News and press releases

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission confirmed three civilian casualties in Zaitseve and Horlivka. It saw fresh damage from gunfire to a civilian property in a residential area of Staromykhailivka. The SMM saw a new position and trench inside the Zolote disengagement area, assessed as belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It heard ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, as well as again in Zaichenko and near Novoazovsk, near the border with the Russian Federation.* The SMM observed a weapon in violation of withdrawal lines near Vodiane. The Mission observed that the entry-exit checkpoint in Maiorsk remained closed. The SMM continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to water infrastructure in Luhansk region as well as repairs to residential houses in Avdiivka.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region between the evenings of 24 and 25 August, compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 25 and 26 August, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM followed up on a civilian casualty in Vrubivka. The Mission saw fresh damage caused by shelling to civilian properties in residential areas of Vrubivka and Staromykhailivka. The Mission recorded ceasefire violations inside the Stanytsia Luhanska and Petrivske disengagement areas. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, as well as in Marinka, Zaichenko, Yasne and close to Novoazovsk, Izvaryne and Voznesenivka near the border with the Russian Federation.* The SMM observed that the entry-exit checkpoint in Maiorsk remained closed. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to water infrastructure near Pervomaisk and Zolote, repairs to residential houses in Avdiivka, as well as demining in Berezove.

VIENNA, 27 August 2018- OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir and Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Bruce G. Berton strongly condemned the severe beating of journalist Vladimir Kovačević that took place in Banja Luka, BiH, on the evening of 26 August.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission saw fresh damage caused by small-arms fire to the administration office at the entry-exit checkpoint in Maiorsk. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas and Shchastia, as well as again in Zaichenko and Novoazovsk, near the border with the Russian Federation.* The SMM observed a weapon in violation of withdrawal lines near Zhelanne Druhe. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to water infrastructure near Pervomaisk and demining in Berezove. The SMM monitored gatherings on the occasion of National Flag Day and Ukrainian Independence Day in several locations, which took place without incidents.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous reporting period. It heard at least 500 explosions assessed as both outgoing artillery rounds and impacts thereof 4-15km north-east of Kadiivka. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas and it was again restricted in Zaichenko and Novoazovsk, near the border with the Russian Federation.* The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to water infrastructure in Luhansk region on both sides of the contact line, and of residential houses in Avdiivka. In Kherson, the SMM monitored an appeal court hearing on an acid attack case during which the court acquitted a suspect. In Kyiv, Lviv and Chernivtsi, the SMM monitored gatherings on the occasion of National Flag Day.

From 9 to 24 August 2018, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe conducted three workshops aimed at enhancing communication between police and the general public and media. The workshops were held in Romit, Guliston and Nurek districts of Tajikistan.

VIENNA, 23 August – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today called for the immediate release of Ukrainian journalist, writer and blogger Stanislav Aseev (Vasin), who appeared on a Russia-24 tv report on 17 August for the first time since the beginning of his detention.