News and press releases

MINSK, 13 April 2017 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Martin Sajdik, made the following statement to the press after the meeting of the TCG and its working groups in Minsk on 12 April 2017:..

The SMM observed more ceasefire violations in Donetsk but fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission heard small-arms fire assessed as aimed at an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle flying near Staryi Aidar. It followed up on reports of civilian casualties and damage to residences from shelling and gunfire in Dokuchaievsk, Marinka and Khreshchatytske. The SMM monitored the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access there and elsewhere remained restricted.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. It visited four border areas currently not controlled by the Government. The SMM continued to monitor the status of the blockade of railway routes, noting that obstacles on the railroad tracks near Hirske were no longer present. The Mission monitored the continuation of protests in Poltava, Kyiv and Kharkiv. In Kyiv it also followed up on a media report of an explosion at a cafe...

The SMM observed more ceasefire violations in Donetsk but fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission followed up on reports of civilian casualties and damage from gunfire, and shelling in residential areas in Dokuchaievsk, Donetsk city, Khreshchatytske and Donetskyi. The Mission monitored the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access there and elsewhere remained restricted.

Between the evenings of 7 and 8 April the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 8 and 9 April the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24-hour period. The Mission observed fresh impact sites caused by shelling and gunfire inside the disengagement area in Stanytsia Luhanska, as well as in Sokilnyky and Novozvanivka. The Mission monitored the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access there and elsewhere remained restricted...

The SMM observed more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on a report of a civilian casualty in Avdiivka and damage to houses from shelling and gunfire in Shevchenko and Dokuchaievsk. The Mission monitored the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access there and elsewhere remained restricted.* It continued to observe weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM visited three border areas currently not controlled by the Government in Uspenka, Novoazovsk, and Dovzhanskyi. In Kyiv, the SMM followed-up on media reports and monitored the situation around the district court building...

The SMM observed fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of civilian casualties in Avdiivka, Marinka and Novoazovsk. The Mission monitored the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access there and elsewhere remained restricted. It continued to observe weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM noted no changes and a calm situation at the blockade sites near Hirske and Buhas. The SMM continued to observe the presence of mines, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and the presence of mine hazard signs...

The SMM observed more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24 hours, despite a recommitment to the ceasefire on 1 April. The Mission followed up on two reports of civilian casualties in Troitske and Verkhnotoretsk. The Mission monitored the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access there and elsewhere remained restricted.* It continued to observe weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM facilitated and observed demining activity as well as the restoration of operations at the Donetsk Water Filtration Station. The Mission monitored a border area currently not under government control. The SMM noted no changes and a calm situation at the blockade sites near Hirske and Buhas. Shots were fired near an SMM mid-range unmanned aerial vehicle on the outskirts of Luhansk city. The SMM followed up on a recent incident when a hand grenade was reportedly detonated in a café in Dnipro. In Balakliia, the SMM saw repair work underway and that a local school resumed operations following explosions at the ammunitions depot...