Spot Report by OSCE Observer Mission: 86th Russian convoy of 16 vehicles crossed into Ukraine and returned through the Donetsk Border Crossing Point

This report is for the media and the general public.

SUMMARY

On 24 October at 06:47 (Moscow time), the eighty-sixth[1] Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of 16 vehicles were checked by Russian Federation border guards and customs officers prior to their crossing into Ukraine. All 16 vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 14:00 on 24 October.

DETAIL

Leaving the Russian Federation

On 24 October at 06:47, the Observer Mission observed the arrival of a Russian convoy at the gate of the Donetsk BCP. The convoy consisted of 16 vehicles: one escort car and 15 cargo trucks, among them: two trucks belonged to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) other 13 were civilian trucks. Two cargo trucks bore the inscription “Humanitarian aid from the Russian Federation” (in Russian). At 06:47, the vehicles entered the customs control area. Once the convoy arrived, the vehicles were visually checked from the outside by Russian Federation border guards and customs officers. The truck drivers rolled up/opened the tarpaulins of the trucks and the border guards and customs officials performed a visual observation from the outside. Two dogs were present and used by Russian Federation border guards to check the vehicles from the outside.

Two Ukrainian border guards and two customs officers were observed accompanying their Russian counterparts; they also performed a visual observation of the vehicles from the outside (without entering the trucks’ cargo space). They had clipboards in their hands and were taking notes. By 07:10, all of the vehicles had left the BCP towards Ukraine. During the crossing one Russian Federation border guard took photos of the procedure.

Returning to the Russian Federation

At 13:40, the convoy returned and queued in the customs area. The Russian Federation border guards and customs officers visually checked the returning convoy from the outside. Ukrainian representatives – three border guards and three customs officers – were present during this check. The Ukrainian officials also performed visual checks of the trucks from the outside. Two dogs were present and used by Russian Federation border guards to check the vehicles from the outside. By 14:00, all 16 vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation. During the return of the convoy, one officer from the Ministry of Emergency Situations was present at the BCP taking photos of the procedure.

[1]Based on the Observer Mission’s counting, this convoy is considered the eighty-sixth convoy that has crossed into Ukraine through the “Donetsk” or “Gukovo” BCPs. However, so far all these convoys crossed through the “Donetsk” BCP.