Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 18 August 2015
Please note that 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 cross-border traffic slightly increased at both BCPs.
DETAIL
OM’s staff composition
The OM is currently operating with 20 staff members, consisting of 18 permanent international observers (incl. the Chief Observer) and two first-responders[1], one of whom is performing the duties of an administrative assistant. Four staff members are currently on leave.
Cross-border movements common to both BCPs
The profile of the people crossing the border remains unchanged and can be categorised as follows:
- Families on foot or travelling by car and busses, with a lot of luggage, often accompanied by elderly people;
- Adults (usually of younger age) with no luggage or empty cars;
- People wearing military-style clothes with or without backpacks, crossing on foot or in vehicles.
Compared to last week, the average number of entries/exits slightly increased overall from 10,531 to 10,704 per day for both BCPs; the average net flow went from plus 29 (i.e. more entries into the Russian Federation) to minus 89 (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 just under thirty-two per cent of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. The majority of the vehicles crossing the border have number plates issued in the Luhansk region, including a number of articulated trucks and long-distance coaches commuting between the Luhansk region and cities in the Russian Federation.
Common observations at the BCPs
The situation at both BCPs remained calm. The OM continued to observe that the Russian Federation Border Guard and Customs Service conducted checks and controls.
Regular local and long-distance bus connections continued to operate between the Luhansk region and cities in the Russian Federation. In addition to regular bus connections, the Observer Teams (OTs) continued to observe bus connections on irregular routes. Often the busses do not state their route; instead they just have a sign on the windshield saying “Irregular”. Among the irregular lines observed by the OTs the following destinations were noted: three busses bound for Kharkiv, two were on the route Kharkiv-Stakhanov-Belgorod, one bus to Anapa, two busses to Kiev and one to Kiev via Belgorod-Kharkiv-Poltava, one on the route Krasnodon-Yalta and one bus was on the route to Sevastopol-Simferopol-Feodosiya.
During the reporting period, the number of men and women in military-style dress, crossing the border in both directions, increased from 180 to 198 at both BCPs. These people continued crossing the border individually or in groups and on foot or using different types of transport (in addition to vehicles, some used busses, but also bikes and motorbikes). Approximately ninety two per cent of this category’s crossings occurred at the Donetsk BCP. The OTs continued to observe that from time to time persons in military-style dress have travelled across the border by bus, which makes it more difficult for the OTs to observe their movement across the border. The OTs also continued to observe physically fit young and middle-aged men in civilian clothing, with short haircuts, many of whom carry camouflage-coloured backpacks.
Furthermore, the OTs continued to observe vehicles with Ukrainian license plates, including articulated trucks, with “Donetsk People’s Republic / Lugansk People’s Republic” (“DPR/LPR”) stickers on their license plates replacing the Ukrainian flag.
During the reporting week, the OM continued to observe a high number of trucks, crossing the border in both directions, including intense cargo truck traffic at both BCPs and dumper trucks transporting coal from the Luhansk region to the Russian Federation through the Gukovo BCP. While the majority of the trucks are registered in the Luhansk region the OTs also observed trucks registered in the Russian Federation and Republic of Belarus that crossed the border. During the reporting week, the OTs have observed that the number of trucks registered in the Republic of Belarus has decreased from 76 to 42; these trucks were observed crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. Thirty-seven of these trucks crossed at the Donetsk BCP, with five such crossings recorded at the Gukovo BCP. Separately, the OTs also observed tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. The number of tanker trucks has decreased from 43 last week to 41 this week. The majority of these trucks (40) crossed at the Donetsk BCP, while the remaining one crossed at the Gukovo BCP. These trucks for the most part had the words “Propane” and “Flammable” written across the tanks in the Russian language.
Military movement
At the two BCPs the OM did not observe military movement, apart from the movement of Russian Federation Border Guard Service vehicles transporting BCP personnel and supplies.
Observation at the Gukovo BCP
The traffic flow at the Gukovo BCP has increased compared to last week. A daily average of 3,145 entries and exits was recorded, which accounted for just over nine per cent of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. The net flow went from plus 96 to plus 129 (i.e. more entries into the Russian Federation) on average per day.
During the reporting period, the OM observed a total of 16 persons in military-style clothing crossing the border at the Gukovo BCP, 3 of whom left for Ukraine while 13 entered the Russian Federation.
As in previous weeks, the OM observed dumper trucks transporting coal from the Luhansk region to the Russian Federation. As reported previously, the OTs saw Russian Federation Border Guard and Customs Service personnel checking that the trucks were empty while leaving the Russian Federation.
The OTs continued to pick up on the sound of trains running on the train tracks located approximately 150 meters south-west of the BCP. During the reporting week, the OTs heard trains on 25 occasions; the OTs estimated that 13 trains were going to the Russian Federation and 12 trains were bound for Ukraine. Visual observation was not possible because of the line of trees in between the train tracks and the BCP.
During the reporting week the OTs observed one ambulance arriving at the BCP from the Russian Federation side. The medical team assisted a passenger of a bus going from Ukraine to the Russian Federation. The ambulance remained at the BCP for about 15 minutes and returned back to the Russian Federation.
Observation at the Donetsk BCP
During the reporting period the activity at the Donetsk BCP slightly increased compared to last week. The daily average of 7,559 entries and exits accounted for just over twenty-three per cent of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. The net flow changed from minus 67 to minus 219 (i.e. more exits from the Russian Federation) on average per day. During the reporting week, the OT observed 182 persons in military-style clothing crossing the border at the Donetsk BCP individually and in groups; 89 persons entered the Russian Federation while 93 left for Ukraine.
During the reporting week the OTs noted four ambulances crossing in both directions at the Donetsk BCP. On two occasions, the OT observed that, the medical team assisted passengers of busses bound for the Russian Federation. After providing treatment, the ambulances returned back to the Russian Federation.
On 14 August 2015 at 15:15hrs, the OT observed a Russian Federation Border Guards’ excavator arrive at the BCP from the Russian Federation side and cross the BCP in the direction of Ukraine. A few minutes later, the OT observed it in a south-westerly direction outside of the BCP on Russian Federation territory approximately 300 meters away from the main building of the BCP digging the ground/a trench. At 16:13hrs the excavator left towards the direction it came from.
The wooden benches with a net-like cover over them that were installed two weeks ago at the entrance to the BCP are still present. The benches and the cover provide a place for people crossing the border to rest and stay in the shade during the long waits.
CONVOY
On 14 August 2015 at 07:04hrs (Moscow time), a Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk BCP (see the OM Spot Report of 14 August). A total of 49 vehicles - 40 cargo trucks and 9 support vehicles - were checked by the Russian border guard and customs services; two service dogs were present and were used to check some of the cargo trucks. Ukrainian officials were present on site, both when the convoy crossed into Ukraine and when it returned to the Russian Federation. All the vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 14:40hrs.
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[1] First-responders are OSCE staff or mission members deployed to another mission for a short period of time.