Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 23 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 20 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 12,567 to 12,682 per day for both BCPs compared to last week. The average net flow for both BCPs went from minus 30 (i.e. more exits from the Russian Federation) to plus 34 (i.e. more entries to 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 34.3 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 decreased from 86 last week to 60 this week at both BCPs; 32 of them crossed into the Russian Federation, while 28 of them crossed into Ukraine. Approximately 93 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. Eleven families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation while thirteen 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 decreased from 647 to 592; 336 of these trucks crossed to the Russian Federation and 256 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 decreased from 57 last week to 50 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 X-ray checks were observed at the Donetsk BCP. Out of the 100 trucks scanned during the reporting period, 66 trucks (66 per cent) were bound for Ukraine; the remaining 34 trucks (34 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 262 to 266; 129 crossed to the Russian Federation and 137 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 21 occasions; the OTs estimated that twelve trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and nine 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, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania and Moldova.
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.
The OT at Donetsk BCP observed one ambulance each on two occasions – on 19 and 22 August. Both of them came from the Russian Federation. One of them spent some minutes in the BCP and returned back to Russia; the other one crossed the border to Ukraine. 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 reporting period from 19 July to 23 August 2016 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).