News and press releases

KAMENSK-SHAKHTINSKIY, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons increased at both BCPs...

"I am concerned about the provocative rhetoric we heard from Donetsk", said OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz in reaction to today’s “declaration” of the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" calling for the creation of a new entity ("Malorossiya") on the sovereign territory of Ukraine.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission followed up on reports of civilian casualties in Hnutove and Marinka. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote disengagement area. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including in Novoazovsk, Bakhmut, Sentianivka and Debaltseve.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines. An SMM unmanned aerial vehicle spotted, for the first time, the presence of 43 anti-tank mines near Shchastia, about 30 anti-tank mines near Nyzhnie Lozove and about ten anti-tank mines near Svitlodarsk. The Mission continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to the Mykhailivka-Shchastia Thermal Power Plant high-voltage power lines near Berdianka. It also facilitated and monitored repair works to the power line between Zolote-4 and Zolote-5. The SMM visited one border area under government control in Luhansk region. The Mission monitored a strike at a coal mine in Pryvillia. In Odessa city the SMM followed up on reports of an explosion at an apartment building...

VIENNA, 18 July 2017 – Following the expiration of a five-day silence procedure and in accordance with the proposal submitted by the Permanent Council, the OSCE Ministerial Council adopted today by consensus the decisions to appoint the following senior-level officials:

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions between the evenings of 14 and 15 July compared with the previous 24 hours. Between the evenings of 15 and 16 July it recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, but fewer in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission monitored and facilitated the retrieval of civilian remains near Raivka, and followed up on a report of a death in Pokrovske. The SMM observed damage to residences from shelling in Zolote-4 and Donetsk city. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas; its access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* The SMM continued to observe the presence of mine hazard signs and unexploded ordnance on both sides of the contact line. It visited three border areas not under government control. In Lviv, the SMM followed up on reports of an incident at a monastery. The Mission monitored a peaceful gathering in Dnipro...

On 13 and 14 July 2017, the OSCE Mission to Moldova organized a training event for 15 law students from Balti, Cahul and Chisinau to improve their skills in providing free legal aid in Moldova. The training focused on honing students’ ability to conduct public presentations that convey easily understood messages on what the legal aid system is and how individuals can use it to seek solutions to various existing legal problems...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas. The SMM camera recorded explosions inside Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including again in Siedove (twice) and at a permanent storage site.* The SMM observed a weapon in violation of withdrawal lines near Vrubivka. The Mission facilitated and monitored repairs to the Mykhailivka-Shchastia Thermal Power Plant high-voltage power lines near Berdianka. The SMM followed up on reports of a lack of electricity in non-government-controlled parts of Zolote. The Mission visited three border areas not under government control...