News and press releases

The SMM recorded a sharp increase in the number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, where it observed no ceasefire violations. Its access remained restricted in all three areas, as well as again near Bezimenne and Zaichenko. The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Kalynove. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station, including through monitoring the security situation around the station, as well as repairs and maintenance works to critical civilian infrastructure near Stanytsia Luhanska, Artema, Novotoshkivske and Zalizne.

Representatives of the State Environmental Committee on Environmental Protection and Land Resources of Turkmenistan, the Mejlis (parliament), Ministry of Justice and other relevant agencies of Turkmenistan discussed the development of national environmental legislation at an OSCE-organized seminar held on 30 and 31 July 2018 in Ashgabat...

A scientific conference titled Current challenges of human trafficking, attended by representatives of scientific and education organizations of Kyrgyzstan, was held in Bishkek on 30 July 2018, on the occasion of World Day against Trafficking in Person...

The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region between the evenings of 27 and 28 July compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 28 and 29 July, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous 24 hours, and no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. Small arms were fired 600m from the SMM near Chornukhyne, assessed as directed at an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle. The SMM observed fresh damage caused by shelling in a residential area of Mala Yurivka. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Petrivske and Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement areas. Its access remained restricted in all three areas, as well as near Bezimenne, Zaichenko and Horlivka. The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Ocheretyne. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station, including through monitoring the security situation around the station, as well as repairs and maintenance works to critical civilian infrastructure near Zalizne. In Kyiv, the SMM monitored a procession of up to 70,000 people organized by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate to commemorate the adoption of Christianity...

Vienna, 30 July 2018 –Austrian Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs Karin Kneissl met today with OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger at the headquarters of the organization in Vienna.

WARSAW/VIENNA, 30 July 2018 – Effective policies to combat trafficking in human beings, including the trafficking of children, must focus on both the effects and the roots of this terrible crime, OSCE senior officials said today, on the occasion of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer violations in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM followed up on three civilian casualties from unexploded ordnance near Hranitne and Horlivka. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and observed new firing positions and a freshly dug trench inside the Zolote disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas as well as near Oleksandrivske, Starolaspa, Bezimenne and Siedove, and again in Zaichenko. The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Vershyna, Zolote-3/Stakhanovets and Donetskyi. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station, including through monitoring the security situation around the station, as well as repairs and maintenance works to critical civilian infrastructure near Zalizne, Popasna and Artema. In Luhansk city, the SMM observed over 100 large boxes being offloaded from trucks labelled “Humanitarian Aid from the Russian Federation”. In Kyiv, the SMM monitored a procession organized by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of up to 70,000 people to commemorate the adoption of Christianity.