News and press releases

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period, including about 2,300 explosions in Donetsk region and more than 330 explosions in Luhansk region. The SMM followed up on reports of shelling in Debaltseve, Dokuchaievsk and Kalynove. The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and its access was again restricted.* The Mission observed proscribed weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM monitored a border crossing point currently not under government control in Luhansk region. In Lviv the SMM observed a peaceful gathering...

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 23 December 2016- Substantial progress has been made in the development and implementation of the legal and policy framework for the reintegration of repatriated persons in Kosovo, concludes a report published by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo today...

CHISINAU, 23 December 2016 – Representatives of financial intelligence agencies from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan today in Chisinau concluded a two-day expert meeting led by the OSCE on enhancing bilateral co-operation in combating the financing of terrorism and money laundering...

A workshop on environmental education, organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan in co-operation with the Armenian Nature Protection Ministry, was held on 23 December 2016 in Yerevan...

WARSAW, 23 December 2016 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today criticized that the human rights group International Historical, Educational, Charitable and Human Rights Society “Memorial” has been confirmed a “foreign agent” by a district court in the Russian Federation...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period, including nearly 1,600 explosions in Donetsk region and 169 explosions in Luhansk region. The majority of ceasefire violations, including the use of tank, artillery and mortar fire continued to be recorded in the Svitlodarsk-Debaltseve area. The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and its access to these areas was again restricted.* The Mission observed proscribed weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The SMM followed up on reports of an incident at a Jewish gravesite in Uman...

On 22 December 2016 at 07:24 (Moscow time), the 57th Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of 20 vehicles were checked by the Russian border guards and customs services prior to them crossing into Ukraine. All of the 20 vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 18:25 hrs on 22 December...