News and press releases

Compared with the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region. The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to critical civilian infrastructure and to allow for the transfer of a body across the contact line. The Mission observed for the first time anti-tank mines near Pyshchevyk and mine hazard signs near Nelipivka. A man died from natural causes at the entry-exit checkpoint in Marinka. Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. The Mission’s freedom of movement was also restricted at non-government-controlled checkpoints near Novoazovsk, Kozatske and Oleksandrivske in Donetsk region.

The democratic control of armed and security forces in the context of the eastern Mediterranean region was the focus of a seminar organized by the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre and Cyprus from 20 to 24 May 2019 in Larnaca. The discussion brought together more than 60 participants from OSCE participating States and the Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation. The participants included senior officers from the armed forces, senior government officials, and representatives of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, academia and civil society...

SARAJEVO, 23 May 2019 – A two-day training course on the role of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the context of regional and international security, which gathered some 40 participants from seven countries of South-Eastern Europe started today in Sarajevo. The training course is jointly organized by the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the OSCE Transnational Threats Department and the OSCE Mission to BiH...

Politico-military aspects of border security and management in Central Asia were the focus of a meeting of the Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) under Tajikistan’s chairmanship on 22 May 2019 in Vienna.

Compared with the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Small-arms fire was directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle near Vrubivka. The Mission observed trench extensions in and near the Petrivske disengagement area. The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure. Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. The Mission’s freedom of movement was also restricted at a non-government-controlled checkpoint near Novoazovsk in Donetsk region.* In Chernivtsi, the Mission saw gatherings in relation to the change of religious affiliations of local churches...

Compared with the previous 24 hours, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region. A man was injured by small-arms fire in Donetsk city. Small-arms fire was directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle near Chermalyk. The Mission saw a tank in violation of withdrawal lines in Luhansk city. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure. Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued in all three disengagement areas and elsewhere. The Mission’s freedom of movement was also restricted in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions at a checkpoint near Novoazovsk and a compound of the armed formations in Stare.* The Mission saw a gathering in Kyiv on the occasion of the presidential inauguration...

Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 17 and 18 May, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Between the evenings of 18 and 19 May, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours. Explosions occur close to the SMM near the Zolote disengagement area. The SMM recorded ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area. The SMM observed damage caused by small-arms fire in residential houses in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka and fresh craters in Pervomaisk. The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure. Restrictions of the SMM’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. The Mission’s freedom of movement was also restricted at checkpoints in non-government-controlled Staromykhailivka, Verkhnoshyrokivske and Donetsk city, as well as at a heavy weapons holding area in a government-controlled area...