Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 31 May 2016
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 increased at both BCPs.
OPERATIONAL REMARKS
The OM is currently operating with 20 permanent international staff members, including the Chief Observer (CO). The Mission is supported administratively by a Vienna-based staff member.
OBSERVATIONS AT THE BORDER CROSSING POINTS
Persons crossing the border
The profile of the people crossing the border can be categorized as follows:
- Adults travelling on foot or by car with no or little luggage;
- Persons in military-style outfits;
- Families (often including elderly people and/or children) on foot or by car with a significant amount of luggage.
The average number of entries/exits increased overall from 10,736 to 10,917[1] per day for both BCPs compared to last week; the average net flow for both BCPs went from plus 219 (i.e. more entries into the Russian Federation) to minus 60 (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 almost 38 per cent of all entries/exits in Rostov region1.
Persons in military-style outfits
During the reporting period, the number of men and women in military-style outfits, crossing the border in both directions, decreased from 141 last week to 111 this week at both BCPs; 52 of them crossed into the Russian Federation while 59 of them crossed into Ukraine. Approximately 86 per cent of this category’s crossings occurred at the Donetsk BCP. Men and women continued to cross the border individually or in groups. Most individuals crossed by foot, however, some made use of private vehicles, busses or minivans, making it more difficult for the observer teams (OTs) to observe their movement across the border.
Families with a significant amount of luggage
During the reporting period, the OTs observed families, often with elderly people and/or children, crossing at both BCPs with a significant amount of luggage or travelling in heavily-loaded cars; four families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation while eight were observed crossing into Ukraine.
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 the bus connections observed by the OTs, the following “irregular” routes or destinations were noted: Alchevsk-Kharkiv-Kyiv, Rovenki-Kyiv, Luhansk-Kyiv, Stakhanov-Luhansk-Kyiv, Luhansk-Anapa, Sevastopol and Kharkiv.
During the reporting week, on some occasions the OTs at the Donetsk BCP observed busses with children on board crossing the border in both directions.
On some occasions, the OTs noticed the bus drivers removing the itinerary signs from the windshields of their busses. The majority of long-distance coaches commuting between Luhansk region and cities in the Russian Federation have license plates issued in Luhansk region.
Trucks
During the reporting period, the OM continued to observe trucks crossing the border in both directions and at both BCPs. Compared to the previous week, the number of trucks decreased from 788 to 727; 396 of these trucks crossed to the Russian Federation and 331 crossed to Ukraine.
Most of the trucks observed by the OTs were registered in Luhansk region.
Separately, the OTs also observed tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. The number of tanker trucks decreased from 51 last week to 48 this week. These trucks were observed crossing the border at both BCPs. These trucks, for the most part, had the words “Propane” and “Flammable” written across the tanks in Russian or Ukrainian. The majority of tanker trucks have hazard signs, indicating that they are transporting propane or a mix of propane with butane.
All trucks undergo systematic inspection by Russian officials, which may include an X-ray check. During the reporting period no X-ray checks could be observed at the Gukovo BCP since the Observation Team has no view of the mobile X-Ray, but it could be heard operating several times during the reporting period. 152 X-ray checks were observed at the Donetsk BCP. Out of these 152 trucks scanned during the reporting period, 102 trucks (67 per cent) were bound for Ukraine; the remaining 50 trucks (33 per cent) crossed into the Russian Federation.
Minivans
During the reporting period, the OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans[2], crossing the border in both directions and at both BCPs. The OTs observed minivans predominantly registered in Luhansk region; however, the OTs frequently saw minivans registered in the Russian Federation.
Compared to the previous week, the number of cargo minivans decreased from 360 to 342; 161 crossed to the Russian Federation and 181 to Ukraine.
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 ten occasions; the OTs estimated that five trains were going to the Russian Federation and five trains were bound for Ukraine. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine was informed about the trains bound for Ukraine. Visual observation was not possible because of the line of trees in between the train tracks and the BCP and unfavorable light conditions.
Other observations
The majority of vehicles crossing the border have license plates issued in Luhansk region or in the Russian Federation.
The OTs continued to observe vehicles with Ukrainian license plates, including articulated trucks with “LPR” or “Novorossiya” stickers, or in rare cases “DPR” stickers on their license plates masking the Ukrainian flag.
During the reporting week the OTs at the Donetsk BCP observed ambulances on seven occasions. These ambulances were registered in both Ukraine and in the Russian Federation and were crossing the border in both directions. No wounded or injured persons were observed on board these ambulances.
During the reporting period, on two occasions the OTs at the Donetsk BCP observed several bikers bearing the insignia of the “Night Wolves” motorcycle club crossing the border in both directions.
Convoy
On 26 May 2016 at 06:33hrs (Moscow time), a Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (see the OM Spot Report of 26 May). A total of 47 vehicles – 40 cargo trucks and seven support vehicles – were checked by the Russian border guards and customs services; two service dogs were present and were used to check some of the cargo trucks from the outside. Ukrainian officials were present on site, both when the convoy crossed into Ukraine and when it returned to the Russian Federation. All of the 47 vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 14:45hrs on 26 May.
[1] Data received from Rostov region Border Guard Service
[2] Cargo minivans: light commercial vehicles with a maximum authorized 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).