Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 26 January 2016
Please note that this report is for media and the general public.
SUMMARYKamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCP). The overall cross-border traffic decreased at both BCPs.
OPERATIONAL REMARKS
The OM is currently operating with 20 permanent international staff members (incl. the Chief Observer). The mission is fulfilling its mandate without major difficulties. Preventive measures have been taken after some cases of H1N1-type influenza were reported in Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy.
OBSERVATIONS AT THE BORDER CROSSING POINTS
Persons crossing the border
The profile of the people crossing the border has not significantly changed and can be categorized 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 decreased overall from 9,217 to 8, 469 per day for both BCPs; the average net flow for both BCPs went from plus 266 (i.e. more entries to the Russian Federation) to 49 (i.e. more entries to 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 38 % of all entries/exits in the Rostov region.
During the reporting period, the number of men and women in military-style clothes, crossing the border in both directions, increased from 114 to 148 at both BCPs. Approximately 78% 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 buses, 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.
Trains
The OTs continued to pick up on the sound of trains running on the train tracks located approximately 150 meters south-west of the Gukovo BCP. During the reporting week, the OTs heard trains on nine occasions; the OTs estimated that four trains were going to the Russian Federation and five trains were bound for Ukraine. In the most cases, visual observation was not possible because of unfavorable light conditions and because of the line of trees in between the train tracks and the BCP.
Bus connections
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 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 bound for Kharkiv, three buses on the route Stakhanov-Kharkiv and one bus on the route to Rovenky-Kiev. On multiple occasions the OTs noticed the bus drivers removing the itinerary signs from the windshields of their buses once they enter the BCP to cross into Ukraine or leave the BCP into the Russian Federation.
Cargo trucks
During the reporting period, the OM continued to observe trucks, crossing the border in both directions and at both BCPs. The OTs observed trucks predominantly registered in the Luhansk region, however, the OTs frequently saw trucks registered in the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions as well. In addition, trucks registered in the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus crossed the border too. During the reporting week the number of trucks registered in the Republic of Belarus significantly increased from 25 to 51; these trucks were observed crossing the border only 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 46 last week to 33 this week. Tüenty nine of these trucks crossed at the Donetsk BCP and four 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.
Minivans[1]
During the reporting period, the OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans, crossing the border in both directions and at both BCPs. The OTs observed minivans predominantly registered in the Luhansk region; however, the OTs frequently saw minivans registered in the Russian Federation.
The daily average number of entries/exits of cargo minivans for both BCPs has increased from 40 last week to 52 this week. In the same period, the same value for passenger minivans also has increased, from 47 last week to 52 this week.
The average daily net flow for both BCPs went from plus 3 (i.e. slightly more entries to the Russian Federation) to minus 2 (i.e. slightly more exits from the Russian Federation) for the cargo minivans, while it also decreased from minus 2 to minus 3 for the passenger minivans.
Other observations
The majority of the vehicles crossing the border have number plates issued in Luhansk region or Rostov Region. The majority of long-distance coaches commuting between Luhansk region and cities in the Russian Federation have number plates issued in Luhansk region.
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.
On 21 January at 09:10hrs at Gukovo BCP, the OT observed an ambulance arrive from the Russian Federation and park behind BCP building. At 09:38hrs ambulance drove back to Russian Federation. The ambulance was registered in RF and had two persons on board.
On 21 January at 22:55hrs at Gukovo BCP the OT observed an ambulance arrive from the Russian Federation and park behind the BCP building. At 23:40hrs the ambulance drove back to RF. When leaving the BCP there was one person and two medical personnel on board.
[1] Passenger Minivans: Vehicles with more than 8 + 1 seats and a maximum of 16 + 1 seats (light buses which correspond to driving license D1). Cargo Minivans: Light commercial vehicles with a maximum authorised mass of more than 3.5 t and not more than 7.5 t; with or without a trailer with a maximum mass of less than 750 kg (small cargo vehicles which correspond to driving license C1).