Spot Report by OSCE Observer Mission at Russian checkpoints of Gukovo and Donetsk: Fifty-second Russian convoy of 45 vehicles crossed into Ukraine and returned through Donetsk Border Crossing Point

This report is for media and the general public.

SUMMARY

On 23 June 2016 at 07:05hrs (Moscow time), a Russian convoy[1] 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.

DETAIL

Leaving the Russian Federation

On 23 June 2016 at 07:05hrs, the Mission observed the arrival of a Russian convoy at the gate of the Donetsk BCP. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations team led the process of the convoy movement. The convoy consisted of 38 cargo trucks and seven support vehicles. All but three cargo trucks bore the inscription “Humanitarian help from the Russian Federation”.

At 07:07hrs the vehicles entered the customs control area and parked up in four lines. The cargo trucks were visually checked from the outside by Russian border guards and customs officers. Two service dogs were present on site during the convoy crossing and were used to check some of the cargo trucks from the outside. Ukrainian representatives – six border guards and three customs officers – were present during the check. They performed light visual checks of the opened trucks from the outside. By 07:45hrs the vehicles had left the BCP towards Ukraine.

Returning to the Russian Federation

At 14:24hrs on 23 June, the convoy arrived and parked up in three lines at the customs area. The tailgates and tarpaulins of the trucks were opened and Russian and Ukrainian border guards and customs officers visually checked the returning convoy from the outside. One service dog was present on site during the convoy crossing and was used to check some of the cargo trucks from the outside. By 14:58hrs all of the 45 vehicles had returned and crossed back into the Russian Federation.

[1] According to the statement of the Russian Federation officials, this convoy is considered as the fifty-third Russian Convoy which was sent to Ukraine. As one of these convoys did not cross through the “Donetsk” or “Gukovo” border crossing points, the Observer Mission did not record it. Hence, based on the Observer Mission’s counting, this convoy is considered as the fifty-second convoy that has crossed into Ukraine.