Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 15 December 2015
SUMMARY
Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCP). The overall cross-border traffic increased at both BCPs.
DETAIL
OM’s staff composition
The OM is currently operating with 20 permanent international staff members (incl. the Chief Observer).
The profile of the people crossing the border has not significantly changed and can be categorised as follows:
- Adults with no luggage or empty cars;
- Families (including elderly people and children) or groups on foot or by car with a lot of luggage;
- People wearing military-style clothing or footwear, with or without backpacks.
Compared to last week, the average number of entries/exits increased overall from 9,728 to 10,593 per day for both BCPs; the average net flow went from minus 134 to minus 118 (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 over 38% 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 these bus connections observed by the OTs the following destinations were noted: three busses on the route Stakhanov- Kharkiv, one bus on the route Kharkiv and one bus on the route Alchevsk-Kharkiv-Kyiv. During the reporting week, on multiple occasions the OTs noticed the bus drivers removing the itinerary signs from windshields of their busses once they enter the BCP to cross into Ukraine or leave the BCP into the Russian Federation.
During the reporting period, the number of men and women in military-style clothes, crossing the border in both directions, increased from 144 to 182 at both BCPs. Approximately 82% of this category’s crossings occurred at the Donetsk BCP. These people continued crossing the border individually or in groups and by foot or, in addition to private vehicles, from time to time travelling on busses, 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 “LPR” (“Lugansk People’s Republic”) or “Novorossiya” stickers, in rare cases “DPR” (“Donetsk People’s Republic“) stickers on their license plates masking the Ukrainian flag. During the reporting week, the OTs also observed vehicles among which, one was an articulated truck registered in Luhansk oblast (Ukraine) with a new Ukrainian registration license plate, which was introduced by the Ukrainian government in the first half of 2015, crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs.
During the reporting week, the OM continued to observe a high number of trucks, crossing the border in both directions, including 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. 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 decreased from 57 to 48; these trucks were observed crossing the border only at the Donetsk BCP. In addition, one truck registered in the Republic of Poland was observed crossing the border to Ukraine 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 decreased from 53 last week to 42 this week. Thirty-seven of these trucks crossed at the Donetsk BCP and five 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 increased compared to last week. A daily average of 3,240 entries and exits was recorded, which accounted for just under 12 % of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. The net flow went from plus 92 to plus 101 (i.e. more entries to the Russian Federation) on average per day.
During the reporting period, the OM observed a total of 32 persons in military-style clothing crossing the border at the Gukovo BCP, 9 of whom left for Ukraine, while 23 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 21 occasions; the OTs estimated that 11 trains were going to the Russian Federation and 10 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 has increased compared to last week. A daily average of 7,352 entries and exits was recorded. This accounted for just under 27 % of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. The net flow changed from minus 225 to minus 219 (i.e. more exits from the Russian Federation) on average per day.
During the reporting week, the OTs observed 150 persons in military-style clothing crossing the border at the Donetsk BCP, 79 persons entered the Russian Federation, while 71 left for Ukraine.
During the reporting week, the OT observed one ambulance arriving at the BCP from the Russian. Federation side and parking behind the main BCP building. It remained at the BCP for 19 minutes and returned back to the Russian Federation. The OT could not ascertain whether there was an injured person on board.
On 11 December at 14:00 and 20:43hrs the OT observed two vans one registered in Ukraine and the other in the Russian Federation. The vans had the sign “Ritual” on their windshields, one of which crossed to Ukraine while the second crossed to the Russian Federation. The OT could not ascertain whether there was a coffin on board of any of these vans or not.
On 12 December at 17:00hrs the OT observed a van with two men dressed in military-style clothing on board crossing the border from Ukraine to the Russian Federation. There was a sign in A4 format with the inscription “Cossack National Guard[1]” in Russian on the windshield.
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[1] Казачья национальная гвардия