Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 20 February 2018
This report is for the 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 compared to the previous week.
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.
OBSERVATIONS AT THE BORDER CROSSING POINTS
Persons crossing the border
The profile of the people crossing the border can be categorized as follows:
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Adults travelling on foot or by car with little or no luggage;
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Persons in military-style outfits;
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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 9,227 to 9,371 per day for both BCPs compared to last week. The average net flow for both BCPs went from plus 110 to plus 44 (i.e., more entries into 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 39 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 at both BCPs compared to 69 last week; 39 of them crossed into the Russian Federation, 40 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. One family was observed crossing into the Russian Federation and two into Ukraine. In the previous reporting period two such families were observed crossing the border.
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 369 buses crossing the border at both BCPs, 185 of them were bound for the Russian Federation and 184 for Ukraine. Eleven of these 369 buses were connecting Ukrainian towns through the Russian Federation (circumventing the contact line), six of which went to the Russian Federation and five to Ukraine. Last week, the OTs observed 393 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 almost no change in the number of trucks crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. Compared to the previous week, the total number of trucks went from 712 to 711 (180 in Gukovo BCP and 531 in Donetsk BCP); 373 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation and 338 crossed into Ukraine. Most of the trucks observed by the OTs had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region.
Separately, the OTs also observed tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. The number of tanker trucks increased from 39 to 44, 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 116 X-ray checks: out of the total number of trucks scanned during the reporting period, 94 trucks (81 per cent) were bound for Ukraine; the remaining 22 trucks (19 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 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 decreased from 172 to 157; 76 crossed into the Russian Federation and 81 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 20 occasions, compared to 12 heard last week; the OTs assessed that eight trains were travelling to the Russian Federation, with the other 12 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 observed vehicles with “LPR” plates crossing the border in both directions.
On 16 February at 07:40 the OT in Donetsk BCP observed one police minivan with three uniformed police officers arriving at the BCP from the Russian Federation. All officers went into the main building. After approximately 20 minutes the same officers came out and entered the police vehicle. The minivan left the BCP back to the Russian Federation at 08:03.
For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 23 January 2018 to 29 February 2018, please see the attachment here.
[1] Based on data received from Rostov-on-Don 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).