Latest news from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received until 18:00 hrs, 12 June (Kyiv time)

This update is provided for media and general public

The situation in Ukraine was calm, except parts of Donbas where serious tensions continue. The SMM has not reestablished communication with the four monitors from the Donetsk team and four monitors from the Luhansk team with whom it lost contact on 26 May and 29 May respectively.

In Kharkiv the situation remained calm. The number of displaced persons has reportedly increased in the region. The SMM visited Balakliya (95km south of Kharkiv) and met the head of the district administration who informed that 150 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Sloviansk had travelled by themselves to the district in the last several days (132 of them are located in the village of Petrovske).

The SMM met IDPs from Sloviansk currently in Chuhuyiv (approximately 50 km south of Kharkiv). The IDPs had a series of complaints concerning their difficulties to get out of the region and pointed out to have been allegedly threatened by the Ukrainian army.

In the southern part of Luhansk region the situation remained tense. Due to security considerations, SMM could not monitor the whole area of responsibility.

The SMM observed that a health centre in Luhansk city centre was under the control of the so-called ‘South East Army’.

In Donetsk the situation remained tense. There were no substantive changes to the security situation compared to the previous days. Due to security considerations, SMM could not monitor the whole area of responsibility.