News and press releases

MINSK, 7 September 2016- Ambassador Martin Sajdik, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on the implementation of the peace plan in eastern Ukraine, made the following press statement after today's meeting of the TCG and its four Working Groups in Minsk...

MINSK, 1 September 2016- A Trilateral Contact Group meeting by video-conference took place in Kyiv today 01 September 2016 with the purpose to confirm the ceasefire announced and observed from 00.00, 01 September. Video-conference was also attended by SMM Chief Monitor Ambassador Apakan as well as RF and Ukrainian representatives in JCCC – Generals Medvedskiy and Kremenetskiy accordingly...

POTSDAM, Germany, 1 September 2016 – “It is my firm belief that we must work together to face the common threats of our times and to make use of the OSCE more effectively as a central platform for dialogue,” said OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the end of the Informal Meeting of OSCE Foreign Ministers in Potsdam today. “At a time when we are facing grave differences of opinion and a loss of trust in the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian area, we as political leaders have a duty to listen to each other and to re-engage in genuine dialogue,” Steinmeier added...

MINSK, 26 August 2016- Ambassador Martin Sajdik, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group on the implementation of the peace plan in the East of Ukraine, made the following press statement after today's meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group and its four Working Groups in Minsk today...

The SMM observed an increase in the number of ceasefire violations and the number of explosions recorded in Donetsk region, particularly in the area between Yasynuvata, Avdiivka and the northern outskirts of Donetsk city, as well as the south-western outskirts of Donetsk city. In Luhansk region all ceasefire violations recorded by the SMM were assessed as being part of a live-fire training exercise. The SMM carried out crater analysis and observed the results of shelling on both sides of the contract line in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. It also observed the presence of unexploded ordnance. The Mission monitored three border areas not controlled by the Government and observed a helicopter flying in a border area on two occasions while positioned in government-controlled areas. The SMM continued to assess the situation as calm along the administrative boundary line with Crimea. The SMM faced seven freedom-of-movement restrictions, six of them in areas not controlled by the Government...

In Donetsk region the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations during the daytime of 6 August and a lower number of violations during the night of that day, compared to the respective time period of 5 August. An increase in the number of recorded violations was noted during the daytime of 7 August with almost triple the number of explosions as compared to the previous period. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in the daytime of 6 August compared to the day before. No violations were recorded during the night of 6 August and the whole day of 7 August. The Mission followed up on civilian casualties in Avdiivka, Donetsk city’s Petrovskyi district and Yasynuvata, and conducted crater analysis in Petrovskyi district, Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove) and Sakhanka. It faced six freedom-of-movement restrictions, all but one in areas not controlled by the Government. The SMM followed up on media reports about the closure of the three crossing points at the administrative boundary line between Kherson region and Crimea. On the morning of 6 August, the SMM heard an explosion 3.9km east of its location in Luhansk city and saw a severely damaged vehicle at the scene. On the late morning of 7 August, the SMM experienced an earthquake whilst in its location in Mariupol...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared to the day before including more than 520 explosions. In Luhansk region the SMM noted a decrease in recorded ceasefire violations compared to the previous day. On the night of 4 August, the SMM heard single shots of small-arms fire in close proximity to its base in Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov). The SMM analysed craters in Zaitseve, Luhanske and Novozvanivka. It observed weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line, and noted the absence of numerous weapons from permanent storage sites in government-controlled areas. The SMM followed up on reports of water and power supply cuts in areas of Avdiivka and Yasynuvata due to shelling. It faced four freedom-of-movement restrictions – two in government-controlled areas and two in areas not controlled by the Government...