Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 18 July 2017
This report is for the 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 increased at both BCPs.
OPERATIONAL REMARKS
The OM is currently operating with 21 permanent international mission 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 from 12,027 to 12,834 per day for both BCPs compared to last week. The average net flow for both BCPs went from plus 185 to plus 105 (i.e. more entries to 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 36 per cent of all entries/exits in the 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 46 this week at both BCPs compared to 52 last week; 19 of them crossed into the Russian Federation, 27 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
On some occasions, the OTs continue to report on families crossing the border, sometimes with elderly people and/or children, crossing at both BCPs with a significant amount of luggage, or travelling in heavily loaded cars. During this reporting period three families were observed crossing into Ukraine and seven families into the Russian Federation.
Bus connections
Regular local and long-distance bus connections continue 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 have a sign on the windshield stating “irregular”.
During the reporting period the OTs observed 445 buses crossing the border at both BCPs, 236 of them were bound for the Russian Federation and 219 for Ukraine. 31 out of those 445 buses were connecting Ukrainian towns through the Russian Federation (circumventing the contact line).
On some occasions, the OTs noticed the bus drivers removing the itinerary signs from the windshields of their buses, while some buses do not display their route at all. The majority of long-distance buses commuting between the Luhansk region and cities in the Russian Federation have Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region.
Trucks
During the reporting period the OM observed an increase in the number of trucks crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. Compared to the previous week, the total number of trucks increased from 655 to 726 (193 in Gukovo BCP and 533 in Donetsk BCP); 419 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation and 307 crossed into Ukraine. Most of the trucks observed by the OTs had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region.
Separately, the OTs also observed tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. The number of tanker trucks decreased from 54 to 43. These trucks were observed crossing the border at both BCPs. The trucks 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. Due to the unfavourable position at the Gukovo BCP, the OTs continued to be unable to observe any X-ray checks. At the Donetsk BCP the OTs observed 139 X-ray checks. At the Donetsk BCP, out of the total number of trucks scanned during the reporting period, 102 trucks (73 per cent) were bound for Ukraine; the remaining 37 trucks (27 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 the Luhansk region; however, the OTs also frequently saw minivans registered in the Russian Federation.
As compared to the previous week, the number of cargo minivans increased from 153 to 166; 74 crossed to the Russian Federation and 92 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 42 occasions; the OTs assessed that 24 trains were travelling to the Russian Federation, the other 18 were bound for Ukraine. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine was regularly 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
The majority of vehicles crossing the border had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region or Russian Federation licence plates. In addition, the OTs also observed vehicles, cars and/or trucks with Belarusian, Georgian, German and Lithuanian licence plates and “LPR” or “DPR” plates crossing the border in both directions.
During the reporting period the OTs observed six ambulances at the Donetsk BCP.
On 12 July at 08:15 two ambulances arrived from Ukraine and crossed quickly into the Russian Federation.
The same day at 16:30 an ambulance (with Russian Federation licence plates) entered the BCP from the Russian Federation side to assist two women on the spot, shortly after it went back without crossing the border.
At 18:29 the OT again observed two ambulances (with “LPR” plates), coming from the Russian Federation, crossing into Ukraine. The OT was able to observe only the presence of a driver and two paramedics on board. Both ambulances had the inscription “Emergency Medical Help” written in Russian on their sides. The OT could not observe the border checks from its position, due to the high number of trucks parked in the BCP area.
On 13 July at 10:00 an ambulance (with “LPR” plates) arrived from Ukraine, went through border formalities and then crossed into the Russian Federation at 10:40. The driver and one more person were observed in the front compartment, no injured person could be seen on board. The same ambulance crossed back to Ukraine at 11:40.
During the reporting period the OTs observed funeral services vehicles on two occasions.
On 15 July at 08.30 one came from Ukraine and crossed into the Russian Federation. The OT was able to observe a driver and co-driver on board.
On 16 July at 01.15 the other one came from the Russian Federation and crossed into Ukraine, with a driver and co-driver on board. In both cases the OT was not able to ascertain the presence of a coffin inside the vehicle.
From 11 July the OTs are not able to observe the presence of Ukrainian officials in their camp at Donetsk BCP anymore, since a new dark green protection screen has been placed all around the fence surrounding the area (and razor wire has been placed on top of it).
For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 13 June 2017 to 18 July 2017 see the attachment here.
[1] Based on data received from Rostov-on-Don 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).