Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 21 March 2017
This report is for the general public and the media.
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. The sixtieth Russian convoy crossed into Ukraine and returned through the Donetsk Border Crossing Point.
OPERATIONAL REMARKS
The OM is currently operating with 20 permanent international staff members, including the Chief Observer (CO). The Mission is supported administratively by a Vienna-based staff member.
- On 14 March, a new border observer was seconded to the Mission by the French government;
- Upon request of the German Embassy in Moscow, the diplomatic accreditation in the Russian Federation was granted to a German border observer;
- The Swiss government has provided 30 winter jackets with reflective OSCE logo and 30 summer jackets to the Mission.
In this regard, the Mission is grateful to the above-mentioned countries for their invaluable support.
OBSERVATIONS AT THE BORDER CROSSING POINTS
Persons crossing the border
The profile of the people crossing the border can be categorized as follows:
- Adults travelling on foot or by car with little or no luggage;
- Persons in military-style outfits;
- 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 from 10,970 to 12,225 per day for both BCPs compared to last week. The average net flow for both BCPs went from plus 398 to plus 374 (i.e. more entries to the Russian Federation).
The Donetsk BCP continues to experience more traffic than the Gukovo BCP. The cross-border movements registered at both BCPs accounted for 40.4 per cent of all entries/exits in Rostov region[1].
Persons in military-style outfits
During the reporting period, the number of persons in military-style outfits crossing the border in both directions was 79 this week at both BCPs compared to 104 last week; 42 of them crossed into the Russian Federation, 37 into Ukraine. Approximately 82 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
The OTs continue to report on families crossing the border, sometimes with elderly people and/or children, crossing at both BCPs with a significant amount of luggage, or travelling in heavily loaded cars. During this reporting period two families were observed crossing the border into the Russian Federation, while one family was observed crossing to Ukraine.
Bus connections
Regular local and long-distance bus connections continue 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 have a sign on the windshield stating “Irregular”.
Among the bus connections observed by the OTs, the following “irregular” routes or destinations were noted: Rovenki-Kyiv; Alchevsk-Harkiv-Kiev; Luhansk–Kyiv; Stakahnov-Kyiv; Sevastopol; Luhansk-Stakahnov; and Luhansk-Rovenki.
On some occasions, the OTs noticed the bus drivers removing the itinerary signs from the windshields of their buses, or some buses don’t display their route at all. The majority of long-distance coaches commuting between Luhansk region and cities in the Russian Federation have Ukrainian licence plates issued in Luhansk region.
Trucks
The OM continued to observe trucks crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. Compared to the previous week, the total number of trucks increased from 613 to 737 (209 in Gukovo BCP and 528 in Donetsk BCP); 409 of these trucks crossed to the Russian Federation and 328 crossed to Ukraine. Most of the trucks observed by the OTs have Ukrainian licence plates issued in Luhansk region.
Separately, the OTs also observed tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. The number of tanker trucks increased from 26 to 50. 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. Due to the unfavourable position at the Gukovo BCP, the OTs continued to be unable to observe any X-ray checks. At the Donetsk BCP the OTs observed 194 X-ray checks. At the latter BCP, out of the total number of trucks scanned during the reporting period, 158 trucks (81 per cent) were bound for Ukraine; the remaining 36 trucks (18 per cent) crossed into the Russian Federation.
Minivans
The OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans[2] 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 197 to 245; 118 crossed to the Russian Federation and 127 to Ukraine.
Trains
The OTs continued to pick up the sound of trains running on the train tracks located approximately 150m south-west of the Gukovo BCP. During the reporting week, the OTs heard trains on twenty three occasions; the OTs assessed that fourteen trains were travelling to Ukraine and other nine were bound for the Russian Federation. 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 the Luhansk region or Russian Federation licence plates. The OTs continued to observe vehicles, cars and truck with “LPR” plates crossing the border in both directions. The OTs also continued to observe articulated trucks with “LPR” or “Novorossiya” stickers, or in rare cases “DPR” stickers on their plates masking the Ukrainian flag.
On 15 March between 12:35 to 12:38hrs the OT at the Gukovo BCP observed a military helicopter, assessed as a Mi-17 type. The helicopter came from a northerly direction flying along the border line at an altitude of approximately 50m, and within Russian Federation territory. The same helicopter was observed by the OT from the Donetsk BCP flying over the BCP within Russian Federation territory.
During the reporting week, on 17 March the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed an ambulance with the inscription “Reanimation” written on it in Russian. The ambulance had “LPR” plates and was crossing the border from Ukraine to the Russian Federation. The OT could observe only three medical personnel while undergoing the border check. The same ambulance returned and crossed back into Ukraine at 18:25hrs.
Convoy
On 16 March at 07:20hrs (Moscow time), a Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk BCP. A total of 15 vehicles – ten cargo trucks and five support vehicles – were checked by the Russian border guards and customs services prior to them crossing into Ukraine. All 15 vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 13:45hrs on the same day.
For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 14 February 2017 to 21 March 2017 see the attachment here.
[1] Based on 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 licence C1).