News and press releases

WARSAW, 7 March 2022 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is alarmed that more than 1.7 million people have already fled Ukraine as a consequence of the Russian Federation’s military attack, with many others still trying to find safety by crossing international borders or moving inside the country. An increasing number of civilians are falling victim to what appears to be the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in residential areas, which is prohibited by international humanitarian law.

Summary The Mission received reports that the SMM premises in Mariupol were damaged due to shelling. The process of temporary evacuation of all international mission members is nearly complete. The last remaining group – the Chief Monitor and senior management team – will now leave Ukraine. The

Summary Following the instruction of 24 February to temporarily evacuate all SMM international mission members, the Kharkiv Monitoring Team completed its evacuation and the Kherson Monitoring Team started its evacuation. The relocation of national mission members formerly stationed in Kramatorsk

Summary During the night of 3 to 4 March, the Kherson Monitoring Team heard shooting. On 4 March, internet and mobile coverage became intermittent at the SMM’s office in Kherson city. Following the instruction of 24 February to temporarily evacuate all SMM international mission members, the Kharkiv

An OSCE-organized regional online workshop on international humanitarian assistance for refugees, migrants and internally displaced persons, concluded in Ashgabat on 4 March 2022.

ERGNETI, 4 March 2022 — The 105th meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) took place today in Ergneti, under the co-facilitation of Ambassador Marek Szczygieł, Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), and Ambassador Viorel Moşanu, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus.

The Russian invasion on Ukraine has already resulted in thousands of dead and wounded soldiers and civilians. The unprovoked, aggressive war in Ukraine threatens to bring carnage on a vastly larger scale, not seen in Europe since World War II.