News and press releases

VIENNA, 22 September 2017 –The release from house arrest of Mykola Semena, a journalist with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, has been noted by OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir, who however condemned the conviction and imposition of a ban on “public activities”.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period and fewer in Luhansk region. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including near Pervomaiske.* The Mission facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance of essential infrastructure near Shchastia, Zolote, Artema, Krasnyi Lyman and Luhanske.

MINSK, 21 September 2017 – 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 20 September 2017.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of a civilian casualty and observed fresh damage to residential areas in Donetsk city. It continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and recorded ceasefire violations near the three disengagement areas. Its access remained restricted in all three areas.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The Mission facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance of essential infrastructure near Shchastia and Artema. The SMM observed long queues of civilians at the Stanytsia Luhanska checkpoint. The Mission visited a border area not under government control in Donetsk region. In Odessa the SMM followed up on an alleged violent incident and detention after a trial in relation to events in Odessa on 2 May 2014.The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of a civilian casualty and observed fresh damage to residential areas in Donetsk city. It continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and recorded ceasefire violations near the three disengagement areas. Its access remained restricted in all three areas.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The Mission facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance of essential infrastructure near Shchastia and Artema. The SMM observed long queues of civilians at the Stanytsia Luhanska checkpoint. The Mission visited a border area not under government control in Donetsk region. In Odessa the SMM followed up on an alleged violent incident and detention after a trial in relation to events in Odessa on 2 May 2014.

Ensuring security for the Roma community in Ukraine was the focus of discussions at a side event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 18 September 2017, during the annual Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas and heard ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in the three disengagement areas and elsewhere.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Shchastia. The Mission saw for the first time mine hazard signs near Olenivka. It facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance of essential infrastructure near Shchastia and Zolote. The SMM continued to monitor the situation of civilians at checkpoints and heard about long delays in Horlivka. The Mission monitored a gathering in Odessa.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including in Verkhnoshyrokivske.* The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. It facilitated and monitored mine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance, co-ordinated by the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), enabling the SMM to pass along the M03 road between Svitlodarsk and Debaltseve. The Mission monitored and facilitated a transfer of funds from non-government to government-controlled areas in Luhansk region. It facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance of essential infrastructure in Shchastia and to the Artema-Petrivske pumping station. The SMM visited one border area not under government control.