News and press releases

VIENNA, 30 November 2018 – A renewed understanding and commitment is needed to reinvigorate the negotiation process and normalize the situation on the ground in eastern Ukraine, the Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, Ertugrul Apakan, said in his address to the OSCE Permanent Council on Thursday in Vienna...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM recorded ceasefire violations inside the Petrivske disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas. The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable an assessment of a water pipeline near Popasna. It continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. In Kyiv, the SMM monitored a protest at a shopping mall reportedly owned by a Russian businessman. It also monitored a public gathering in Mariupol on the developments at sea near the Kerch Strait...

Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region. The Mission observed towed howitzers in violation of the withdrawal lines near Mykhailivka. The SMM recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote and the Petrivske disengagement areas. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. In Kyiv, the SMM monitored a protest against Russian businesses in Ukraine. It observed a calm situation in front of the Embassy and the Consulate of the Russian Federation. The Mission observed a calm situation at the crossing point in Chonhar and at a Ukrainian Border Guard Service position in Valok in the south-eastern part of Kherson region. The access for the SMM remained restricted in all three disengagement areas as well as near Markyne, an area close to the border with the Russian Federation, and near Zaichenko...

Compared with the previous 24 hours, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Following developments at sea near the Kerch Strait, the SMM continued to monitor the security situation and observed protests in different regions of Ukraine. The Mission observed heavy weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Karlivka and Lebedynske. The SMM recorded ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area and near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema and to enable an assessment of a water pipeline near Popasna. The Mission also continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. In Zakarpattia and Lviv regions, the SMM monitored protests blocking roads leading to the international border crossing points in relation to import taxes. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas as well as near Bezimenne and Novoazovsk, an area close to the border with the Russian Federation...

VIENNA/ROME, 27 November 2018- OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Enzo Moavero Milanesi and Secretary General Thomas Greminger today called for restraint and dialogue to de-escalate the already tense situation in the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait.

Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 23 and 24 November, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Between the evenings of 24 and 25 November, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM monitored the security situation following developments at sea near the Kerch Strait. The Mission observed heavy weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines in Kostiantynivka. The SMM recorded ceasefire violations inside the Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote disengagement areas. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to a water pipeline in Pervomaisk and continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. In Kyiv, Lviv and Kherson, the Mission monitored public gatherings commemorating the 85th anniversary of Holodomor. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, as well as near Kostiantynivka, Novolaspa, Zaichenko and two areas close to the border with the Russian Federation, Voznesenivka and Novoazovsk.

The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM), Lamberto Zannier, during his visit to Ashgabat and the Dashoguz Region from 20 to 23 November 2018, agreed with...