Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 15 March 2016
SUMMARY
Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall cross-border traffic decreased at both BCPs.
OPERATIONAL REMARKS
The OM is currently operating with 20 permanent international staff members (incl. the Chief Observer). The Mission is supported administratively by a Vienna-based staff member.
The mission is fulfilling its mandate without major difficulties.
OBSERVATIONS AT THE BORDER CROSSING POINTS
Persons crossing the border
The profile of the people crossing the border can be categorized as follows:
- Adults travelling on foot or by car with no or little luggage;
- Persons in military-style outfits;
- Families (often including elderly people and/or children), on foot or by car with a significant amount of luggage.
The average number of entries/exits decreased overall from 10,267 to 9,093[1] per day for both BCPs compared to last week; the average net flow for both BCPs went from minus 648 (i.e. more exits from the Russian Federation) to plus 451 (i.e. more entries into the Russian Federation). The Donetsk BCP continued to experience more traffic than the Gukovo BCP. The cross-border movements registered at both BCPs accounted for almost 37% of all entries/exits in Rostov region.
Persons in military-style outfits
During the reporting period, the number of men and women in military-style outfits, crossing the border in both directions, increased from 132 last week to 173 this week at both BCPs; 89 of them crossed to the Russian Federation while 84 of them crossed to Ukraine. Approximately 84% of this category’s crossings occurred at the Donetsk BCP. These people continued crossing the border individually or in groups and by foot or, in addition to private vehicles, from time to time travelling on busses or in minivans, making it more difficult for the Observer Teams (OTs) to observe their movement across the border.
Families with a significant amount of luggage
During the reporting period, the OTs observed families, often with elderly people and/or children, crossing at the Donetsk BCP with a significant amount of luggage or travelling in overcrowded cars; seven families crossed into Ukraine and ten families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation.
Bus connections
Regular local and long-distance bus connections continued to operate between Ukraine (Luhansk region) and cities in the Russian Federation. In addition to regular bus connections, the OTs continued to observe bus connections on irregular routes: often the busses do not state their route; instead they just have a sign on the windshield saying “Irregular”.
Among these bus connections observed by the OTs, the following “irregular” routes were noted: Alchevsk-Kharkiv-Kyiv, Luhansk-St. Petersburg and Rovenky-Kyiv.
On some occasions, the OTs noticed the bus drivers removing the itinerary signs from the windshields of their busses.
The majority of long-distance coaches commuting between Luhansk region and cities in the Russian Federation have number plates issued in Luhansk region.
Trucks
During the reporting period, the OM continued to observe trucks, crossing the border in both directions and at both BCPs. Compared to the previous week, the number of trucks increased from 605 to 666; 390 of these trucks crossed to the Russian Federation and 276 crossed to Ukraine. The majority of trucks crossed through the Donetsk BCP (208 to the Russian Federation; 204 to Ukraine).
Most of the trucks observed by the OTs were registered in Luhansk region; however, on occasion the OTs also saw trucks registered in other regions of Ukraine. In addition, the OTs at the Donetsk BCP also observed trucks registered in the Russian Federation and Republic of Belarus that crossed the border in both directions.
Separately, the OTs also observed tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. The number of tanker trucks slightly increased from 42 last week to 45 this week. These trucks were observed crossing the border at the Donetsk BCP only. These trucks, for the most part, had the words “Propane” and “Flammable” written across the tanks in Russian or Ukrainian. The majority of tanker trucks have hazard signs, indicating that they are transporting propane or a mix of propane with butane.
All trucks undergo systematic inspection by Russian officials which may include an X-ray check. During the reporting period, the OTs only observed X-ray checks being conducted at Donetsk BCP where the OTs noted that approximately 7% of all trucks crossing into the Russian Federation during the reporting period were X-rayed. A total of approximately 39% of observed trucks were subjected to X-ray checks while crossing into Ukraine.
Minivans[2]
During the reporting period, the OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans, crossing the border in both directions and at both BCPs. The OTs observed minivans predominantly registered in Luhansk region; however, the OTs frequently saw minivans registered in the Russian Federation.
Compared to the previous week, the number of cargo minivans slightly increased from 321 to 333; 163 crossed to the Russian Federation and 170 to Ukraine.
Trains
The OTs continued to pick up on the sound of trains running on the train tracks located approximately 150 meters south-west of the Gukovo BCP. During the reporting week, the OTs heard trains on eight occasions; the OTs estimated that four trains were going to the Russian Federation and four trains were bound for Ukraine. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine was informed about the trains bound for Ukraine. Visual observation was only possible in one case because of the line of trees in between the train tracks and the BCP and unfavourable light conditions.
Other observations
The majority of vehicles crossing the border have number plates issued in Luhansk region or in the Russian Federation. During the reporting week, the OTs also observed at both BCPs private cars with Georgian, Lithuanian and Belorussian license plates crossing the border in both directions.
The OTs continued to observe vehicles with Ukrainian license plates, including articulated trucks with “LPR” (“Luhansk People’s Republic”) or “Novorossiya” stickers, or in rare cases “DPR” (“Donetsk People’s Republic”) stickers on their license plates masking the Ukrainian flag.
On 10 March at 18:09 and 18:18hrs the OT at the Donetsk BCP heard the sound of two single undetermined detonations coming from a south-easterly direction. During the reporting period, the OTs at the Donetsk BCP observed ambulances on six occasions. On 9 March, the OT observed the arrival of three ambulances from the Ukrainian side and their parking in the BCP’s customs control zone. All three ambulances were registered in Ukraine. The OT was able to see that there was a driver and medical personnel in each ambulance and three women and five children aged between 5 to 10. After going through border formalities all three ambulances left for the Russian Federation and were observed returning back later in the day.
For trends and figures at a glance covering the reporting period from 8 March to 14 March 2016 see the attachment here
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[1] Data received from Rostov region Border Guard Service
[2] Passenger minivans: vehicles with more than 8 + 1 seats and a maximum of 16 + 1 seats (light busses which correspond to driving license D1). Cargo minivans: light commercial vehicles with a maximum authorized mass of more than 3.5 t and not more than 7.5 t; with or without a trailer with a maximum mass of less than 750 kg (small cargo vehicles which correspond to driving license C1).