Spot report by OSCE Observer Mission: A forty-second Russian convoy of 45 vehicles crossed into Ukraine and returned back through the Donetsk Border Crossing Point

Please note that this report is for media and the general public

SUMMARY

On 29 October 2015 at 06:40hrs (Moscow time), a Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of 45 vehicles were checked by the Russian border guard and customs services. All the vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 14:10hrs on 29 October.

DETAIL

Leaving the Russian Federation

On 29 October 2015 at 06:40hrs, the Observer Mission observed the arrival of a Russian convoy at the gate of the Donetsk BCP. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations team led the process of the convoy movement. The convoy consisted of 38 cargo trucks and 7 support vehicles. All but one cargo trucks bore the inscription “Humanitarian help from the Russian Federation’’.

At 06:40hrs the vehicles entered the customs control area and lined up in three lines. The cargo trucks were visually checked by Russian border guards and customs officers from the outside. Two service dogs were present on site during the convoy crossing. Ukrainian representatives – three border guards and two customs officers – were present during the check. They performed visual observation of the opened trucks from the outside. By 07:25hrs all vehicles had left the BCP towards Ukraine.

Returning to the Russian Federation

At 13:40hrs on 29 October, the convoy arrived and lined up in three lines at the customs area. The tailgates and tarpaulin of all of the trucks were opened and Russian border guards and customs officers visually checked the returning convoy from the outside. Ukrainian representatives – three border guards and two customs officers – performed visual observation of the returning convoy from the outside. One service dog was present on site during the convoy crossing. By 14:10hrs all 45 vehicles had returned and crossed back into the Russian Federation.