News and press releases

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by the parties and security considerations*. The SMM observed continued ceasefire violations at and around the Donetsk airport and at various locations along the contact line in the Luhansk region, and noted a number of indications of renewed violence in the Shyrokyne area. Four SMM vehicles were destroyed by fire in Donetsk. A demonstration took place in front of the SMM office in Luhansk.

KYIV, 30 July 2015 – An OSCE-supported project aimed at strengthening the State Emergency Service of Ukraine’s (SESU) capacity to clear explosive munitions in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions has launched today in Kyiv.

At approximately 12:40hrs on 26 July, an SMM patrol comprised of two vehicles was caught in mortar and automatic grenade launcher fire while trying to cross the contact line from the “Lugansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”)-controlled side of Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) to the government-controlled side. This crossing had been agreed and co-ordinated beforehand with both the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the “LPR”.

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by third parties and security considerations*. Fighting continued at and around Donetsk airport and in areas to the east and north-east of Mariupol. The SMM observed weapons’ movements in “Lugansk People’s Republic”- and in government-controlled areas, in violation of respective withdrawal lines.

VIENNA, 22 July 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today welcomed the transparency and openness of the process to create the draft Information Security Concept of Ukraine. She also presented a legal analysis of the document commissioned by her Office...

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements.” Its monitoring was restricted by third parties and security considerations*. After a volatile weekend, the SMM did not record any ceasefire violations in the monitored areas at Donetsk airport and in and around Donetsk city. The security situation in Luhansk region remained relatively calm. The SMM followed up on one explosion having occurred in the night of 19-20 July in Odessa. Activities of the Right Sector noticeably decreased across Ukraine.

MINSK, 21 July 2015 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić, has stressed the need to seize the momentum of today's agreement on the withdrawal of tanks and certain weapons under 100 mm calibre for further advancement of the process during his first visit to Minsk today.