Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 22 December 2015

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

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 categorized as follows:

1. Adults with no luggage or empty cars;
2. Families (including elderly people and children) or groups on foot or by car with a lot of luggage;
3. People wearing military-style clothing or footwear, with or without backpacks.

Compared to last week, the average number of entries/exits increased overall from 10,593 to 11,398 per day for both BCPs; the average net flow went from minus 118 to minus 306 (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 39% 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: one bus on the route Alchevsk-Kharkiv-Kyiv, one bus on the route Kharkiv, one bus on the route Rovenki-Kyiv, one bus on the route Luhansk-Kharkiv and one bus on the route Alchevsk-Kharkiv. On multiple occasions the OTs noticed the bus drivers removing the itinerary signs from the 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, slightly decreased from 182 to 177 at both BCPs. Approximately 80% 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 period, 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 significantly decreased from 48 to 29; these trucks were observed crossing the border only at the Donetsk BCP. In addition two trucks registered in the Republic of Poland were 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 increased from 42 last week to 47 this week. Forty-one of these trucks crossed at the Donetsk BCP and six 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 3,542 entries and exits was recorded, which accounted for just over 12 % of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. The net flow went from plus 101 to plus 108 (i.e. more entries to the Russian Federation) on average per day.

During the reporting period, the OM observed a total of 34 persons in military-style clothing crossing the border at the Gukovo BCP, 15 of whom left for Ukraine, while 19 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 20 occasions; the OTs estimated that 11 trains were going to the Russian Federation and 9 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 7,856 entries and exits was recorded. This accounted for just over 27 % of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. The net flow changed from minus 219 to minus 414 (i.e. more exits from the Russian Federation) on average per day.

During the reporting week, the OTs observed 142 persons in military-style clothing crossing the border at the Donetsk BCP, 74 persons entered the Russian Federation, while 68 left for Ukraine.

On 15 December at 23:03hrs 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 21 minutes and returned to the Russian Federation. The OT could not ascertain whether there was an injured person on board.

On 16 December at 20:00 the OT observed one ambulance with emergency light arriving at the BCP from the Russian Federation side. The vehicle and the two medical staff were checked by the Russian border guard (BGs) and allowed to cross the BCP to Ukraine.

On 16 December at 05:00hrs the OT observed two men dressed in military-style clothing (Cossacks) at an entrance gate of the BCP from the Russian Federation, who behaved aggressively towards border guards on duty. Within minutes six BGs came and escorted the two men to the main building of the BCP. At 05:45, after a certain procedure, they were released and sent back to the Russian Federation.

CONVOY

On 17 December 2015 at 07:00hrs (Moscow time), a Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk BCP (see the OM Spot Report of 17 December). A total of 46 vehicles - 39 cargo trucks and 7 support vehicles - were visually checked by the Russian border guard and customs services; one service dog was present on the site during the convoy crossing. Ukrainian representatives were present on site and performed a visual check of the trucks as the convoy crossed into Ukraine and when it returned to the Russian Federation. By 14:30hrs all but one of the 46 vehicles had returned and crossed back into the Russian Federation. One escort vehicle was delayed and crossed the border into the Russian Federation at 16:05hrs.

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