News and press releases

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous reporting period. An SMM patrol was threatened by armed men near a checkpoint east of Kreminets. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas and at a border area near Sievernyi (near the border with the Russian Federation).* An SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle experienced jamming. The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Luhansk city. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema and a water pipeline in Obozne. In Kyiv, the Mission monitored a gathering outside the Pecherskyi District Court and continued to monitor the situation outside a television station building. In Kherson, the SMM monitored a court hearing for the captain of a fishing ship. In Luhansk city, the SMM monitored a gathering in front of the SMM office....

At 12:14 on 5 April, an SMM patrol consisting of six members and two armoured vehicles was stationary, preparing for a scheduled flight of its mid-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) while positioned on road H15, 2km east of a checkpoint of the armed formations east of Kreminets (non-government controlled, 16km south-west of Donetsk). Just before that, a blue Lada car (with plates AA237 and with “police” markings in Russian) travelling west to east turned around towards the SMM. Three men (one in camouflage clothing, two in blue police-type attire) then emerged from the car, each carrying an assault rifle (AK-variant, hanging down over their shoulders), and approached the patrol. The man in camouflage clothing introduced himself (in Russian) as a “commander of a special unit”. He said it was a “no-fly zone” and that they were not informed of the SMM’s activities with the UAV. The SMM explained the mandate of the Mission and its activities, including the operation of UAVs.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission confirmed a civilian casualty in Donetsk city. Small arms were fired in areas where SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) were flying near Novoselivka and near Shevchenko. The SMM long-range UAV experienced jamming. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and recorded ceasefire violations near, but outside, the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas and at a border crossing point near Dovzhanske near the border with the Russian Federation in Luhansk region, outside government control.* The SMM observed a weapon in violation of withdrawal lines near Oknyne in Luhansk region, as well as weapons beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites on both sides of the contact line. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema and a water pipeline near Zaitseve. In Kyiv, the Mission monitored a gathering in front of the Ombudsperson’s office. The SMM followed up on reports of an incident at a church building in Rivne region and of a robbery at a church building in Kadiivka.

KYIV, 4 April 2018 – The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) will hold its regular news briefing on Thursday, 5 April, in Kyiv.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and a similar number in Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations outside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas and at a heavy weapons holding area in an area of Donetsk region outside of government control.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Anadol. The Mission observed for the first time anti-tank mines near Starohnativka. The SMM continued to facilitate access for workers to and from the Donetsk Filtration Station; it also facilitated repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema and to a water pipeline near Zaitseve. In Kyiv, the Mission monitored a march in the city centre...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 30 and 31 March, compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 31 March and 1 April, it recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and a similar number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours. Between the evenings of 1 and 2 April, it recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM observed damage to civilian properties caused by gunfire in Dokuchaievsk. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it observed ceasefire violations inside the Petrivske disengagement area and near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, as well as, again, in border areas near Izvaryne, Leonove, Sievernyi, Voznesenivka (near the border with the Russian Federation), at a checkpoint near Popasna and in Novohryhorivka.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The Mission observed for the first time anti-tank mines near Zaitseve and Sosnivske. The SMM continued to facilitate access for workers to and from the Donetsk Filtration Station; it also facilitated repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema and to a water pipeline near Maiorsk. The SMM monitored the administrative boundary line in Kherson region and a gathering in Bila Krynytsia, Chernivtsi region. In Kyiv, the Mission continued to monitor a group of people near the entrance to a television station.

Following a recommitment to the ceasefire, the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. Three SMM unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) were fired at in non-government-controlled areas. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, where it observed calm situations. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas and at the Chervona Mohyla railway station near Voznesenivka and at a border crossing point near Voznesenivka (both close to the border with the Russian Federation in Luhansk region), as well as to Novohryhorivka and Verkhnoshyrokivske.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Luhansk city, Topolyne and Berkhivka. The Mission continued to facilitate access for workers to and from the Donetsk Filtration Station. The SMM also facilitated repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema. In Kyiv, the Mission continued to monitor a group of people blocking the entrance to a television station.