Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 29 September 2015
Please note that this report is for 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 cross-border traffic increased at both BCPs. A thirty-eighth Russian Convoy crossed the Donetsk BCP.
DETAIL
OM’s staff composition
The OM is currently operating with 15 permanent international staff members. One of the permanent observers is performing the duties of Acting Chief Observer and one is performing the administrative duties. Four staff members are currently on leave.
Cross-border movements common to both BCPs
The profile of the people crossing the border remains unchanged and can be categorized as follows:
- Families on foot or travelling by car and busses, with a lot of luggage, often accompanied by elderly people;
- Adults (usually of younger age) with no luggage or empty cars;
- People wearing military-style clothes with or without backpacks, crossing on foot or in vehicles.
Compared to last week, the average number of entries/exits increased overall from 11,246 to 11,614 per day for both BCPs; the average net flow went from minus 65 (i.e. more exits from the Russian Federation) to minus 175 (i.e. more exits from the Russian Federation). The Donetsk BCP continued to experience more traffic than the Gukovo BCP. The cross-border movements registered at both BCPs accounted for thirty-six per cent of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. The majority of the vehicles crossing the border have number plates issued in Ukraine (Luhansk region), including a number of articulated trucks and long-distance coaches commuting between Ukraine (Luhansk region) and cities in the Russian Federation.
Common observations at the BCPs
The situation at both BCPs remained calm. The OM continued to observe that the Russian Federation Border Guard and Customs Services conducted checks and controls.
Regular local and long-distance bus connections continued to operate between Ukraine (Luhansk region) and cities in the Russian Federation. In addition to regular bus connections, the Observer Teams (OTs) continued to observe bus connections on irregular routes. Often the busses do not state their route; instead they just have a sign on the windshield saying “Irregular”. Among the irregular lines observed by the OTs the following destinations were noted: five busses bound for Kharkiv and one bus on the route Luhansk-Kiev.
During the reporting period, the number of men and women in military-style dress, crossing the border in both directions, decreased from 176 to 162 at both BCPs. These people continued crossing the border individually or in groups and on foot or using different types of transport (in addition to vehicles, some used busses, but also bikes and motorbikes). Approximately ninety four per cent of this category’s crossings occurred at the Donetsk BCP. The OTs continued to observe that from time to time persons in military-style dress have travelled across the border by bus, which makes it more difficult for the OTs to observe their movement across the border. The OTs also continued to observe physically fit young and middle-aged men in civilian clothing, with short haircuts, many of whom carry camouflage-coloured backpacks.
Furthermore, the OTs continued to observe vehicles with Ukrainian license plates, including articulated trucks, with “Donetsk People’s Republic / Lugansk People’s Republic” (“DPR/LPR”) stickers on their license plates replacing the Ukrainian flag.
During the reporting week, the OM continued to observe a high number of trucks, crossing the border in both directions, including intense cargo truck traffic at both BCPs and dumper trucks transporting coal from Ukraine (Luhansk region) to the Russian Federation through the Gukovo BCP. While the majority of the trucks are registered in Luhansk region, the OTs frequently observe trucks registered in Donetsk and Kharkiv regions, and less frequently trucks registered in Zaporizhzhia region. The OTs also observed trucks registered in the Russian Federation and Republic of Belarus that crossed the border. During the reporting week the number of trucks registered in the Republic of Belarus has slightly decreased from 42 to 41; these trucks were observed crossing the border only at the Donetsk BCP. Separately, the OTs also observed tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. The number of tanker trucks has increased from 46 last week to 56 this week. 28 of these trucks crossed at the Donetsk BCP, while the remaining 18 crossed at the Gukovo BCP. These trucks for the most part had the words “Propane” and “Flammable” written across the tanks in the Russian language. While the majority of tanker trucks have hazardous signs indicating that they transport propane or a mix of propane with butane, during the reporting week the OT observed a tanker truck that had a hazardous sign of ethanol on its side.
Military movement
At the two BCPs the OM did not observe military movement, apart from the movement of Russian Federation Border Guard Service vehicles transporting BCP personnel and supplies.
Observation at the Gukovo BCP
The traffic flow at the Gukovo BCP has increased compared to last week. A daily average of 3,939 entries and exits was recorded, which accounted for just over twelve per cent of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. The net flow went from minus 242 (i.e. more exits from the Russian Federation) to plus 141 (i.e. more entries to the Russian Federation) on average per day.
During the reporting period, the OM observed a total of 19 persons in military-style clothing crossing the border at the Gukovo BCP, 7 of whom left for Ukraine while 12 entered the Russian Federation.
As in previous weeks, the OM observed dumper-trucks transporting coal from Ukraine to theRussian Federation.
The OTs continued to pick up on the sound of trains running on the train tracks located approximately 150 meters south-west of the BCP. During the reporting week, the OTs heard trains on 26 occasions; the OTs estimated that 15 trains were going to the Russian Federation and 11 trains were bound for Ukraine. Visual observation was not possible because of the line of trees in between the train tracks and the BCP.
Observation at the Donetsk BCP
During the reporting period the activity at the Donetsk BCP slightly increased compared to last week. The daily average of 7,675 entries and exits accounted for just over twenty-four percent of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. The net flow changed from minus 307 (i.e. more exits from the Russian Federation) to minus 316 on average per day.
During the reporting week, the OT observed 143 persons in military-style clothing crossing the border at the Donetsk BCP individually and in groups; 86 persons entered the Russian Federation while 57 left for Ukraine.
On 26 September 2015 at 23:52hrs, the OT observed a van registered in the Russian Federation with an inscription “Funeral Service” in Russian language on its sides. The van crossed from the Russian Federation into Ukraine then returned to the BCP from the Ukraine side 20 minutes later before crossing once more into Ukraine at 01:05hrs on 27 September. The same van then subsequently crossed from Ukraine back into the Russian Federation the same day at 05:09hrs. The OT could not ascertain whether there was a coffin or not on board.
On three separate occasions the OT observed three ambulances arrive from the Russian Federation. No injured people were observed in any of these ambulances.
CONVOY
On 24 September 2015 at 07:10hrs (Moscow time), a Russian Convoy arrived at the Donetsk BCP (see the OM Spot Report of 24 September). A total of 64 vehicles - 57 cargo trucks and 7 support vehicles - were visually checked by the Russian border guard and customs services; two service dogs were present and were used to check some of the cargo trucks from the outside. Ukrainian representatives were present on site, both when the convoy crossed into Ukraine and when it returned to the Russian Federation. All the vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 17:23hrs.