News and press releases

The SMM observed a decrease in the number of explosions (366) recorded in Donetsk region compared with the previous day (450). In Luhansk region the SMM recorded nearly eight times fewer explosions (89) compared to the previous day (700). The SMM carried out crater analysis and observed the results of shelling on both sides of the contact line, in Myrne Stanytsia Luhanska, Styla and Horlivka. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The SMM monitored the situation of civilians travelling across the contact line at Stanytsia Luhanska bridge and facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential infrastructure and the hand-over of a body. The Mission monitored four border areas not controlled by the Government and continued to observe a calm situation along the administrative boundary line with Crimea. The SMM faced one freedom-of-movement restriction in an area not controlled by the Government...

The SMM observed a decrease in the number of explosions (450) recorded in Donetsk region compared with the previous day. In Luhansk region the SMM observed an increase in the number of explosions (700) recorded compared with the day before. The SMM carried out crater analysis and observed the results of shelling on both sides of the contact line in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The Mission monitored three border areas not controlled by the Government, faced restrictions at one and was denied access to another. The SMM continued to observe a calm situation along the administrative boundary line with Crimea. The SMM faced four freedom-of-movement restrictions, three of them in areas not controlled by the Government...

An OSCE-organized five-week training course on human rights-compliant arrest and self-defensive techniques for 36 officers of Kosovo Police Rapid Reaction Teams from Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North concluded in Vushtrri/Vučitrn on 19 August 2016...

VIENNA, 19 August 2016 – An OSCE-supported training course for ten representatives of the Kyrgyz Parliament, Interior Ministry and civil society on the development of police under parliamentary democracy concluded today in Vienna...

TARAZ, Kazakhstan, 19 August 2016 – An OSCE-supported roundtable discussion on promoting women entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan’s rural areas, which took place today in Taraz, South Kazakhstan, brought together some 50 participants from the Parliament, the Zhambyl local administration, the regional National Chamber of Entrepreneurs- Atameken, business organizations and civil society...

The SMM observed an increase in the number of ceasefire violations and the number of explosions recorded in Donetsk region, particularly in the area between Yasynuvata, Avdiivka and the northern outskirts of Donetsk city, as well as the south-western outskirts of Donetsk city. In Luhansk region all ceasefire violations recorded by the SMM were assessed as being part of a live-fire training exercise. The SMM carried out crater analysis and observed the results of shelling on both sides of the contract line in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. It also observed the presence of unexploded ordnance. The Mission monitored three border areas not controlled by the Government and observed a helicopter flying in a border area on two occasions while positioned in government-controlled areas. The SMM continued to assess the situation as calm along the administrative boundary line with Crimea. The SMM faced seven freedom-of-movement restrictions, six of them in areas not controlled by the Government...

The SMM observed a continued high number of explosions recorded in Donetsk region, and noted continued fighting in the area of Yasynuvata-Avdiivka, including MLRS Grad rocket fire. There was an increase in the number of explosions recorded in Luhansk region compared with the previous day. The SMM carried out crater analysis and observed the results of shelling on both sides of the contract line in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, and observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines. The SMM continued to assess the situation as calm along the administrative boundary line with Crimea. The SMM faced one freedom-of-movement restriction in “LPR”-controlled areas. The Mission monitored one border area not controlled by the Government...