News and press releases

KYIV, 20 October 2017 – The safety of journalists and putting an end to impunity for crimes committed against them must be adequately addressed to maintain a favourable environment for freedom of the media in Ukraine, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir said today, during his visit to Kyiv.

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) Lamberto Zannier, on 9 October 2017, said he is actively engaged with the government of Ukraine on how best to accommodate the ethnic and linguistic diversity of society. The High Commissioner is paying particular attention to inter-ethnic

The SMM recorded overall fewer ceasefire violations, however, more explosions, in Donetsk region and more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM assessed damage to facilities at an entry-exit checkpoint in Maiorsk. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote, and Petrivske, and recorded a calm situation in all three. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* In violation of the withdrawal lines, an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle spotted a probable mortar in Mykolaivka. The Mission facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance of the thermal power plant in Shchastia, water pipelines in Zolote, a pumping station near Artema, and power lines near Novozvanivka. The Mission visited four border areas not under government control. The SMM monitored a peaceful gathering in Sievierodonetsk. It followed up on reports of a fire at a branch of Sberbank in Lviv.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region between the evenings of 29 and 30 September compared with the previous reporting period. Between the evenings of 30 September and 1 October the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous 24 hours. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded similar numbers of ceasefire violations between the evenings of 29 and 30 September and between 30 September and 1 October compared with the previous reporting period. While in government-controlled Kriakivka the SMM heard small-arms fire and two explosions nearby and immediately left the area. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations inside the Stanytsia Luhanska and Petrivske disengagement areas. Its access remained restricted in the disengagement areas and elsewhere.* The SMM assessed impact sites in Dokuchaievsk and in the Trudivski area of Donetsk city. The Mission visited two border areas not under government control. The SMM continued to follow up on the incident at an ammunition depot in Kalynivka, Vinnytsia region...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of a civilian casualty from Zhovanka neighbourhood of Zaitseve, Donetsk region. The SMM observed damage to civilian properties in residential areas in Yasynuvata, Donetsk region. The SMM continued monitoring the three agreed disengagement areas and recorded ceasefire violations inside the Petrivske one. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas and elsewhere, including in Shcherbak in Donetsk region.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of a civilian casualty from Kramatorsk. The SMM observed damage to civilian properties in residential areas in Marinka and near a bus stop in the Trudivski area of Donetsk city’s Petrovskyi district. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas and recorded ceasefire violations near, but outside, the Zolote and Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement areas. Its access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas and elsewhere.* It saw weapons in violations of withdrawal lines in areas outside of government control. The Mission facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance of essential infrastructure in Shchastia, Almazna, Luhanske, and Myronivka. The SMM followed up on reports of an incident at an ammunition depot in Kalynivka, Vinnytsia region.

More than 150 representatives of civil society, international organizations and academia, as well as government and elected officials, gathered in Kyiv on 26 and 27 September to review the results of activities carried out with the support of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to strengthen the human dimension of security in Ukraine.