News and press releases

KYIV, 23 April 2020 – In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has brought about a dramatically changed situation for all of us, the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine continues to focus on the implementation of the Mandate while also ensuring the reduction of risks for the local population and the protection of Mission members, the Chief Monitor of the OSCE SMM, Yaşar Halit Çevik, said today in his video address from Kyiv to the OSCE Permanent Council...

TIRANA/COPENHAGEN/VIENNA/WARSAW/THE HAGUE, 23 April 2020 – The International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace tomorrow will be marked with a heightened appreciation for the importance of comprehensive security and greater sense of urgency for the need to strengthen international co-operation, said the Chair of the OSCE Permanent Council and heads of OSCE institutions in a statement today...

KYIV, 23 April 2020 – Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine Yaşar Halit Çevik today paid tribute to SMM medic Joseph Stone, who, while on patrol, tragically lost his life three years ago when an SMM armoured vehicle was struck by an explosion, most likely caused by an anti-tank mine in a non-government controlled area near Pryshyb in Luhansk region.

COPENHAGEN, 23 April 2020 – On the somber occasion of the third anniversary of the death of a member of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, senior OSCE Parliamentary Assembly officials called for an end to harassment and restrictions placed on international monitors in Ukraine, respect for principles of the Helsinki Final Act, and the restoration of Ukrainian territorial integrity...

KYIV, 22 April 2020 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group, Ambassador Heidi Grau, made the following statement to the press after the meeting of the TCG and its working groups...

Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and significantly more in Luhansk region. The Mission’s passage continued to be denied at checkpoints of the armed formations near Olenivka, Donetsk region and south of the

On 21 and 22 April, members of the armed formations again denied SMM attempts to cross into non-government-controlled areas along official crossing routes: twice in Donetsk region and once in Luhansk region, while further attempts to cross into government-controlled areas were also denied, once in