OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine

{{Main article|Euromaidan}}

File:OSCE SMM monitoring the movement of heavy weaponry in eastern Ukraine (16524364807).jpg

In late 2013 protests began in Kyiv as a response to the decision of the then-President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, to abandon the planned Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement.{{cite news |last1=Zelinska |first1=Oksana |title=Ukrainian protesters flood Kiev after president pulls out of EU deal |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/24/ukraine-protesters-yanukovych-aborts-eu-deal-russia |access-date=6 October 2020 |work=The Guardian |archive-date=11 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111234142/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/24/ukraine-protesters-yanukovych-aborts-eu-deal-russia |url-status=live }} After months of protests, the government fell in early 2014 and unrest spread to other regions in Ukraine, in particular the Russian-speaking eastern and southern regions.

On 1 March 2014, in response to the developing crisis, the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Didier Burkhalter, proposed establishing a diplomatic contact group and an international observer mission during an address to the United Nations Human Rights Council in order to support Ukraine in facilitating a diplomatic solution to the crisis.{{cite news |title=OSZE-Vorsitzender Burkhalter schlägt Ukraine-Kontaktgruppe vor |trans-title=OSCE Chairman Burkhalter proposes Ukraine Contact Group |url=https://www.blick.ch/schweiz/vereinte-nationen-ukraine-osze-vorsitzender-burkhalter-schlaegt-ukraine-kontaktgruppe-vor-id2699528.html |access-date=19 December 2020 |publisher=Blick |date=24 February 2014}}{{Dead link|date=September 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Bradley |first1=Simon |title=Swiss push OSCE 'contact group' to defuse crisis |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/ukrainian-security_swiss-push-osce--contact-group--to-defuse-crisis/38079850 |access-date=19 December 2020 |publisher=swissinfo |date=3 March 2014 |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116154157/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/ukrainian-security_swiss-push-osce--contact-group--to-defuse-crisis/38079850 |url-status=live }}

The mission was mandated to:

1. Gather information and report on the situation in the area of operation;
2. Establish and report facts in response to specific incidents and reports of incidents, including those concerning alleged violations of fundamental OSCE principles and commitments;
3. Monitor and support respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the rights of persons belonging to national minorities;
4. Establish contact with local, region and national authorities, ethnic and religious groups, and representatives of the local population;
5. Facilitate dialogue on the ground in order to reduce tensions and promote normalisation of the situation;
6. Report on restrictions of the mission's freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate;
7. Coordinate with and support the work of other OSCE bodies, including the High Commissioner on National Minorities, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, as well as cooperate with the United Nations, the Council of Europe and other international bodies.{{cite web |title=Permanent Council Decision No. 1117 |url=https://www.osce.org/pc/116747 |website=OSCE |publisher=Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe |access-date=6 October 2020 |archive-date=26 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026010510/https://www.osce.org/pc/116747 |url-status=live }}

The mandate of the mission covered the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. In 2020, the SMM consisted of around 700 Observers from 53 OSCE member states and additional local and international staff.{{cite web |title=As of 21 September 2020 Status Report |url=https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/e/e/464754.pdf |publisher=OSCE |access-date=6 October 2020 |archive-date=15 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201015093400/https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/e/e/464754.pdf |url-status=live }}

The headquarters was located in Kyiv and the mission was headed by the Turkish diplomat Yaşar Halit Çevik who followed Ertuğrul Apakan in this post.{{cite web |title=Ambassador Yaşar Halit Çevik |url=https://www.osce.org/special-monitoring-mission-to-ukraine/chief-monitor |publisher=OSCE |access-date=6 October 2020 |archive-date=10 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010233743/https://www.osce.org/special-monitoring-mission-to-ukraine/chief-monitor |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=New OSCE SMM chief monitor in Ukraine to take up office |url=https://www.unian.info/war/10570029-new-osce-smm-chief-monitor-in-ukraine-to-take-up-office.html |access-date=19 December 2020 |publisher=UNIAN Information Agency |date=31 May 2015 |archive-date=27 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227060553/https://www.unian.info/war/10570029-new-osce-smm-chief-monitor-in-ukraine-to-take-up-office.html |url-status=live }}

The SMM used modern equipment to monitor the adherence of the parties to the ceasefire including drones and stationary cameras.{{cite news |title=News OSCE drone shot down while spotting Russian surface-to-air missile in Ukraine |url=https://www.dw.com/en/osce-drone-shot-down-while-spotting-russian-surface-to-air-missile-in-ukraine/a-46125199 |access-date=6 October 2020 |agency=Deutsche Welle |publisher=Deutsche Welle |date=1 November 2018 |archive-date=13 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013235524/https://www.dw.com/en/osce-drone-shot-down-while-spotting-russian-surface-to-air-missile-in-ukraine/a-46125199 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Gricius |first1=Gabriella |title=OSCE Drones Reintroduced into Ukraine's Donbass and Donetsk Warzones |url=https://globalsecurityreview.com/osce-drones-reintroduced-ukraine-donbass-warzone/ |website=Global Security Review |date=25 April 2018 |publisher=Global Security Review |access-date=19 December 2020 |archive-date=1 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201212637/https://globalsecurityreview.com/osce-drones-reintroduced-ukraine-donbass-warzone/ |url-status=live }}

The mission shared its observations publicly in different formats. This included daily reports, spot reports on specific incidents and thematic reports about general trends in their area of operation e.g. on the effect of the conflict on the access to education.{{cite web |title=THEMATIC REPORT IMPACT OF THE CONFLICT ON EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES AND CHILDREN'S ACCESS TO EDUCATION IN EASTERN UKRAINE |url=https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/4/1/457690.pdf |website=OSCE.org |publisher=OSCE |access-date=15 December 2020 |archive-date=4 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004131944/https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/4/1/457690.pdf |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=New OSCE Report: Firing Increasing in Eastern Ukraine |url=https://glasnostgone.org/2020/10/17/new-osce-report-firing-increasing-in-eastern-ukraine/ |website=Glasnost gone |date=17 October 2020 |publisher=Glasnost gone |access-date=19 December 2020 |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116011928/https://glasnostgone.org/2020/10/17/new-osce-report-firing-increasing-in-eastern-ukraine/ |url-status=usurped }} The mission also has its own YouTube channel where it shares videos of its observations. The most popular of those videos shows a Russian convoy clandestinely entering Ukraine and has amassed over 300.000 views.{{cite web |title=OSCE SMM spotted convoys of trucks entering and exiting Ukraine in Donetsk region |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ani2YWDLXl0 |website=YouTube |publisher=OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine |access-date=25 January 2021 |archive-date=11 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111222907/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ani2YWDLXl0 |url-status=live }}

File:OSCE SMM monitoring the movement of heavy weaponry in eastern Ukraine (16545493819).jpg

The crisis deteriorated further with the intervention of the Russian Federation and its annexation of Crimea in March 2014.{{cite news |last1=Salmen |first1=Harriet |last2=Walker |first2=Shaun |title=Kiev announces plans to withdraw Ukrainian troops from Crimea |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/19/ukraine-plans-troop-withdrawal-from-crimea |access-date=6 October 2020 |work=The Guardian |archive-date=26 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026171305/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/19/ukraine-plans-troop-withdrawal-from-crimea |url-status=live }} The unrest in the industrial, Russian-speaking Donbas region of eastern Ukraine would later escalate{{cite news |last1=Salem |first1=Harriet |title=Deep divisions split Donetsk as tensions simmer across Ukraine |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/04/ukraine-russia-protesters-donetsk-separate-by-force |access-date=6 October 2020 |work=The Guardian |archive-date=9 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409224146/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/04/ukraine-russia-protesters-donetsk-separate-by-force |url-status=live }} into the war in Donbas between Ukrainian government forces and separatist pro-Russian forces, including regular Russian troops.{{cite web |last1=Sutyagin |first1=Igor |title=Russian Forces in Ukraine |url=https://rusi.org/sites/default/files/201503_bp_russian_forces_in_ukraine.pdf |website=Royal United Services Institute |publisher=RUSI |access-date=12 January 2021 |archive-date=11 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111112810/https://rusi.org/sites/default/files/201503_bp_russian_forces_in_ukraine.pdf |url-status=dead }}

File:OSCE SMM monitoring the movement of heavy weaponry in eastern Ukraine (16730571642).jpg

In an attempt to calm the situation, the OSCE decided to send the first one hundred observers of the Special Monitoring Mission on 21 March 2014. The conflict, however, continued to escalate regardless until on 5 September 2014 when the first Minsk Protocol was signed between parties to the conflict, including Ukraine and the Russian Federation. This established a ceasefire and included provisions that the Special Monitoring Mission would monitor the ceasefire.{{cite web |title=Protocol on the results of consultations of the Trilateral Contact Group (Minsk Agreement) |url=https://peacemaker.un.org/UA-ceasefire-2014 |website=United Nations Peacemaker |publisher=United Nations |access-date=6 October 2020 |archive-date=24 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924213228/https://peacemaker.un.org/UA-ceasefire-2014 |url-status=live }}

This ceasefire was never fully implemented e.g. the separatists in eastern Ukraine refused to give up control of the border to Ukraine.{{cite news |title=Donesk and Luhansk People's Republics refuse to cede control over Border with Russia to Ukraine. |url=https://www.kyivpost.com/article/content/war-against-ukraine/donetsk-and-luhansk-peoples-republics-refuse-to-cede-control-over-border-with-russia-to-ukraine-370148.html |access-date=6 October 2020 |publisher=Kiyv Post |date=30 June 2014}} Accordingly, the ceasefire only held for a limited time and in early 2015 the war escalated again{{cite news |last1=Walker |first1=Shaun |title=Pro-Russian rebels in Donetsk keep on the attack as war of words intensifies |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/23/rebels-donetsk-attack-putin-ukraine-violence |access-date=6 October 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=23 January 2015 |archive-date=8 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108110603/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/23/rebels-donetsk-attack-putin-ukraine-violence |url-status=live }} until the Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Protocol was signed on 12. February 2015 by the Normandy Format and reaffirmed the monitoring role of the Special Monitoring Mission.{{cite web |title=Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements |url=https://peacemaker.un.org/sites/peacemaker.un.org/files/UA_150212_MinskAgreement_en.pdf |website=UN Peacemaker |publisher=United Nations |access-date=6 October 2020 |archive-date=18 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018031300/https://peacemaker.un.org/sites/peacemaker.un.org/files/UA_150212_MinskAgreement_en.pdf |url-status=live }}

Following this, the mandated maximum strength of the mission was extended to 1000 on March 12, 2015.{{cite web |title=DECISION No. 1162 EXTENSION OF THE MANDATE OF THE OSCE SPECIAL MONITORING MISSION TO UKRAINE |url=https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/3/b/144996.pdf |website=OSCE |publisher=OSCE Permanent Council |access-date=21 January 2021 |archive-date=17 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117142145/https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/3/b/144996.pdf |url-status=live }}

Since then the conflict had stabilized but ceasefire violations still regularly occurred and were reported by the SMM.

In 2017 one monitor was killed and two more wounded when their vehicle struck a landmine.{{cite web |title=OSCE SMM car damaged in anti-tank mine blast in Donbas, casualties reported |url=https://www.unian.info/war/1889801-osce-smm-car-damaged-in-anti-tank-mine-blast-in-donbas-casualties-reported.html |website=UNIAN information agency |publisher=UNIAN information agency |access-date=15 December 2020 |archive-date=26 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226162221/https://www.unian.info/war/1889801-osce-smm-car-damaged-in-anti-tank-mine-blast-in-donbas-casualties-reported.html |url-status=live }} Subsequently, SMM patrolling was limited to asphalt and concrete roads. SMM monitoring effectiveness suffers from the presence of mines, unexploded ordinances and the low rate at which they are cleared, and from shelling by artillery and threatening behavior of armed personnel. This hinders SMM's ability to monitor the implementation of Minsk Protocol effectively because it restricts their access to areas and presents big risks to the security of SMM's civilian monitors.{{Cite journal|last=Haug|first=Hilde|date=2016-09-09|title=The Minsk Agreements and the osce Special Monitoring Mission|url=https://brill.com/view/journals/shrs/27/3-4/article-p342_342.xml|journal=Security and Human Rights|volume=27|issue=3–4|pages=342–357|doi=10.1163/18750230-02703004|s2cid=168698517 |issn=1874-7337|access-date=2021-03-19|archive-date=2021-01-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122204713/https://brill.com/view/journals/shrs/27/3-4/article-p342_342.xml|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}

On 13 February 2022, a number of countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Canada, Slovakia and Albania began withdrawing their observers from the non-Ukrainian government controlled areas of eastern Ukraine.{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-staff-osce-begins-pullout-donetsk-eastern-ukraine-2022-02-13/ |title=OSCE monitoring mission staff pull out from eastern Ukraine |last=Zverev |first=Anton |publisher=Reuters |date=13 February 2022 |access-date=15 June 2022}} The United States withdrew its observers from Ukraine entirely.{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/594064-us-staff-at-osce-withdraw-from-rebel-held-eastern-ukraine-city-report/ |title=US staff at OSCE withdraw from rebel-held eastern Ukraine city: report |last=Choi |first=Joseph |website=The Hill |location=Washington DC |date=13 February 2022 |access-date=15 June 2022}} The final daily report including mapping of ceasefire violations was made on 23 February 2022, which recorded the observation of 1,420 explosions the previous day. The report recorded that in the previous year the mission had observed "36,686 explosions, 26,605 projectiles in flight, 491 muzzle flashes, 524 illumination flares, and at least 54,330 bursts and shots".{{cite web |url=https://www.osce.org/files/2022-02-23%20Daily%20Report_ENG.pdf?itok=57816 |title=Daily Report 42/2022 |publisher=OSCE |work=Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine |date=23 February 2022 |access-date=16 June 2022}}

On 24 February 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Secretary General Helga Schmid announced the temporary evacuation of SMM staff, with a view to resuming work as soon as circumstances on the ground permit.{{Cite web |title=Statement of the Secretary General on the temporary evacuation of OSCE staff from Ukraine |url=https://www.osce.org/secretary-general/512953 |access-date=2022-03-09 |website=www.osce.org |language=en}}

On 31 March 2022 consensus for the extension of the Mission's mandate was not reached, due to Russian opposition.{{Cite web |title=Chairman-in-Office and Secretary General expressed regret that no consensus reached on extension of mandate of Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine |url=https://www.osce.org/chairmanship/514958 |access-date=2022-03-31 |website=www.osce.org |language=en}} The mission subsequently discontinued its operations on the same day.{{cite web |title=OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (Closed) |url=https://www.osce.org/special-monitoring-mission-to-ukraine-closed}}

On 19 September 2022, Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine sentenced two former OSCE staff members to 13 years in prison on charges of treason. The OSCE regional authority body, consisting of Ukrainian and Russian representatives, protested the sentencing and urged "their immediate and unconditional release". The arrests came after the OSCE invoked the Moscow Mechanism, condemning Russia's human rights violations.{{Cite web |title=Russian separatists in Luhansk convict ex-OSCE staff of treason |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/9/19/russian-separatists-in-luhansk-convict-ex-osce-staff-of-treason |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=aljazeera.com |language=en}}

OSCE monitoring frequently faces access restrictions and signal jamming of the monitoring UAVs. In 2021 OSCE reported that 62.5% long-range UAV flights "encountered GPS signal interference" with jamming so strong, it occasionally prevented UAV from even taking off.{{Cite web|title=Spot Report 6/2021: SMM long-range UAV unable to take off due to dual GPS signal interference|url=https://www.osce.org/special-monitoring-mission-to-ukraine/483008|access-date=15 April 2021|website=www.osce.org|language=en|archive-date=15 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415165127/https://www.osce.org/special-monitoring-mission-to-ukraine/483008|url-status=live}} OSCE has on numerous occasions reported presence of Russian electronic warfare equipment in the separatist-controlled areas{{Cite web|title=Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 19:30 (Kyiv time), 16 August 2015|url=https://www.osce.org/ukraine-smm/177826|access-date=16 April 2021|website=www.osce.org|language=en|archive-date=9 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609145358/https://www.osce.org/ukraine-smm/177826|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 15 June 2016|url=https://www.osce.org/ukraine-smm/247216|access-date=16 April 2021|website=www.osce.org|language=en|archive-date=16 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416061600/https://www.osce.org/ukraine-smm/247216|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.osce.org/special-monitoring-mission-to-ukraine/448393|access-date=16 April 2021|website=www.osce.org|title=OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Daily Report 60/2020 issued on 12 March 2020|date=12 March 2020|archive-date=16 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416061558/https://www.osce.org/special-monitoring-mission-to-ukraine/448393?download=true|url-status=live}} including specifically anti-UAV Repellent-1 systems.{{Cite web|title=Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 10 August 2018|url=https://www.osce.org/special-monitoring-mission-to-ukraine/390236|access-date=16 April 2021|website=www.osce.org|language=en|archive-date=15 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215170539/https://www.osce.org/special-monitoring-mission-to-ukraine/390236|url-status=live}} On 30 April 2021 OSCE further reported two members of armed formations approaching the monitor team as it prepared to launch an UAV and threatening it will be shot down if launched.{{Cite web|title=Daily Report 99/2021|url=https://www.osce.org/files/2021-04-30%20Daily%20Report.pdf|url-status=live|website=OSCE|access-date=2021-05-07|archive-date=2021-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502112207/https://www.osce.org/files/2021-04-30%20Daily%20Report.pdf}}

• UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine
• Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine
• Minsk Protocol
• OSCE

{{reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |year=2021 |author=OSCE |title=A Peaceful presence. The First Five Years of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine |url=https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/4/6/491220_0.pdf| publisher=OSCE|location=Vienna}}

{{refend}}

• [https://www.osce.org/special-monitoring-mission-to-ukraine Official website] of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine

{{OSCE}}

{{Russian intervention in Ukraine}}

{{War in Donbas}}

Category:Russo-Ukrainian War

Category:Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation

Category:War in Donbas

Category:2010s in Ukraine

Category:2020s in Ukraine

Category:Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe