaichenko.

Compared with the previous 24 hours, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region. The Mission followed up on reports of a man killed in Sakhanka due to shrapnel injuries, as well as a man and a woman injured in Pikuzy due to shelling, all in March. The SMM saw fresh damage to residential buildings and a school in Zolote-2/Karbonit and Zolote-5/Mykhailivka. It also observed fresh craters near Kalynove-Borshchuvate and Novotroitske. The Mission recorded ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area and near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The SMM saw for the first time a piece of unexploded ordnance near Novobakhmutivka, unexploded ordnance and anti-tank mines near Marinka, an improvised explosive device near Olenivka and mine hazard signs near Kreminets and Verkhnotoretske. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential civilian infrastructure. Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. In addition, it was restricted at checkpoints near Zaichenko, Verkhnoshyrokivske and Tavrycheske, as well as at a border crossing point and railway station near Voznesenivka, close to the border with the Russian Federation.