News and press releases

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region between the evenings of 16 and 17 February, compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 17 and 18 February, compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM observed fresh damage, caused by gunfire and shelling, to civilian properties in residential areas of Horlivka and Pikuzy as well as to a building where a television station in Luhansk city is located. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including at checkpoints near Betmanove and Kreminets as well as near Leonove and Izvaryne, in border areas close to the Russian Federation.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Novooleksandrivka. The SMM continued to monitor the situation of civilians living near the contact line in Betmanove and Pivdenne. The SMM visited five border areas outside of government control. In Kyiv, the SMM followed up on reports of an incident at the Russia Centre for Science and Culture on 17 February and saw a group of people throwing eggs and stones at the building of the Centre as well as at a Sberbank branch office the following day. The SMM also monitored two gatherings in Kyiv and one in Kharkiv.

ROME / VIENNA, 19 February 2018 – The targeting of innocent civilians in indiscriminate acts of violence is unacceptable and never justified, said OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Italy’s Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano and OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger today following the terrorist attacks in Kizlyar, Dagestan, in the Russian Federation. They offered their condolences to the families of victims and wished a quick recovery to the injured...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. Small-arms fire hit an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle near Sentianivka. In Dnipro, the Mission followed up on the condition of a three-year-old girl who had been injured by the explosion of unexploded ordnance in Krasnohorivka on 6 February. The SMM observed fresh damage to civilian properties in residential areas of Dokuchaievsk caused by gunfire.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM observed fresh damage to civilian properties, including schools, in residential areas of Dokuchaievsk caused by gunfire. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations inside the Petrivske disengagement area and near the Zolote disengagement area.

VIENNA, 16 February 2018 – Today’s court decision to imprison journalists for life constitutes an unparalleled level of suppression of dissenting voices in Turkey, Harlem Désir, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media and David Kaye, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression said today.

VIENNA, 16 February 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today welcomed the release of the German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yücel.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission observed fresh damage caused by gunfire to a house in Hranitne and to a wall at the Donetsk Filtration Station. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including in Mineralne and Nova Tavriia.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Bila Hora. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to essential infrastructure near Marinka and Yasynuvata. The Mission visited a border area not under government control. The SMM followed up on reports of alleged arson in Lviv.