News and press releases

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations on both 12 and 13 November in Donetsk region compared with 11 November. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations on 12 November and fewer violations on 13 November, as compared with 11 November. The Mission followed up on reports of shelling as well as civilian and non-civilian casualties on both sides of the contact line. The Mission continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote, and Petrivske, and faced restriction of its freedom of movement in all three areas.* The SMM observed long queues at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line and shelling in the vicinity of civilian crossing areas. The SMM observed the presence of mines in populated areas. In Luhansk region the Mission visited two border areas currently not under government control...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and an increase in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of shelling in Marinka and of a civilian casualty in Verkhnotoretske. The Mission continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote, and Petrivske, and faced restriction of its freedom of movement in all three areas.* The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. In Donetsk region, the Mission visited three border areas currently not under government control. The SMM monitored a public gathering in Kyiv...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period; however, the overall level of explosions remained high with over 800 and 200 in both regions, respectively. The Mission followed up on reports of damage from shelling in a residential area of government-controlled Troitske and an industrial area of “LPR”-controlled Almazna. The Mission continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote, and Petrivske, and faced restriction of its freedom of movement in all three areas.* At the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, the SMM followed up on reports of gunfire forcing civilians to take cover. A soldier handled a grenade without the safety pin in the presence of the SMM in Stanytsia Luhanska. The SMM monitored the withdrawal of heavy weapons. In Luhansk region, the Mission visited one border area currently not under government control...

KYIV, 10 November 2016- Following a recent sharp increase in fighting in eastern Ukraine, Ertugrul Apakan, Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), called on the sides to exercise maximum restraint and establish a full and sustainable ceasefire...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of civilian casualties in Toretsk, Marinka and Zoria. It observed damage caused by shelling in Marinka, Irmino, and Novotoshkivske. In Verkhnoshyrokivske shelling occurred near the SMM. The Mission continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and faced restriction of its freedom of movement in all three areas.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure co-ordinated by the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination. In Luhansk region, the Mission visited two border areas currently not under government control and one border area under government control...

MINSK, 9 November – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) Martin Sajdik made the following press statement after the meeting of the TCG and its four Working Groups in Minsk on 9 November 2016: “Last time we met in Minsk was on 26 October 2016. On 29 October, the TCG convened via video conferencing and this was also attended by representatives from certain areas of Luhansk and Donetsk regions and representatives of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (SMM) and the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC).

The SMM recorded a higher number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period...