News and press releases

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. In Pikuzy, the SMM heard small-arms fire in the area where it was flying an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), assessed as aimed at the UAV whose footage “DPR” members later threatened to “seize”. It continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske where the possible presence of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) continued to restrict the SMM’s access. Armed men continued to deny the SMM access into Novoazovsk and restricted its freedom of movement in Verkhnoshyrokivske and Staromykhailivka. The Mission visited one border area not under government control in Luhansk region...

VIENNA, 11 August 2017 – The participation of young women and men in peace and security efforts is crucial for achieving sustainable and inclusive results, said OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger and the OSCE Chairmanship’s Special Representatives on Youth and Security today, ahead of tomorrow’s International Youth Day...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM observed bullet impacts to one of its newly installed cameras at the Donetsk Filtration Station which rendered the camera inoperable. Near Vasylivka it heard shots and bursts of small-arms fire in the area where it was flying its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), assessed as being aimed at the UAV. It continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; its access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including in Novoazovsk, Oleksandrivske and Horlivka.* The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Sievierodonetsk and in Slovianoserbsk. It observed that mines had been placed back on the road between Svitlodarsk and Debaltseve. The SMM visited two border areas not under government control in Luhansk region.

DUSHANBE, 10 August 2017 – The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe and its main counterparts from the Government of Tajikistan held the 11th Task Force Meeting today to agree on priorities of co-operation for 2018...

VIENNA, 10 August 2017- OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today expressed deep concern regarding the issuance of arrest warrants for 35 journalists and the resulting detention of nine journalists today in Istanbul, Turkey...

KYIV, 10 August 2017- Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, the Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), condemned the shooting at, and destruction of, a newly-installed SMM thermal camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station near Yasynuvata...

BANJA LUKA, 10 August 2017 – On the occasion of International Youth Day, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) organized a two-day workshop for youth on Women, Peace and Security, Youth, Peace and Security and the associated United Nations Security Council resolutions, which concluded today in Banja Luka...