News and press releases

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 52 ceasefire violations, including 17 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 723 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 50 ceasefire violations, including 15 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded

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 increased at both BCPs compared to the previous week.

VIENNA, 18 May 2021 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, today expressed her concerns regarding developments around Belarusian online media outlet, Tut.by. The authorities blocked the outlet’s website and raided its editorial office, its regional branches and the homes of several of its staff members.

COPENHAGEN, 18 May 2021 – The challenge of repatriating, prosecuting, rehabilitating and reintegrating foreign terrorist fighters was in focus today at a hearing organized by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Ad Hoc Committee on Countering Terrorism (CCT). Concerned particularly with the possibility of repatriating nationals detained in conflict-affected areas following the territorial defeat of the Islamic State terrorist group, the event examined the experience of Kazakhstan as a case study for lessons learned and good practices.

Border officers of Tajikistan’s Border Troops completed a three-week training course on operational planning on 13 May in Khujand city. The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe in co-operation with the Border Troops organized the course which was funded by the European Union.

Summary In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 14 and 16 May, the SMM recorded 1,173 ceasefire violations, including 53 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 197 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 14 and 16 May, the Mission

On 17 May, the SMM was conducting an announced SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight. The UAV had taken off from its base in government-controlled Stepanivka (54km north of Donetsk) at 12:00 and had immediately experienced dual GPS signal interference, assessed as caused by jamming, which continued uninterrupted for the remainder of the flight. At 12:55, near Bakhmutske (government-controlled, 77km north of Donetsk), the SMM enabled the Emergency Control Mode over the aircraft and commanded it to return to base in Stepanivka due to the persistent dual GPS signal interference...