Spot Report by OSCE Observer Mission: The sixtieth Russian convoy of 15 vehicles crossed into Ukraine and returned through Donetsk Border Crossing Point

This report is for the general public and the media.

SUMMARY 

On 16 March 2017 at 07:20 hrs (Moscow time), the sixtieth  Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of 15 vehicles were checked by the Russian border guards and customs services prior to them crossing into Ukraine. All of the 15 vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 13:45 hrs on 16 March. 

DETAIL 

Leaving the Russian Federation 

On 16 March at 07:20 hrs the Observer Mission observed the arrival of a Russian convoy at the gate of the Donetsk BCP. A Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations team co-ordinated and led the movements of the convoy. The convoy consisted of ten cargo trucks and five support vehicles. All trucks bore the inscription “Humanitarian help from the Russian Federation”. 

At 07:20 hrs the vehicles entered the customs control area and queued in three lines. Once the convoy arrived, the vehicles were inspected by the Russian Federation border guards and customs officers. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations staff rolled up/opened the tarpaulins of the trucks and the border guards and customs officials performed a visual observation from the outside. 

Two service dogs were present and used by the Russian Federation border guards to check the vehicles from the outside, and one border guard video recorded the crossing procedure. Six Ukrainian officials, four border guards and two customs officers were observed. They accompanied their Russian counterparts and also performed a visual observation of the vehicles from the outside (not entering the trucks’ cargo space). The Ukrainian officials had clipboards in their hands and were taking notes. By 07:37 hrs the vehicles had left the BCP towards Ukraine.  

Returning to the Russian Federation 

At 13:35 hrs the convoy arrived and queued in the customs area. The tarpaulins of the trucks were opened and Russian border guards and customs officers visually checked the returning convoy from the outside. Ukrainian representatives – three border guards and two customs officers – were present during this check. They also performed visual checks of the opened trucks from the outside. By 13:45 hrs all 15 vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation.