Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 2 January 2018
This report is for the media and the general public.
KAMENSK-SHAKHTINSKIY, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs).
OPERATIONAL REMARKS
The OM is currently operating with 22 permanent international staff members, including the Chief Observer (CO). The Mission is supported administratively by a Vienna-based staff member.
Due to the Russian National holidays, the OM was not able to receive and process the usual data on persons crossing at the two border checkpoints from the Rostov-on-Don region Border Guard Service.
Persons in military-style outfits
During the reporting period, the number of persons in military-style outfits crossing the border in both directions was 99 this week at both BCPs compared to 71 last week; 33 of them crossed into the Russian Federation, 66 into Ukraine. Approximately 65 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, at the BCPs three families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and four into Ukraine. In the previous reporting period three families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and five into 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”.
During the reporting period the OTs observed 439 buses crossing the border at both BCPs, 218 of them were bound for the Russian Federation and 221 for Ukraine. Fifteen of the 439 buses were connecting Ukrainian towns through the Russian Federation (circumventing the contact line), eight of which went to the Russian Federation and seven to Ukraine. Last week, the OTs observed 449 buses crossing the border at both BCPs.
On some occasions, the OTs noticed the bus drivers removing the itinerary signs from the windshields of their buses, while some buses do not display their route at all. The majority of long-distance buses commuting between the Luhansk region and cities in the Russian Federation have Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region.
Trucks
During the reporting period the OM observed a drastic decrease in the number of trucks crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. Compared to the previous week, the total number of trucks decreased from 750 to 370 (63 in Gukovo BCP and 307 in Donetsk BCP); 151 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation and 219 crossed into Ukraine. Most of the trucks observed by the OTs had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region.
Last year, during the same period, the OTs observed a drastic decreased of trucks crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs, from 917 to 304 (as per the 3 January 2017 Weekly report).
Separately, the OTs also observed tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. The number of tanker trucks increased from 36 to 42, compared to the previous reporting period. These trucks were observed crossing the border at both BCPs. The trucks 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 59 X-ray checks: out of the total number of trucks scanned during the reporting period, 48 trucks (81 per cent) were bound for Ukraine; the remaining 11 trucks (19 per cent) crossed into the Russian Federation.
Minivans
The OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans[1] crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. The OTs observed minivans predominantly with Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region; however, the OTs also frequently saw minivans registered in the Russian Federation.
As compared to the previous week, the number of cargo minivans increased from 177 to 161; 67 crossed into the Russian Federation and 94 into 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 31 occasions, compared to 29 heard last week; the OTs assessed that 13 trains were travelling to the Russian Federation, with the other 18 bound for Ukraine. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine was regularly 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 and weather conditions.
Other observations
The majority of vehicles crossing the border had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region or Russian Federation licence plates. In addition, the OTs also observed several vehicles holding “LPR” plates crossing the border in both directions.
For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 28 November 2017 to 2 January 2018, please see the attachment here.
[1] 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).