News and press releases

MINSK, 18 April 2018 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Martin Sajdik, made the following statement to the press after the meeting of the TCG and its Working Groups in Minsk on 18 April 2018:

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM observed damage in a residential area of Yasynuvata. Near Chabanivka, shots were again fired at an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it observed ceasefire violations near Stanytsia Luhanska. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas as well as near Izvaryne near the border with the Russian Federation, and in Starohnativka.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to electrical infrastructure near Maiorsk, the Petrivske pumping station and a high-voltage powerline near Yuzhna-Lomuvatka. In Kyiv, the SMM followed up on reports of an incident involving firearms in a building where internally displaced persons are known to live.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region between the evenings of 13 and 14 April, compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 14 and 15 April, it recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and recorded ceasefire violations inside the Petrivske disengagement area. The SMM heard shots in close proximity to its position while conducting a mid-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight near the Petrivske disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to the Petrivske pumping station and a high-voltage powerline near Yuzhna-Lomuvatka. In Kyiv, the SMM followed up on media reports of an explosion near a one-storey building.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM followed up on civilian casualties caused by shelling in Staromykhailivka, near Donetsk city. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it observed ceasefire violations assessed as inside the Petrivske disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas as well as, again, near Dovzhanske (near the border with the Russian Federation).* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema and water pipelines in Obozne and Zolote-5.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it observed a ceasefire violation inside the Petrivske disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, as well as, again, in areas near Izvaryne and Sievernyi (near the border with the Russian Federation).* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line near Pidhorodne, Druzhba, and Lobacheve. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema and a water pipeline in Obozne. The Mission observed some anti-tank mines for the first time near Avdiivka, Zaichenko and in the Zolote disengagement area. The SMM continued to monitor a church in Ptycha, Rivne region, following reports of an incident on 2 April. The SMM saw three commemoration events related to World War II in Odessa.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region between the evenings of 6 and 7 April, compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 7 and 8 April, it recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both regions compared with the previous 24 hours. Between the evenings of 8 and 9 April, it recorded more ceasefire violations in both regions, compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM followed up on reports of a civilian casualty in Dokuchaievsk and observed damage to civilian properties caused by shelling in Sakhanka. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it observed ceasefire violations inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, as well as, again, near Izvaryne, Dovzhanske and Voznesenivka (near the border with the Russian Federation), at a heavy weapons holding area in a non-government-controlled area, and in Staromykhailivka and Debaltseve.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The Mission observed over 600 anti-tank mines in total for the first time near Zaitseve, Marinka and Avdiivka. In Zakarpattia, the Mission monitored the security situation around locations associated with the Hungarian parliamentary elections. In Zaporizhzhia region, it saw the fishing ship Nord moored at port. The Mission observed Easter celebrations at churches in various cities throughout Ukraine.

Following a recommitment to the ceasefire, the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. Three SMM unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) were fired at in non-government-controlled areas. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, where it observed calm situations. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas and at the Chervona Mohyla railway station near Voznesenivka and at a border crossing point near Voznesenivka (both close to the border with the Russian Federation in Luhansk region), as well as to Novohryhorivka and Verkhnoshyrokivske.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Luhansk city, Topolyne and Berkhivka. The Mission continued to facilitate access for workers to and from the Donetsk Filtration Station. The SMM also facilitated repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema. In Kyiv, the Mission continued to monitor a group of people blocking the entrance to a television station.