Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 21 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 increased 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:

1. Adults travelling on foot or by car with  little or no luggage;
2. Persons in military-style outfits;
3. 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 increased overall from 11,534 to 11,758[1] per day for both BCPs compared to last week; the average net flow for both BCPs went from minus 275 (i.e. more exits from the Russian Federation) to plus 383 (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 almost 38 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, decreased from 102 last week to 94 this week at both BCPs; 54 of them crossed into the Russian Federation, while 40 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; three 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: Alchevsk-Kharkiv-Kyiv; Stakhanov-Luhansk-Kyiv; Kharkiv; Stakhanov-Kharkiv; Odessa; Stakhanov-Kyiv; and  Rovenky-Kyiv.

During the reporting period, 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 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 586 to 587; 324 of these trucks crossed to the Russian Federation and 263 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 remained at the same level (49), as 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. 111 X-ray checks were observed at the Donetsk BCP. Out of the 151 trucks scanned during the reporting period, 75 trucks (68 per cent) were bound for Ukraine; the remaining 36 trucks (32 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 277 to 310; 147 crossed to the Russian Federation and 163 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 nine occasions; the OTs estimated that five 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 one occasion the OT observed a vehicle with Romanian registration plates.

During the reporting period the OTs at the Donetsk BCP observed ambulances on four occasions. On 16 June two ambulances which were registered in Ukraine crossed the border into the Russian Federation and came back later the same day. On 17 June two ambulances registered in the Russian Federation came to the BCP and returned without crossing the border to Ukraine. The Observation Teams on the spot could not confirm if there was a person requiring medical treatment 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).