Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 13 December 2016
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 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 little or no luggage;
- Persons in military-style outfits;
- 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 9,174 to 9,538 per day for both BCPs compared to last week. The average net flow for both BCPs went from minus 57 to minus 151 (i.e. more exits from the Russian Federation).
The Donetsk BCP continues to experience more traffic than the Gukovo BCP. The cross-border movements registered at both BCPs accounted for 39.1 per cent of all entries/exits in Rostov region[1].
Persons in military-style outfits
During the reporting period, the number of persons in military-style outfits crossing the border in both directions was 118 this week at both BCPs compared to 101 last week; 59 of them crossed into the Russian Federation, 59 into Ukraine. Approximately 91 per cent of this category’s crossings occurred at the Donetsk BCP. They 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, sometimes with elderly people and/or children, crossing at both BCPs with a significant amount of luggage or travelling in heavily loaded cars. Eight such families were observed crossing the border into Ukraine and three were observed crossing into the Russian Federation.
Bus connections
Regular local and long-distance bus connections continued to operate between Ukraine (mostly from/to the Luhansk region) and 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: Stakhanov-Kyiv, Rovenki-Kyiv, Luhansk – Kyiv, Kerch/Sevastopol and Kyiv.
On some occasions, the OTs noticed the bus drivers removing the itinerary signs from the windshields of their buses, or some buses don’t display their route at all. 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 at both BCPs. Compared to the previous week, the total number of trucks slightly increased from 696 to 699 (210 in Gukovo BCP and 489 in Donetsk BCP); 397 of these trucks crossed to the Russian Federation and 302 crossed to Ukraine. Most of the trucks observed by the OTs have Ukrainian licence plates issued in Luhansk region. During the reporting week trucks with Belarusian, Lithuanian, Polish and “LPR” licence plates were also observed.
Separately, the OTs also observed tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. The number of tanker trucks slightly decreased from 48 last week to 46 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. The OTs, due to the unfavourable position at the Gukovo BCP, continue to be unable to observe any X-ray checks. At the Donetsk BCP the OTs observed 218 X-ray checks. At the latter BCP, out of the total number of trucks scanned during the reporting period, 141 (65 per cent) were bound for Ukraine; the remaining 77 (35 per cent) crossed into the Russian Federation.
Minivans
The OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans[2] crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. The OTs observed minivans predominantly with 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 slightly increased from 255 to 260; 131 crossed to the Russian Federation and 129 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 seven occasions; the OTs estimated that one train was 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 as well as due to unfavourable light conditions.
Other observations
On 6 December, at the Donetsk BCP, the OT noted a group of four persons dressed in camouflage clothing crossing the border on foot from the Russian Federation into Ukraine carrying a wooden coffin.
The majority of vehicles crossing the border have Ukrainian licence plates issued in Luhansk region or Russian Federation licence plates. During the reporting week, the OTs also noted an increasing number of cars with “LPR” licence plates crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. Several private cars with Georgian licence plates were also observed at the Gukovo BCP.
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.
For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 1 November to 6 December 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 licence C1).