Spot Report by OSCE Observer Mission: The fifty-third Russian Convoy of 39 vehicles crossed into Ukraine and returned through the Donetsk Border Crossing Point

SUMMARY

On 25 August 2016 at 06:55hrs (Moscow time), a Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of 39 vehicles were checked by the Russian border guards and customs services prior to them crossing into Ukraine. All of the 39 vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 16:15hrs on 25 August.

DETAIL

Leaving the Russian Federation

On 25 August 2016 at 06:55hrs, the Observer Mission observed the arrival of a Russian convoy at the gate of the Donetsk BCP. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations team led the process of the convoy movement. The convoy consisted of 32 cargo trucks (among them five refrigerator trucks) and seven support vehicles. All but five refrigerator trucks bore the inscription “Humanitarian help from the Russian Federation”.

At 06:55hrs the vehicles entered the customs control area and parked up in three lines. The cargo trucks were visually checked from the outside by Russian border guards and customs officers. A service dog was present on site during the convoy crossing and was used to check some of the cargo trucks from the outside. Ukrainian representatives – four border guards and a customs officer– were present during the check. They performed light visual checks of the opened trucks from the outside. By 07:25hrs the vehicles had left the BCP towards Ukraine.

Returning to the Russian Federation

At 15:50hrs on 25 August, the convoy arrived and parked up in three lines at the customs area. The tailgates and tarpaulins of the trucks were opened and Russian and Ukrainian border guards and customs officers visually checked the returning convoy from the outside. One service dog was present on site during the convoy crossing and was used to check some of the cargo trucks from the outside. By 16:15hrs all of the 39 vehicles had returned and crossed back into the Russian Federation.