News and press releases

MINSK, 4 December 2018 – 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 4 December 2018:

Compared with the previous 24 hours, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The Mission followed up on reports of a man injured due to gunfire in Betmanove, Donetsk region. The SMM recorded ceasefire violations assessed as inside the Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote disengagement areas. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas.* The SMM observed fresh damage to one of the wooden ramps on the broken section of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. It observed weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to the Petrivske water pumping station near Artema as well as an assessment of a water pipeline near Popasna. It continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station.

Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons decreased at both BCPs compared to the previous week.

Between the evenings of 30 November and 1 December, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 1 and 2 December, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM observed fresh damage in a residential area of Zolote-5/Mykhailivka. The SMM observed military presence inside the Zolote disengagement area. The SMM again observed multiple launch rocket systems in violation of the withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas. It was also restricted near Zaichenko, Sosnivske and Novoazovsk, as well as near Voznesenivka, an area close to the border with the Russian Federation...

Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region. The SMM observed multiple launch rocket systems in violation of the withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region. The SMM followed up at entry-exit checkpoints on possible impacts of the introduction of martial law. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, as well as near Zaichenko, Novoselivka Druha and at compounds on both sides of the contact line.

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region. • The Mission followed up on reports of a civilian injured due to shelling in Holmivskyi. • The SMM observed anti-aircraft guns and infantry fighting vehicles inside the Zolote disengagement area. • The SMM observed tanks in violation of the withdrawal lines near Novoselivka. • In Lviv, the Mission followed up on reports of arson attacks at two Alfa-Bank branches. • In Kyiv, the SMM monitored a protest. • The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas as well as in Valuiky and near Starolaspa.

VIENNA, 30 November 2018 – A renewed understanding and commitment is needed to reinvigorate the negotiation process and normalize the situation on the ground in eastern Ukraine, the Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, Ertugrul Apakan, said in his address to the OSCE Permanent Council on Thursday in Vienna...