Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 7 June 2016
This report is for media and the general public.
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 21 permanent international staff members, including the Chief Observer (CO). The Mission is supported administratively by a Vienna-based staff member.
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 10,917 to 10,491[1] per day for both BCPs compared to last week; the average net flow for both BCPs went from minus 60 (i.e. more exits from the Russian Federation) to minus 193 (i.e. more exits from 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 a little over 37 per cent 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 111 last week to 121 this week at both BCPs; 67 of them crossed into the Russian Federation while 54 of them crossed into Ukraine. Approximately 76 per cent of this category’s crossings occurred at the Donetsk BCP. Men and women continued to cross the border individually or in groups. Most individuals crossed by foot, however, some made use of private vehicles, buses or 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 both BCPs with a significant amount of luggage or travelling in heavily-loaded cars; three families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation while 11 were observed crossing into Ukraine.
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 buses do not state their route; instead they just have a sign on the windshield saying “Irregular”.
Among the bus connections observed by the OTs, the following “irregular” routes or destinations were noted: Alchevsk-Kharkiv-Kyiv, Stakhanov-Luhansk-Kyiv, Luhansk-Anapa, Alchevsk-Kharkiv, Stakhanov-Kharkiv, Odessa, Kharkiv and St. Petersburg.
During the reporting week, on some occasions the OTs at the Donetsk BCP observed buses with children on board crossing the border in both directions.
On some occasions, the OTs noticed the bus drivers removing the itinerary signs from the windshields of their buses. The majority of long-distance coaches commuting between Luhansk region and cities in the Russian Federation have license 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 decreased from 727 to 714; 360 of these trucks crossed to the Russian Federation and 354 crossed to Ukraine.
Most of the trucks observed by the OTs were registered in Luhansk region.
Separately, the OTs also observed tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. The number of tanker trucks increased from 48 last week to 59 this week. These trucks were observed crossing the border at both BCPs. The 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 no X-ray checks could be observed at the Gukovo BCP since the Observation Team has no view of the mobile X-Ray, but it could be heard operating several times during the reporting period. 125 X-ray checks were observed at the Donetsk BCP. Out of these 125 trucks scanned during the reporting period, 98 trucks (78 per cent) were bound for Ukraine; the remaining 27 trucks (22 per cent) crossed into the Russian Federation.
Minivans
During the reporting period, the OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans[2], 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 decreased from 342 to 322; 158 crossed to the Russian Federation and 164 to Ukraine.
Trains
The OTs continued to pick up on the sound of trains running on the train tracks located approximately 150 metres south-west of the Gukovo BCP. During the reporting week, the OTs heard trains on eight occasions; the OTs estimated that three trains were going to the Russian Federation and five trains were bound for Ukraine. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine was informed about the trains bound for Ukraine. Visual observation was not possible because of the line of trees in between the train tracks and the BCP and unfavorable light conditions.
Other observations
The majority of vehicles crossing the border have license plates issued in Luhansk region or in the Russian Federation.
The OTs continued to observe vehicles with Ukrainian license plates, including articulated trucks with “LPR” or “Novorossiya” stickers, or in rare cases “DPR” stickers on their license plates masking the Ukrainian flag.
During the reporting week the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed an ambulance on one occasion. The ambulance which was registered in Ukraine crossed the border into the Russian Federation and several hours later that same day it returned back to Ukraine. The Observation Team on the spot could not confirm if there was an injured person on board.
[1] Data received from Rostov region Border Guard Service
[2] 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).