OSCE SMM Suspends Work in Occupied Donetsk: What Happened and Whether the Luhansk Mission Is Operating

Militants blocked OSCE observers at a forward patrol base in Horlivka.

On October 17, the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) suspended its work in occupied Donetsk for security reasons. We explain what happened and whether the mission is working in occupied Luhansk. 

OSCE Mission Suspension

The OSCE has suspended its monitoring mission in Donbas after protests outside its headquarters in occupied Donetsk. 

Yasar Halit Cevik
head of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine

Due to concerns for our safety and because of rules and security considerations, we have suspended our operations. 

On October 16, about 200 pro-Russian demonstrators picketed OSCE observers, demanding the release of a militant “officer” detained by Ukrainian soldiers. 

The OSCE mission has previously faced protests by occupiers, but this time the demonstrators apparently blocked the entrance to the hotel where the observers are based. Cevik noted that the observers have not yet felt a threat from the protesters.

Militants Block Observers

Militants blocked OSCE observers at a forward patrol base in Horlivka. They surrounded the hotel and blocked the exits. 

In the evening, the patrol recorded that the vehicle gates of the forward patrol base (FPB) in Horlivka were closed with a chain and padlock, and a car with a blue “DPR” plate was parked at the gates, blocking the exit. Two armed militants standing near the car were guarding the exit. 

The owner of the hotel housing the FPB told OSCE mission staff that they would not be allowed to leave the hotel premises, citing “orders from the ‘mayor of Horlivka’.” He said all exits had been blocked by members of armed formations. 

Using CCTV cameras, mission staff saw that three tents had been set up in front of the hotel, around which at least four people had gathered. At 17:00, two men in civilian clothing entered the hotel and stated that OSCE staff were not allowed to leave the premises until a member of the armed formations detained by the Ukrainian Armed Forces within the disengagement area near Zolote on October 13 was released. 

The FPB in Horlivka is an OSCE SMM office, which is covered by the relevant immunities and privileges. 

The OSCE SMM statement says: “Restricting access to and from the office is considered a violation of such immunities and privileges, as well as relevant obligations, by those who have actual control.” 

Mission in Luhansk Operating

Despite the suspension of work in occupied Donetsk, the OSCE SMM continues its activities in the part of Luhansk Oblast not controlled by Ukrainian authorities. 

The OSCE press service stated: “Due to the protest outside the hotel in the Government-uncontrolled Donetsk where mission members reside, the SMM is unable to send patrols from it to carry out its assigned tasks. Patrolling in Government-uncontrolled areas of Luhansk Oblast continues in accordance with the mission’s mandate.” 

The OSCE calls on the parties to remove any obstacles to the freedom of movement of mission observers. 

The organization recalled that the OSCE SMM in Ukraine is tasked with establishing facts and reporting on them, and that the mission operates in accordance with the principles of impartiality and transparency. 

“The mission does not make assessments; all relevant observations are included in SMM reports, which are available to the public on the OSCE website,” the press service said. 

Militant with Russian Passport Detained

On October 13, Ukrainian servicemen detained a man who, under the pretext of demining the territory, was conducting reconnaissance of positions left by the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Zolote. It later emerged that the detainee is a Russian citizen named Andrei Kosyak. 

Weapons and ammunition were seized from the militant. According to an entry in his military ID, a native of Luhansk Oblast received a Russian passport in February 2020. 

The SBU established that Kosyak was conducting reconnaissance and also had a criminal past. The militant was served with a notice of suspicion of committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 260 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (creating unlawful military or armed formations).

Ukrainian security forces found a video on the man’s mobile device showing his participation in shelling Armed Forces of Ukraine positions. 

On October 14, Russian media published a reaction from representatives of the so-called “LPR” to the detention of Andrei Kosyak. The statement said: “The ‘LPR’ has suspended all contacts with Kyiv in the Joint Centre for Control and Coordination of the Ceasefire (JCCC) until the return of its officer, detained yesterday by Kyiv’s security forces on the line of demarcation. In Luhansk they say the officer was detained during work agreed with the OSCE at the Pervomaisk–Zolote checkpoint.”