News and press releases

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. The SMM saw that the entry-exit checkpoint near Maiorsk and

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 decreased at both BCPs compared to the previous week.

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It saw five weapons in violation of withdrawal lines

On 23 March, members of the armed formations denied two attempts of the SMM to cross into non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region, as well as one attempt in Luhansk region, along official crossing routes. The Mission was also delayed exit, for the first time, towards government-controlled areas, in Donetsk region...

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 20 and 21 March, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region. Between the evenings of 21 and 22 March, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk

TIRANA/VIENNA, 23 March 2020- OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Prime Minister and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Edi Rama, and OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger expressed their deep concern that in recent days, the armed formations have prevented the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) from crossing the contact line into non-government-controlled areas of eastern Ukraine. They called for urgent steps to ensure the safety of SMM staff and that the SMM is able to continue to operate, while taking into account the need to control the spread of COVID-19...

On 21 and 22 March, members of the armed formations at checkpoints in Donetsk region denied all SMM patrols travelling from government-controlled areas passage into non-government-controlled areas...