Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 28 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. The fifty-second Russian Convoy of 45 vehicles crossed into Ukraine and returned through the Donetsk Border Crossing Point.
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 little or no 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 11,758 to 11,621[1] per day for both BCPs compared to last week; the average net flow for both BCPs went from plus 383 (i.e. more entries to the Russian Federation) to minus 191 (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 more than 37 per cent of all entries/exits in the 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 94 last week to 120 this week at both BCPs; 67 of them crossed into the Russian Federation, while 53 of them crossed into Ukraine. Approximately 81 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; five families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation while three 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 busses do not state their route; instead they just have a sign on the windshield stating “Irregular”.
Among the bus connections observed by the OTs, the following “irregular” routes or destinations were noted: Alchevsk-Kharkiv-Kyiv; Stakhanov-Luhansk-Kyiv; Stakhanov-Kharkiv; Gorlovka-Donetsk-Moscow; Stakhanov-Kyiv; Rovenky-Kyiv; Kharkiv and Odessa.
During the reporting period, on some occasions the OTs at the Donetsk BCP observed busses 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 licence 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 587 to 753; 420 of these trucks crossed to the Russian Federation and 333 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 to 67 from 49 in the previous week. These trucks were observed crossing the border at both BCPs. The trucks mainly had the words “Propane” and “Flammable” written across the tanks in either 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. 172 X-ray checks were observed at the Donetsk BCP. Out of the 172 trucks scanned during the reporting period, 134 trucks (78 per cent) were bound for Ukraine; the remaining 38 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 increased from 310 to 456; 212 crossed to the Russian Federation and 244 to Ukraine.
Trains
The OTs continued to pick up 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 seven occasions; the OTs estimated that three trains were travelling 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 not possible because of the line of trees located between the train tracks and the BCP and unfavourable light conditions.
Other observations
The majority of vehicles crossing the border have licence plates issued in Luhansk region or in the Russian Federation.
The OTs continued to observe vehicles with Ukrainian licence plates, including articulated trucks with “LPR” or “Novorossiya” stickers, or in rare cases “DPR” stickers on their licence plates masking the Ukrainian flag. On a few occasions the OT observed trucks and vehicles with Belarussian, Georgian and German registration plates.
During the reporting period the OTs at the Donetsk BCP observed ambulances on five occasions. On three occasions the ambulances came to the BCP from the Russian Federation side and did not cross the border. On the other two occasions one ambulance with Ukrainian registration plates was observed crossing the border to the Russian Federation and returning the next day.
On 23 June at 10:57hrs the OT from Donetsk BCP observed a MI-8 helicopter flying at low altitude parallel to the border line within the territory of the Russian Federation from a south to north direction.
On 25 June the OT from Gukovo BCP heard shots on two occasions. At 22:55hrs 21 single shots were heard, as well as 2 bursts of three shots and later, at 23:21hrs, 15 single shots were heard. All of the shots originated from a south-east direction. The OT could not determine the distance of the firing source.
Convoy
On 23 June 2016 at 07:05hrs (Moscow time), a Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of 45 vehicles were checked by the Russian border guards and customs services prior to them crossing into Ukraine. All of the 45 vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 14:58hrs on 23 June 2016 (see the spot report).
[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 licence C1).