Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 26 July 2016

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 11,632 to 12,017 [1] per day for both BCPs compared to last week. The average net flow for both BCPs went from plus 167 to plus 16 (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 just 35 per cent of all entries/exits in Rostov region¹.

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 90 last week to 80 this week at both BCPs; 45 of them crossed into the Russian Federation, while 35 of them crossed into Ukraine. Approximately 90 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. Three families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation while five was 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; Alchevsk-Sukhumi; Yalta-Alchevsk; Luhansk-St Petersburg; Luhansk-Yalta; Luhansk-Yevpatoria; Rovenki-Kyiv; Luhansk-Kyiv; Stakhanov-Kharkiv; Stakhanov-Kyiv; Kharkiv; Kyiv; and Odessa.

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

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 624 to 679; 387 of these trucks crossed to the Russian Federation and 292 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 from 49 last week to 56 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.

All trucks undergo systematic inspection by Russian Federation officials, which may include an X-ray check. No X-ray checks could be observed at the Gukovo BCP since the OT has no view of the mobile X-ray unit, but it could be heard operating several times during the reporting period. Sixty-two X-ray checks were observed at the Donetsk BCP. Out of the 62 trucks scanned during the reporting period, 45 trucks (73 per cent) were bound for Ukraine; the remaining 17 trucks (27 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 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 decreased from 323 to 247; 124 crossed to the Russian Federation and 123 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 17 occasions; the OTs estimated that ten trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and seven 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.

During the reporting week, the OTs at the Donetsk BCP observed two vehicles with new plates issued by “LPR” and “DPR”, one crossing the border to the Russian Federation and one to Ukraine.

During the reporting period the OTs observed ambulances on two occasions. These ambulances were registered in Ukraine and were crossing the border in both directions at the Donetsk BCP.  

The OTs on the spot could not confirm if there were persons requiring medical treatment on board.

On 21 July at 21:21hrs at the Donetsk BCP the OT observed the arrival of ten small buses which parked at the BCP’s customs control area. Approximately twenty minutes later six buses full of children arrived at the BCP from the Russian Federation side.  After transferring the children from one bus to another, they returned in the direction where they arrived from.     

On 23 July at 19:35hrs the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed the Russian Federation Ministry Emergency Situation personnel setting up tents at the entrance gate of the BCP on the Russian Federation side. On the next day, the OT observed eight buses with children coming from Ukraine and parking near the camp. The children boarded other buses and travelled to the Russian Federation. Later during the day, the tents were disassembled.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 21 June to 26 July 2016 see the attachment here.

[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).