News and press releases

KYIV, 18 February 2022 – Against the background of heightened tensions, the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine is navigating multiple challenges simultaneously, stated the Mission’s Chief Monitor, Yaşar Halit Çevik to the OSCE’s Permanent Council.

On the morning of 16 February, while the SMM was on patrol at a training area of the armed formations near Shymshynivka (non-government-controlled, 27km south-west of Luhansk), an unarmed member of the armed formations requested the Mission to leave the area, stating that the Mission’s presence was not allowed during live-fire exercises and that it should seek prior authorization from those in control...

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 189 ceasefire violations, including 128 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 24 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 402 ceasefire violations, including 188 explosions. In the previous reporting

WARSAW, 17 February 2022- The OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Foreign Minister of Poland, Zbigniew Rau expressed serious concern about the reported shelling of a kindergarten in the area of Stanytsia Luhanska, in Luhansk region and called for restraint in the following statement:

VIENNA, 17 February 2022 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro reiterated today her concern regarding Ukraine’s practice of applying sanctions against media outlets.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 24 ceasefire violations, including five explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 17 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 129 ceasefire violations, including 71 explosions. In the previous reporting

MOSCOW, 16 February 2022 — The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Poland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau, concluded his first official visit as OSCE Chairman to Moscow on 15 February.