News and press releases

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas and recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas.* The SMM observed up to several hundred civilians queuing to walk across the contact line at the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. The Mission continued to facilitate and monitor repairs and maintenance to infrastructure in Shchastia, Artema, Yashchykove and Zolote.

COPENHAGEN, 17 August 2017 – OSCE Parliamentary President Christine Muttonen (Austria), Ad Hoc Committee on Countering Terrorism Chair Makis Voridis (Greece) and human rights committee Chair Nacho Sanchez Amor (Spain) condemned today the attack in Barcelona, Spain, which is being treated by the authorities as terrorism. At least 13 people were killed and 50 seriously injured when a van plowed into pedestrians in the city’s historic Las Ramblas district.

VIENNA, 17 August 2017 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Austria’s Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz and OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger expressed outrage at the terrorist attack in Barcelona, in which numerous persons died or were injured. They offered their condolences to the families of the slain victims and wished a quick recovery to the injured.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up further on reports of civilian casualties in Shyrokyi and Sakhanka. It observed damage to residences in Novoluhanske due to shelling. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas and recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote and Petrivske areas. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas – in Petrivske, an armed man required the Mission to end an unmanned aerial vehicle flight – and elsewhere, including in Siedove and Verkhnoshyrokivske.* The SMM observed a mine hazard sign and unexploded ordnance near Nova Marivka. The Mission continued to facilitate and monitor repairs and maintenance to infrastructure in Shchastia and Artema. It monitored a peaceful gathering in Kyiv.

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA/VIENNA, 17 August 2017 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir and the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo Ambassador Jan Braathu today condemned the attack on Wednesday on a journalist in Prishtinë/Priština...

The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas and recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote disengagement area; its access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties in Stanytsia Luhanska and Sakhanka. The Mission facilitated and monitored ongoing repairs to essential infrastructure in Luhansk region.

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...