Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 9 August 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). While according to data received from Rostov region Border Guard Service the number of entries/exits increased compared to last week, the OM observed an overall decrease of crossings under the specific categories, as outlined below.

OPERATIONAL REMARKS

The OM is currently operating with 19 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:

1. Adults travelling on foot or by car with little or no luggage;
2. Persons in military-style outfits;
3. Families (often including elderly people and/or children) travelling on foot or by car with a significant amount of luggage.

The average number of entries/exits increased overall from 11,778 to 12,212[1] per day for both BCPs compared to last week. The average net flow for both BCPs went from minus 95 (i.e. more exits from the Russian Federation) to plus 3 (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 35.4 per cent of all entries/exits in Rostov region[2].

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 85 last week to 72 this week at both BCPs; 45 of them crossed into the Russian Federation, while 27 of them crossed into Ukraine. Approximately 83 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, buses or minivans, making it more difficult for the observer teams (OTs) to observe their movement across the border, especially since many of the private vehicles have tinted windows, and buses and minivans have drawn curtains.

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. Seven families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation while none 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 buses do not state their route; instead they just have a sign on the windshield stating “Irregular”.

Among the bus connections observed by the OTs, the following “irregular” routes or destinations were noted: Luhansk-Kyiv; Luhansk-Sevastopol; Stakhanov-Kharkiv; Stakhanov-Kyiv, Luhansk-Evpatoriya; Sevastopol; and Kharkiv.

On some occasions, the OTs noticed the bus drivers removing the itinerary signs from the windshields of their buses. The majority of long-distance coaches commuting between Luhansk region and cities in the Russian Federation have Ukrainian licence plates issued in Luhansk region.

Trucks

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 710 to 585; 340 of these trucks crossed to the Russian Federation and 245 crossed to Ukraine. Most of the trucks observed by the OTs have Ukrainian licence plates issued in Luhansk region.

Separately, the OTs also observed tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. The number of tanker trucks decreased from 64 last week to 49 this week. These trucks were observed crossing the border at both BCPs. The trucks mainly had the words “Propane” and “Flammable” written across the tanks in either 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 Federation officials, which may include an X-ray check. This week the OT was able to observe 11 X-ray checks being performed at the Gukovo BCP. Ten of those inspections were performed on trucks bound for the Russian Federation and one on a truck bound for Ukraine.

One hundred and forty three X-ray checks were observed at the Donetsk BCP. Out of the 143 trucks scanned during the reporting period, 95 trucks (66 per cent) were bound for Ukraine; the remaining 48 trucks (34 per cent) crossed into the Russian Federation.

Minivans

The OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans^[3] crossing the border in both directions and at both BCPs. The OTs observed minivans predominantly having Ukrainian licence plates issued 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 319 to 261; 128 crossed to the Russian Federation and 133 to Ukraine.

Trains

The OTs continued to pick up the sound of trains running on the train tracks located approximately 150 metres south-west of the Gukovo BCP. During the reporting week, the OTs heard trains on 15 occasions; the OTs estimated that nine trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and six 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 located between the train tracks and the BCP and unfavourable light conditions.

Other observations

The majority of vehicles crossing the border have Ukrainian licence plates issued in Luhansk region, or Russian Federation licence plates. Occasionally the OTs observed cars with license plates from other countries, including Lithuania, Moldova, Georgia and Bulgaria.

The OTs continued to observe vehicles with Ukrainian licence plates, including articulated trucks with “LPR” or “Novorossiya” stickers, or in rare cases “DPR” stickers on their licence plates masking the Ukrainian flag.

On 2 August a delegation consisting of the Chief Observer of the OSCE Observer Mission, the Replacement CO of OSCE Observer Mission, together with representatives from the Russian Permanent Mission to the OSCE in Vienna and representatives from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs from Moscow and Rostov-on-Don visited the Donetsk and Gukovo BCP.

On 7 August at 11:30, the OT at Donetsk BCP observed two ambulances with Ukrainian licence plates (the Ukrainian flag on each of the licence plates was covered with “LPR” sticker) entering the BCP from Ukraine. The two ambulances were escorted by a black Toyota Land Cruiser SUV with Russian Federation licence plates. One of the two ambulances had the inscription “Reanimation” written on it. They all stopped at the entry lane and one person from the escort car went inside the building. The OT observed that none of the vehicles were checked by the Russian authorities at the BCP. At 11:50 the convoy left the BCP towards RF.

That same day at 18:13 the same two ambulances without the escort vehicle entered the BCP from the Russian Federation side and stopped for a check at the exit lane. Seven medical staff exited the ambulances and the Russian Federation border officers opened the doors to check the vehicles. The OT could observe that there were no persons requiring medical treatment on board. Both the ambulances left the BCP towards Ukraine at 18:25.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the reporting period from 5 July to 9 August 2016 see the attachment here.

[1] Data received from Rostov region Border Guard Service.

[2] Data received from Rostov region Border Guard Service.

^[3] 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).