April 16, 2026 10:18 pm (IST)
Follow us:
Ukraine: Ban demands release of OSCE military monitors
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday strongly condemned the detention of international military monitors and staff in Ukraine, and demanded that they be released "immediately, unconditionally and unharmed."
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ban underlined that those who continue unlawful acts will be held accountable for their actions.
According to media reports, the team from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and a number of accompanying Ukrainian staff were captured on Friday while traveling across the eastern part of the country.
“International missions working in Ukraine must be allowed to perform their duties unimpeded,” the top UN official stressed.
Ban appealed to those with influence to assist in the urgent resolution of this matter, and urged all parties concerned to take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation.
“He also calls on them to find a way back to the spirit of compromise exhibited during the Geneva talks on 17 April,” the spokesperson said in reference to the initial round of diplomatic negotiations on the crisis held earlier this month with the backing of the United States and the European Union.
“A diplomatic and political solution to this crisis is imperative and long overdue,” he added.
(Ukrainian flag flies outside UN Headquarters. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe)
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
UK doctor, suspended for asking Muslim patient to remove veil, is struck off the medical register
Thu, Apr 16 2026
Saudi Arabia is 'pressing' US to ease Iran blockade amid fears of wider oil disruption
Tue, Apr 14 2026
Iran Embassy in Australia drops stunning video of Tehran’s Iran Mall amid Middle East crisis
Tue, Apr 14 2026
Kim Jong Un watches as North Korea fires cruise, anti-ship missiles from naval destroyer
Tue, Apr 14 2026
Deal blows up: Netanyahu-Vance call triggers US-Iran blame war
Mon, Apr 13 2026