News and press releases

The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations. An unknown device was thrown towards an SMM patrol while driving in the north-eastern outskirts of Dokuchaievsk. The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM observed damage due to shelling in Novotroitske and Boikivske. It continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; the Mission’s access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines. It monitored the situation of civilians travelling across the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. In Kyiv, Kharkiv and Ivano-Frankivsk, the Mission observed public gatherings and followed up on incidents affecting religious communities...

On 17 May an SMM patrol consisting of five members in two armoured vehicles was in the north-eastern outskirts of “DPR”-controlled Dokuchaievsk (30km south-west of Donetsk) heading west behind a green military-type truck (KamAZ-4350) with plate number DK-1823. The SMM patrol saw six men wearing military-style clothes on board the truck in the back of the cargo compartment...

The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations. The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. Near Verkhnoshyrokivske the SMM heard a shot of small-arms fire nearby. The SMM continued to follow up on a report of a civilian casualty in Chermalyk and observed damage to civilian property due to shelling in Sakhanka. It continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; the Mission’s access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines. It continued to monitor the situation of civilians travelling across the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. The Mission visited a border area currently not under government control. In Kyiv, the SMM monitored three peaceful gatherings...

The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations. The Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24-hour period. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines.

The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations. Between the evenings of 12 and 13 May the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period, while between the evenings of 13 and 14 May it recorded fewer ceasefire violations – including fewer explosions – compared with the previous 24-hour period. In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 12 and 13 May, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations – including more explosions- compared with the previous reporting period, while between the evenings of 13 and 14 May it recorded fewer ceasefire violations compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM followed up on multiple reports of shelling and civilian casualties in Avdiivka, Chermalyk, Dokuchaievsk, Donetsk, Pikuzy, Sentianivka and YasynuvataThe Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons and observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* The SMM monitored the situation of civilians travelling across the contact line at the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. The Mission visited three border areas currently not under government control...

BERLIN, 15 May 2017 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today released a new publication aimed at assisting governments in addressing the security needs of Jewish communities, at a launch event in the German Parliamentary Society...

The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations. The Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, including, however, more explosions. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period.