News and press releases

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous 24 hours. Following the explosion on Pushkina Boulevard in Donetsk city on 31 August, the Mission continued to observe a calm situation in the city centre. The Mission recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area as well as near Topolyne and Pryvilne.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines near Kremenivka. It continued to monitor the situation at the closed entry-exit checkpoint near Stanytsia Luhanska and to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. The SMM’s observations remained limited due to security considerations.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and a similar number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region between the evenings of 31 August and 1 September, compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 1 and 2 September, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous 24 hours. In Donetsk city, the SMM saw a gathering relating to the reported death of Aleksandr Zakharchenko and at least one hundred members of the armed formations securing the area. The SMM recorded a ceasefire violation inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The Mission’s access remained restricted in the disengagement area as well as near Yasynuvata.* The SMM observed a weapon in violation of withdrawal lines near Ozarianivka. The Mission observed anti-tank mines near Popasna. The SMM saw that the entry-exit checkpoint near Stanytsia Luhanska was closed and observed that checkpoints in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region had been re-opened. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. The SMM’s observations were limited during the reporting period for security considerations.

Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and the same number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. At 17:27 on 31 August, the Mission heard an undetermined explosion less than 200m north-north-east from its residence on Pushkina Boulevard in Donetsk city. A senior member of the armed formations told the SMM that in the explosion Aleksandr Zakharchenko had suffered fatal injuries, another member of the armed formations had been severely wounded and nine other people had sustained injuries. The Mission followed up on reports of a civilian casualty in Verkhnotoretske. It saw a trench that had been recently fortified and Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers inside the Zolote disengagement area, and heard ceasefire violations near the Petrivske and the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, as well as near Luhanske and Shchastia.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Prychepylivka and Novoamvrosiivske. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable demining and repairs to water infrastructure in Luhansk region, at a gas distribution station in Krasnohorivka and the South Donbas water pipeline between Avdiivka and Yasynuvata. In Kyiv, the SMM followed up on reports of a protest outside the consulate of the Russian Federation on 30 August...

Following a recommitment to the ceasefire as of 00:01 on 29 August, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period, however 85 per cent of violations in Donetsk region were attributed to training in non-government-controlled areas. The Mission followed up on reports of a civilian fatality near Dokuchaievsk. It heard ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, as well as again in Zaichenko and near Novoazovsk, near the border with the Russian Federation.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Horlivka, Starolaspa and Dokuchaievsk. The SMM continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable demining and repairs to water infrastructure in Luhansk region, at a gas distribution station in Krasnohorivka and the South Donbas water pipeline between Avdiivka and Yasynuvata. The SMM continued to see a fire near Berezove and noted that the entry-exit checkpoint near Novotroitske remained closed; it facilitated adherence to the ceasefire to enable firefighting activity near Berezove. In Kyiv the SMM monitored a gathering in front of the Embassy of the Russian Federation. The SMM monitored gatherings in commemoration of the “Ilovaisk battle” in Lviv and Chernivtsi...

Following a recommitment to the ceasefire on the occasion of the beginning of the school year which began at 00:01 on 29 August 2018, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission heard ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, as well as again in Zaichenko and near Novoazovsk, near the border with the Russian Federation.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Vasiukivka and Malynivka. The SMM continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to water infrastructure in Luhansk region, at a gas distribution station in Krasnohorivka, the Bakhmut Agrarian Union’s pig farm in Novoluhanske and to residential houses in Avdiivka. The SMM saw a fire near Berezove and noted the closure of the entry-exit checkpoint near Novotroitske; it facilitated adherence to the ceasefire to enable firefighting activity near Berezove. In Kyiv and Dnipro, the SMM monitored gatherings in commemoration of the “Ilovaisk battle” and noted calm situations.

VIENNA, 30 August 2018 – In his first address to the OSCE Permanent Council since his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation on 1 June 2018, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Enzo Moavero Milanesi reaffirmed the strong commitment of his Government to enhance the organization’s role as a forum for political dialogue.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous reporting period. Small-arms fire was directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near Khrystove and another SMM mini-UAV experienced jamming near Muratove. The Mission saw fresh damage from shelling to a civilian property in Kriakivka. The SMM heard ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area, including 200-500m from the SMM. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas and elsewhere, including in Novolaspa, as well as again in Zaichenko, Bezimenne, and near Novoazovsk and Izvaryne, both near the border with the Russian Federation.* The SMM continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to water infrastructure in Luhansk region and repairs to residential houses in Avdiivka. The Mission also facilitated dialogue for repair work assessments at the gas distribution station in Krasnohorivka, South Donbas water pipeline between Avdiivka and Yasynuvata and the Bakhmut Agrarian Union pig farm in Novoluhanske...