Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 16 August 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 number of border crossings by persons increased at both BCPs.
OPERATIONAL REMARKS
The OM is currently operating with 19 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) travelling on foot or by car with a significant amount of luggage.
The average number of entries/exits increased overall from 12,212 to 12,567 per day for both BCPs compared to last week. The average net flow for both BCPs went from plus 3 (i.e. more entries to the Russian Federation) to minus 30 (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 34.6 per cent of all entries/exits in Rostov region[1].
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 72 last week to 86 this week at both BCPs; 49 of them crossed into the Russian Federation, while 37 of them crossed into Ukraine. Approximately 83 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, especially since many of the private vehicles have tinted windows, and buses and minivans have drawn curtains.
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. Eight families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation while seven 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 stating “Irregular”.
Among the bus connections observed by the OTs, the following “irregular” routes or destinations were noted: Luhansk-Kyiv; Luhansk-Sevastopol; Stakhanov-Kharkiv; Stakhanov-Kyiv, Luhansk-Evpatoriya; Sevastopol; and Kharkiv. On several occasions the OTs observed in Donetsk BCP numerous buses with children that likely travel to/from summer camps. In these cases representatives of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations installed tents in the vicinity of the BCP for carrying out medical checks of children leaving and entering the Russian Federation.
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 Ukrainian licence plates issued in Luhansk region.
Trucks
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 585 to 647; 375 of these trucks crossed to the Russian Federation and 272 crossed to Ukraine. Most of the trucks observed by the OTs have Ukrainian licence plates issued in Luhansk region.
Separately, the OTs also observed tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. The number of tanker trucks increased from 49 last week to 57 this 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.
One hundred and thirty three X-ray checks were observed at the Donetsk BCP. Out of the 133 trucks scanned during the reporting period, 111 trucks (83 per cent) were bound for Ukraine; the remaining 22 trucks (17 per cent) crossed into the Russian Federation.
Minivans
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 having Ukrainian licence plates issued 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 261 to 262; 117 crossed to the Russian Federation and 145 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 20 occasions; the OTs estimated that nine trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and eleven 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 Ukrainian licence plates issued in Luhansk region, or Russian Federation licence plates. Occasionally the OTs observed cars with license plates from other countries, including Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania, Georgia and Poland.
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 9 August at 10:13, the OT at Donetsk BCP observed one ambulance with Russian licence plates crossing into Ukraine. On two other occasions (13 and 14 August) the OTs at Donetsk BCP noticed one ambulance in each case with Russian license plates coming from the Russian Federation to the BCP and then returning back to Russia without crossing the border. In all cases the OTs could not ascertain whether any person in need of medical assistance was inside the ambulances.
For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 12 July to 16 August see the attachment here.
[1] Based on 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).