News and press releases

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region between the evenings of 26 and 27 February compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM observed houses damaged by shelling in Zolote and Pikuzy. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Petrivske and Zolote, but its access remained restricted.* The Mission reviewed video footage from the SMM camera in Zolote that revealed ceasefire violations near the disengagement area on 25 February. The SMM observed weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines. The SMM noted the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance in Nova Marivka and Zolote, and near Shchastia. A “DPR” member returned an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle seized by armed men in Yasynuvata on 24 February. The Mission monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable maintenance and repairs near Artema and Krasnyi Lyman. The SMM monitored the blockade of a railway track near Hirske. It visited two border areas not under government control. The SMM monitored public gatherings in Kyiv and observed removal of graffiti from a bank in Odessa, as well as a cross erected in a Jewish cemetery in Ivano-Frankivsk...

On 28 February 2017 at 06:55 hrs (Moscow time), the fifty ninth Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of ten vehicles were checked by the Russian border guards and customs services prior to them crossing into Ukraine. All of the ten vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 12:32 hrs on 28 February...

On 28 February 2017 at 06:55 hrs (Moscow time), the fifty ninth Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of ten vehicles were checked by the Russian border guards and customs services prior to them crossing into Ukraine. All of the ten vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 12:32 hrs on 28 February...

The final report on the 11 December early parliamentary elections in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) recommends further review of the legal framework, to be conducted in a public procedure after consultations among

VIENNA, 27 February 2017- Ensuring the safety of journalists and promoting media ethics are top priorities for protecting media freedom and enhancing comprehensive security, peace and democracy across the entire OSCE region, participants at an OSCE Chairmanship conference on media freedom in the Western Balkans agreed today...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region on both 25 and 26 February compared with 24 February. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations on 25 February compared with 24 February and fewer on 26 February compared with both 24 and 25 February. The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties and shelling in Avdiivka, Yasynuvata, Betmanove, Popasna and Zolote. Firing and explosions occurred near the SMM in Katerynivka. The SMM observed weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Petrivske and Zolote, but its access remained restricted.* Its freedom of movement was restricted further on both sides of the contact line. The Mission continued to note the presence of mines. It visited three border areas not under government control. It continued to monitor the blockade of railway tracks near Kryvyi Torets and Hirske. The SMM monitored public gatherings in Kherson and Kyiv...

The newly-appointed Head of OSCE Mission to Montenegro, Ambassador Maryse Daviet met with the country’s Interior Minister Mevludin Nuhodzic in Podgorica on 22 February 2017, and assessed the co-operation between the Mission and the Ministry as successful, emphasizing that Montenegro has made strong progress in reforms. She expressed the Mission’s readiness to continue supporting Montenegro’s democratic development...