Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 10 November 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 decreased at both BCPs.
DETAIL
OM’s staff composition
The OM is currently operating with 19 permanent international staff members (incl. the Chief Observer).
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 decreased overall from 11,382 to 11,038 per day for both BCPs; the average net flow went from minus 520 (i.e. more exits from the Russian Federation) to plus 90 (i.e. more entries into 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 just over 36 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”. During the reporting period the OTs counted four busses bound for Kharkiv, one bus on the route Alchevsk-Kharkiv and one bus on the route Alchevsk-Kharkiv-Kyiv.
During the reporting period, the number of men and women in military-style clothes, crossing the border in both directions, decreased from 198 to 145 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 private cars, some used busses and also motorbikes). Approximately 83 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 clothes have travelled across the border by bus, making it more difficult for the OTs to observe their movement across the border. Furthermore, the OTs continued to observe physically fit young and middle-aged men in civilian clothing, with short haircuts, many of whom carried camouflage-coloured backpacks.
The OTs continued to observe vehicles with Ukrainian license plates, including articulated trucks, with “Donetsk People’s Republic / Lugansk People’s Republic” (“DPR/LPR”) and “Novorossiya” 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 the Luhansk region, the OTs frequently observed trucks registered in the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions and occasionally in the Zaporizhia region. The OTs also observed trucks registered in the Russian Federation and Republic of Belarus that crossed the border. One truck registered in the Republic of Armenia was observed crossing the border through the Donetsk BCP. During the reporting week the number of trucks registered in the Republic of Belarus has decreased from 47 to 39; these trucks were observed crossing the border at the Donetsk BCP only. Separately, the OTs also observed tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. The number of tanker trucks has decreased from 54 last week to 30 this week. Twenty-seven of these trucks crossed at the Donetsk BCP and three trucks crossed at the Gukovo BCP. These trucks, for the most part, had the words “Propane” and “Flammable” written across the tanks in Russian and Ukrainian. The majority of tanker trucks have hazard signs indicating that they are transporting propane or a mix of propane with butane.
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 decreased compared to last week. A daily average of 3,896 entries and exits was recorded, which accounted for almost thirteen per cent of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. The net flow went from plus 7 to plus 220 (i.e. more entries to the Russian Federation) on average per day.
During the reporting period, the OM observed a total of 25 persons in military-style clothing crossing the border at the Gukovo BCP, 13 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 the Russian 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 10 occasions; the OTs estimated that 5 trains were going to the Russian Federation and 5 trains were bound for Ukraine. Visual observation was not possible because of the line of trees in between the train tracks and the BCP.
On 9 November at 13:00hrs, the OT observed a funeral van registered in Ukraine cross the border from the Russian Federation to Ukraine. No coffin was observed on board this vehicle.
Observation at the Donetsk BCP
During the reporting period the activity at the Donetsk BCP decreased compared to last week. The daily average of 7,142 entries and exits was recorded. This accounted for over 23 percent of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. The net flow changed from minus 527 to minus 130 (i.e. more exits from the Russian Federation) on average per day.
During the reporting week, the OTs observed 120 persons in military-style clothing crossing the border at the Donetsk BCP, 65 persons entered the Russian Federation while 55 left for Ukraine.
During the reporting week the OTs observed eleven ambulances at the Donetsk BCP. The OTs could not see whether there were any injured persons inside the ambulances. The OT noticed children being transported in some of these ambulances.
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