Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 18 October 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 number of border crossings by persons increased at both BCPs.

OPERATIONAL REMARKS

The OM is currently operating with 21 staff members, 20 permanent international staff members, including the Chief Observer (CO) and one first responder[1]. 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) travelling on foot or by car with a significant amount of luggage.

The average number of entries/exits increased overall from 10,608 to 10,703 per day for both BCPs compared to last week. The average net flow for both BCPs went from minus 150 to minus 225 (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 over 36 per cent of all entries/exits in Rostov region[2].

Persons in military-style outfits

During the reporting period, the number of persons in military-style outfits crossing the border in both directions was 154 this week at both BCPs compared to 116 last week; 88 of them crossed into the Russian Federation, while 66 of them crossed into Ukraine. Approximately 87 per cent of this category’s crossings occurred at the Donetsk BCP. They 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 some families, sometimes with elderly people and/or children, crossing at both BCPs with a significant amount of luggage or travelling in heavily loaded cars. Four families were observed crossing the border into the Russian Federation.

Bus connections

Regular local and long-distance bus connections continued to operate between Ukraine (mostly from/to the Luhansk region) and 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: Stakhanov-Kyiv; Luhansk-Odessa; Luhansk-Yevpatoriya; Luhansk-St. Petersburg; Rovenki-Kyiv and Sevastopol. 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.

During the week, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed two buses with children on crossing the border from the Russian Federation to Ukraine.

Trucks

The OM continued to observe trucks crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. Compared to the previous week, the number of trucks decreased from 841 to 763; 442 of these trucks crossed to the Russian Federation and 321 crossed to Ukraine. Most of the trucks observed by the OTs have Ukrainian licence plates issued in Luhansk region. During the reporting week trucks were also observed with Belarussian, Armenian and Lithuanian licence plates.

Separately, the OTs also observed tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. The number of tanker trucks decreased from 54 last week to 37 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. During the reporting period, no X-ray checks were observed at the Gukovo BCP compared to 193 X-ray checks at the Donetsk BCP. At the latter BCP, out of all the trucks scanned during the reporting period, 109 trucks (56 per cent) were bound for Ukraine; the remaining 84 trucks (43 per cent) crossed into the Russian Federation.

Minivans

The OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans^[3] crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. The OTs observed minivans predominantly with 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 346 to 377; 185 crossed to the Russian Federation and 192 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 12 occasions; the OTs estimated that four trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and eight 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 as well as due to 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. During the reporting week, the OTs also noted cars with Lithuanian licence plates and one car with “LPR” licence plates crossing the border from the Russian Federation to Ukraine.

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 week the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed a minibus with Ukrainian licence plates arriving at the BCP from Ukrainian direction and parking in the customs control zone with approximately 20 persons dressed in military style outfits on board. Two women were observed among them. After going through border formalities the minibus left the BCP to the Russian Federation.

On 13 October at 09:20hrs the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed an ambulance with “LPR” licence plates arriving at the BCP from the direction of Ukraine. The OT observed a driver and medical personnel while going through border formalities. In addition, the OT did not observe any person in need of medical treatment on board. At 09:43hrs the ambulance left the BCP towards the Russian Federation.

On 15 October at 13:15hrs the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed a van with Ukrainian licence plates crossing the border from Ukraine to the Russian Federation. The van had a sign “Funereal” on the inside of its windshield and had the same inscription on its hood written in large letters in Russian. Except for the driver and a civilian, the OT was unable to ascertain whether it was carrying a coffin or not.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 13 September to 18 October 2016 see the attachment here.

[1] First-responders are OSCE staff or mission members deployed to another mission for a short period of time.

[2] Based on data received from Rostov region Border Guard Service.

^[3] 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 licence C1).