Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 30 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). The overall number of border crossings by persons slightly decreased 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:

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 decreased overall from 12,682 to 12,542 per day for both BCPs compared to last week. The average net flow for both BCPs went from plus 34 (i.e. more entries to the Russian Federation) to minus 415 (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 35.2 per cent of all entries/exits in Rostov region[1].

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 increased from 60 last week to 126 this week at both BCPs; 67 of them crossed into the Russian Federation, while 59 of them crossed into Ukraine. Approximately 80 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. Eight families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation while nine were observed crossing into Ukraine.

Bus connections

Regular local and long-distance bus connections continued to operate between Ukraine (mostly from the 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; Luhansk-Kharkiv; Rovenki-Kyiv, Luhansk-Evpatoriya and Odessa. On several occasions the OTs observed in Donetsk BCP numerous buses with children from Ukraine that likely travel to/from summer camps in Russia. In these cases representatives of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations installed tents in the vicinity of the BCP for carrying out medical checks of children leaving and entering the Russian Federation.

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 increased from 592 to 706; 394 of these trucks crossed to the Russian Federation and 312 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 50 last week to 44 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.

Eighty X-ray checks were observed at the Donetsk BCP. Out of the eight trucks scanned during the reporting period, 48 trucks (60 per cent) were bound for Ukraine; the remaining 32 trucks (40 per cent) crossed into the Russian Federation.

Minivans

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 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 increased from 266 to 400; 207 crossed to the Russian Federation and 193 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 17 occasions; the OTs estimated that seven trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and ten 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 Belarus, Germany, Georgia, Latvia and Lithuania.

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.

During the reporting week, at both the BCPs, the OTs observed ambulances on seven occasions. In most of the cases, the ambulances were registered in the Russian Federation, arrived from the Russian side, spent some time within the BCP area and crossed back to Russia. On two occasions – 26 and 27 August – the OT observed an ambulance with Ukrainian licence plates (with a “LNR” sticker masking the Ukrainian inscription on its plate) crossing into Russia and coming back to Ukraine during the same day. No wounded or injured persons were observed on board these ambulances.

On 29 August, at 18:06hrs the OT observed at the Donetsk BCP, a Russian registered van with the inscription “ritual service” crossing the border to the Russian Federation. The OT could not ascertain whether it was carrying a coffin or not.

Convoy 

On 25 August at 06:55hrs (Moscow time), a Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of 39 vehicles – 32 cargo trucks and 7 support vehicles –  were checked by the Russian border guards and customs services prior to them crossing into Ukraine.

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 officials – four border guards and a customs officer–were present on site, both when the convoy crossed into Ukraine and when it returned to the Russian Federation.

All of the 39 vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 16:15hrs on 25 August.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the reporting period from 26 July to 30 August 2016 see the attachment here.

[1] Based on 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).