News and press releases

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Petrivske disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including at a heavy weapons holding area outside of government control.* The SMM saw weapons in violations of the withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The Mission again facilitated and monitored repairs to a fibre optic cable near Shchastia; as a result, mobile telecommunications services were restored in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region. The SMM visited a border area outside of government control. In Dnipro, it followed up on reports of damage to the office building of a political party.

MINSK, 18 January 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 18 January 2018:...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. It followed up on reports of the deaths of two persons in Donetsk city. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it saw an armoured personnel carrier near the Petrivske disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere.* The Mission again facilitated and monitored repairs to a fibre optic cable near Shchastia. In Khartsyzk, it continued to monitor the situation of internally displaced persons. The SMM followed up on reports of flooding in Chihari due to a leaking water pipeline. The Mission visited two border areas not under government control. It monitored the administrative boundary line between Kherson region and Crimea and noted a calm situation.

KYIV, 19 January 2018 – Concluding a two-day visit to Kyiv today, the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, George Tsereteli (MP, Georgia) reiterated the steadfast support of the Parliamentary Assembly for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, within its internationally-recognized borders, and renewed calls to reach a sustained ceasefire...

KYIV, 19 January 2018 – The Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine Alexander Hug will be in eastern Ukraine from 21 to 25 January 2018. He will assess the security situation along the contact line and its impact on civilians, engage with communities on the ground and visit sites of repair projects for critical infrastructure which the Mission has been facilitating...

In its final report on the October 2017 municipal elections in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) recommends further review of the legal framework. The report, published on 19 January 2018, adds that such a review should be

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including at a checkpoint near Staromykhailivka and near Olenivka.* The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Vodiane and Bohoiavlenka. It facilitated and monitored repairs to a fiber optic cable near Shchastia. The SMM visited a border area not under government control. The Mission monitored public gatherings in Kyiv and Kharkiv.