News and press releases

BELGRADE, 18 January 2015 – Following the severe and increased deterioration of the situation over recent days in the east of Ukraine, in particular at and around Donetsk Airport, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić today strongly condemned the use of force, expressed his utmost concern and urged all sides in Ukraine to use maximum restraint and work towards achieving a sustainable ceasefire.

The SMM continued to monitor the implementation of the provisions of the Minsk Protocol and Memorandum and the work of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC). The SMM observed a large number of ceasefire violations in the Donetsk region. The SMM conducted its third visit to the site of the incident causing the deaths of civilians on a bus in Volnovakha.

KYIV, 16 January, 2015 – In response to media reports, the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine reaffirms that no participating States have withdrawn their monitors from the Mission in Ukraine.

The SMM continued to monitor the implementation of the provisions of the Minsk Protocol and Memorandum and the work of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC). The SMM received reports about a deterioration of the relative calm since 9 December 2014, with an increase in ceasefire violations and casualties reported by the JCCC in the Donetsk region.

The provisions of the Minsk Protocol and Memorandum as well as the activities of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) remained at the focus of SMM monitoring. In the 48 hours to mid-day on 31 December, the ceasefire held in the Luhansk area, according to the JCCC. In Kherson the SMM was told that no busses travelled to Crimea between 30 December and 1 January.

The SMM continued to monitor the implementation of the provisions of the Minsk Protocol and Memorandum and the work of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC). The SMM followed up on media reports about interruption of public transportation from Ukrainian mainland to the Crimean peninsula.

The SMM continued to monitor the implementation of the provisions of the Minsk Protocol and Memorandum and the work of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC). Ukrainian Border Guard representatives in the Kherson region told the SMM that train connections to Crimea have been suspended.