News and press releases

The SMM observed a significant number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and several in Luhansk region. It continued to visit heavy weapons holding areas and permanent storage sites. The Mission encountered freedom-of-movement restrictions in areas not controlled by the Government.* It continued to facilitate and monitor repair works on critical infrastructure. The Mission monitored peaceful demonstrations in Kyiv and Chernivtsi.

The SMM observed continued ceasefire violations in the wider Horlivka area, but a lower number of ceasefire violations in areas at and around Donetsk airport compared to the two previous days. It continued to visit heavy weapons holding areas and permanent storage sites. In violation of the Mission’s mandate and the Package of Measures, unidentified armed men restricted the Mission’s freedom of movement, especially in parts of Luhansk region not controlled by the Government*. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repair work on critical infrastructure along the contact line. In Kharkiv, the Mission followed up on media reports about a bomb threat. It monitored a protest in Ivano-Frankivsk and one rally in Kyiv...

VILNIUS, 2 February 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today discussed media freedom issues with Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius as part of a visit to Vilnius. She expressed her gratitude for the strong support her mandate has received from the country’s government over the past six years...

The SMM observed a large number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. It continued to visit heavy weapons holding areas and permanent storage sites. The Mission encountered freedom-of-movement restrictions, mostly in areas not controlled by the Government. It continued to facilitate and monitor repair work on critical infrastructure along the contact line. The Mission monitored a protest march in Lviv in which participants called for the release of so-called political prisoners...

The SMM observed ceasefire violations in Donetsk and in Luhansk regions. It continued to visit heavy weapons holding areas and permanent storage sites. The Mission encountered freedom of movement restrictions in areas not controlled by the Government. In Kyiv, the SMM monitored two marches. It continued to facilitate and monitor repair works on critical infrastructure...

The SMM observed a number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, but none in the area of Donetsk airport. In Luhansk region, it also observed instances of ceasefire violations, including live-fire exercises. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to critical infrastructure. The Mission monitored the humanitarian situation in villages near the contact line. The SMM’s freedom of movement was restricted in areas not controlled by the Government...

VIENNA, 29 January 2016 – A full, sustainable ceasefire remains a basic requirement for peace and normalization of the security situation in Ukraine, said the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group Martin Sajdik and the Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Ertugrul Apakan in their address to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on Thursday...