VIENNA/STOCKHOLM, 27 November 2021 — OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde and OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid expressed concern over the systematic and unacceptable freedom of movement impediments that the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) is currently facing in non-government-controlled areas of Ukraine, particularly in the Luhansk region. They called for the immediate removal of the restrictions, which have escalated to a new level, effectively preventing SMM’s operations.

During this past week, the OSCE SMM patrols’ movement across the contact line was blocked by armed formations in multiple locations in the Luhansk region (see SMM Spot Report 27/2021, SMM Spot Report 29/2021, and SMM Spot Report 30/2021) and on two occasions in the Donetsk region (see SMM Spot Report 28/2021).

The OSCE Permanent Council Decision No. 1117 specifies that the SMM shall have safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. Unrestricted and unconditional access to all areas is essential to ensure effective monitoring and reporting of the security situation, as well as other mandated tasks. The mandate also tasks the Mission to report on any restrictions of its freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfillment of its mandate.