News and press releases

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. • The SMM observed demining activities by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. • The SMM noted removal of anti-personnel and anti-vehicle mines near a road north of Petrivske; it observed that anti-tank mines on a road between Bohdanivka and Viktorivka remained in place. • The Mission observed multiple launch rocket systems in violation of withdrawal lines in a non-government-controlled area of Luhansk region. • The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate repairs of essential civilian infrastructure, including repairs of power lines and water pipelines, and the drilling of water wells. • Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued, including at a non-government-controlled checkpoint near Verkhnoshyrokivske.*

WARSAW/BRUSSELS, 2 August 2019 – In order to acknowledge the suffering of victims and work towards greater tolerance, more efforts are needed to educate young people about the horror of the Roma genocide that took place during the Second World War, said the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the United Nations Human Rights Office for Europe in a joint statement on Roma Genocide Remembrance Day...

Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The Mission saw a fresh crater and unexploded ordnance near civilian properties on the western edge of Pervomaisk. An SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted military hardware in the Petrivske disengagement area. An SMM mid-range UAV spotted anti-tank mines, some for the first time, near non-government-controlled Nyzhnie Lozove and Pikuzy. The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate repairs of power lines and the drilling of water wells. Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued, including at a checkpoint near Verkhnoshyrokivske and near the border with the Russian Federation, all in non-government-controlled areas...

Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. An SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle spotted the return of anti-tank mines inside the disengagement area near Zolote. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate repairs of critical civilian infrastructure, including power lines, water pipelines, and the drilling of water wells. Restrictions of the Mission’s access continued, including at checkpoints of the armed formations near Veselohorivka, Verkhnoshyrokivske, and Yuzhna Lomuvatka...

Compared with the previous 24 hours, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines, including multiple launch rocket systems and tanks, on both sides of the contact line. In areas beyond government control, an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle spotted a convoy of eight trucks near the border with the Russian Federation where there is no official border crossing facility. The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate repairs to power lines and water pipelines on both sides of the contact line, as well as to enable the operation of critical civilian infrastructure. Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued, including at checkpoints of the armed formations near Zaichenko, Novolaspa and Tavrycheske...

A public consultation was organized today in Podgorica by the Ministry of Culture of Montenegro, with the support of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, the Council of Europe and the European Union (EU) Delegation to Montenegro on the proposal for the law on Audio-Visual Media Services. Participants included representatives of media companies and NGOs dealing with issues related to media...

Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 26 and 27 July, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. It recorded no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. Between the evenings of 27 and 28 July, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM observed damage from gunfire to a document processing booth of the Ukrainian Armed Forces entry-exit checkpoint in Marinka. An SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle was hit by small-arms fire near Pervomaisk. The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate repairs and maintenance work to and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure, including drilling of water wells near Raivka. The SMM saw long queues at a checkpoint of the armed formations near Olenivka. Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued, including at checkpoints of the armed formations in Kreminets, Zaichenko, and Novoazovsk and at a border crossing point near Izvaryne...