Spot Report by the Observer Mission at the Russian checkpoints of Gukovo and Donetsk: A forty-fifth Russian convoy of 45 vehicles crossed into Ukraine and returned back through the Donetsk Border Crossing Point

This report is for the media and general public.

SUMMARY

On 26 November 2015 at 06:50hrs (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 14:15hrs on 26 November.

DETAIL

Leaving the Russian Federation

On 26 November 2015 at 06:50hrs, 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 truck bore the inscription “Humanitarian help from the Russian Federation’’.

At 06:50hrs 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. One service dog was present on site during the convoy crossing and was used to check most of the cargo trucks from the outside. Ukrainian representatives – one customs officer and two border guards – were present during the check. They performed a visual check of the opened trucks from the outside. By 07:35hrs all vehicles had left the BCP towards Ukraine.

Returning to the Russian Federation

At 13:44hrs on 26 November, the convoy arrived and lined up in three lines at the customs area. The tailgates and tarpaulin of the trucks were opened and Russian border guards and customs officers visually checked the returning convoy from the outside. Ukrainian representatives – one customs officer and three border guards – performed a visual check of the returning convoy from the outside. Three service dogs were present on site during the convoy crossing and were used to check most of the cargo trucks from the outside. By 14:15hrs all 45 vehicles had returned and crossed back into the Russian Federation.

* According to the statement of the Russian Federation officials, this convoy is considered as the forty-sixth Russian Humanitarian Convoy which was sent to Ukraine. At the same time the Observer Mission did not record one of the convoys as it did not cross through the “Donetsk” and “Gukovo” checkpoints. Hence, based on the Observer Mission’s counting this convoy is considered as the forty-fifth convoy that crossed to Ukraine.

***