Spot Report by OSCE Observer Mission: A thirtieth Russian convoy of 47 vehicles crossed into Ukraine and returned back through the Donetsk Border Crossing Point

SUMMARY

On 25 June 2015 at 06:50hrs (Moscow time), a Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of 47 vehicles were checked by the Russian border guard and customs services. All the vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 16:31hrs on 25 June.

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DETAIL

Leaving the Russian Federation

On 25 June 2015 at 06:50hrs, the Observer Mission observed the arrival of a Russian convoy at the gate of the Donetsk BCP. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations team led the process of the convoy movement. The convoy consisted of 40 cargo trucks and 7 support vehicles. With the exception of one vehicle (refrigerated truck), all the 40 cargo trucks displayed the Russian national flag and bore the inscription “Humanitarian help from the Russian Federation”.

All the vehicles stopped at the customs control area and lined up in three lines, the backdoors of all of the cargo trucks were opened and visually checked from outside by Russian border guards and customs officers. One service dog was used by Russian border guards to check most of the cargo trucks. Ukrainian officers –­ three border guards and one customs officer – were present during the check. They performed visual observation of the opened trucks from the outside with Russian border guards. By 07:40hrs all vehicles had left the BCP towards Ukraine.

Returning to the Russian Federation

At 14:15hrs on 25 June, the convoy arrived and lined up at the customs area. The backdoors of the trucks were opened and Russian border guards and customs officers visually checked the returning convoy. Ukrainian officers – three border guards and one customs officer ­– visually checked the returning convoy. One service dog was used to check some of the cargo trucks. The returning convoy consisted of two waves: the first part, consisting of 42 vehicles, arrived at 14:15hrs and left the BCP at 14:37hrs; the second part, consisting of five vehicles, arrived at 16:22 and left at 16:31hrs. By 16:31 hrs, all 47 vehicles had returned and crossed back into the Russian Federation.

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