News and press releases

Summary The Mission completed its temporary evacuation of international mission members from the Mission’s area of operations. National mission members are undertaking administration of the Mission’s premises and assets in anticipation of a return to operations in Ukraine. The SMM has suspended its

WARSAW, 7 March 2022 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is alarmed that more than 1.7 million people have already fled Ukraine as a consequence of the Russian Federation’s military attack, with many others still trying to find safety by crossing international borders or moving inside the country. An increasing number of civilians are falling victim to what appears to be the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in residential areas, which is prohibited by international humanitarian law.

Summary The Mission received reports that the SMM premises in Mariupol were damaged due to shelling. The process of temporary evacuation of all international mission members is nearly complete. The last remaining group – the Chief Monitor and senior management team – will now leave Ukraine. The

Summary Following the instruction of 24 February to temporarily evacuate all SMM international mission members, the Kharkiv Monitoring Team completed its evacuation and the Kherson Monitoring Team started its evacuation. The relocation of national mission members formerly stationed in Kramatorsk

Summary During the night of 3 to 4 March, the Kherson Monitoring Team heard shooting. On 4 March, internet and mobile coverage became intermittent at the SMM’s office in Kherson city. Following the instruction of 24 February to temporarily evacuate all SMM international mission members, the Kharkiv

Summary On the morning of 3 March, the SMM continued to hear explosions around Kherson city. Following the instruction of 24 February to temporarily evacuate all SMM international mission members, the Kharkiv Monitoring Team continued its evacuation westwards through Ukraine, while the Kherson

VIENNA, 3 March 2022 – As the Russian authorities continue to seriously infringe the right to freedom of expression and media freedom in the context of the country’s military attack against Ukraine, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, today made the following statement.