Spot Report by OSCE Observer Mission: A thirty-fifth Russian convoy of 51 vehicles crossed into Ukraine and returned back through Donetsk Border Crossing Point
Please note that this report is for media and the general public.
SUMMARY
On 20 August 2015 at 06:45hrs (Moscow time), a Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of 51 vehicles were checked by the Russian border guard and customs services. All the vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 16:43hrs on 20 August.
DETAIL
Leaving the Russian Federation
On 20 August 2015 at 06:45hrs, 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 44 cargo trucks and 7 support vehicles. Out of 51 vehicles, six vehicles arrived at 07:35hrs and joined the rest of the convoy. All 44 cargo trucks displayed the Russian Federation national flag and bore the inscription ‘’Humanitarian help from the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation’’.
At 07:04hrs the vehicles entered the customs control area and lined up in three lines, the backdoors of some of the cargo trucks were opened and visually checked from the outside by Russian border guards and customs officers. Two service dogs were present in the customs area during the crossing of the convoy. Ukrainian officers – three border guards and one customs officer – were present during the check. They performed light visual observation of some of the opened trucks from the outside. By 07:44hrs all vehicles had left the BCP towards Ukraine.
Returning to the Russian Federation
At 16:18hrs on 20 August, the convoy arrived and lined up in three lines at the customs area. The tailgates of the trucks were opened and Russian border guards and customs officers visually checked the returning convoy. Ukrainian officers – three border guards and two customs officers – performed light visual observation of the returning convoy. One service dog was present in the customs area when the convoy returned. By 16:43hrs, all 51 vehicles had returned and crossed back into the Russian Federation.
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