Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 22 March 2016
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 increased at both BCPs.
OPERATIONAL REMARKS
The OM is currently operating with 21 permanent international staff members (incl. the Chief Observer). The Mission is supported administratively by a Vienna-based staff member.
The mission is fulfilling its mandate without major difficulties and was not affected by the airplane crash at Rostov airport on 19 March. Following this catastrophe, the Chief Observer presented his condolences to the Governor of Rostov Region on behalf of all mission members.
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 no or little luggage;
- Persons in military-style outfits;
- Families (often including elderly people and/or children), on foot or by car with a significant amount of luggage.
The average number of entries/exits increased overall from 9,093 to 9,685[1] per day for both BCPs compared to last week; the average net flow for both BCPs went from plus 451 (i.e. more entries into the Russian Federation) to minus 194 (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 roughly 37% of all entries/exits in Rostov region.
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, decreased from 173 last week to 164 this week at both BCPs; 89 of them crossed to the Russian Federation while 75 of them crossed to Ukraine. Approximately 62% of this category’s crossings occurred at the Donetsk BCP. These people continued crossing the border individually or in groups and by foot or, in addition to private vehicles, from time to time travelling on busses or in minivans, making it more difficult for the Observer Teams (OTs) to observe their movement across the border.
Families with a significant amount of luggage
During the reporting period, the OTs observed families, often with elderly people and/or children, crossing at the Donetsk BCP with a significant amount of luggage or travelling in overcrowded cars; six families crossed into Ukraine and three families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation.
Bus connections
Regular local and long-distance bus connections continued to operate between Ukraine (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 busses do not state their route; instead they just have a sign on the windshield saying “Irregular”.
Among these bus connections observed by the OTs, the following “irregular” routes were noted: Alchevsk-Kharkiv-Kyiv, Luhansk-St. Petersburg and Odessa.
On some occasions, the OTs noticed the bus drivers removing the itinerary signs from the windshields of their busses.
The majority of long-distance coaches commuting between Luhansk region and cities in the Russian Federation have number plates issued in Luhansk region.
Trucks
During the reporting period, 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 666 to 675; 365 of these trucks crossed to the Russian Federation and 310 crossed to Ukraine.
Most of the trucks observed by the OTs were registered in Luhansk region; however, on occasion the OTs also saw trucks registered in other regions of Ukraine. In addition, the OTs at the Donetsk BCP also observed trucks registered in the Russian Federation and Republic of Belarus that crossed the border in both directions.
Separately, the OTs also observed tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. The number of tanker trucks slightly increased from 45 last week to 52 this week. These trucks were observed crossing the border at the Donetsk BCP only. These trucks, for the most part, had the words “Propane” and “Flammable” written across the tanks in 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 officials, which may include an X-ray check. During the reporting period, the OTs observed only 5 X-ray checks at Gukovo BCP compared to 129 X-ray checks at Donetsk BCP. At this BCP, out of these 129 trucks scanned during the reporting period, 104 trucks (81 %) were bound for Ukraine; the remaining 25 trucks (19%) crossed into the Russian Federation.
Minivans[2]
During the reporting period, the OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans, crossing the border in both directions and at both BCPs. The OTs observed minivans predominantly registered 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 333 to 377; 179 crossed to the Russian Federation and 198 to Ukraine.
Trains
The OTs continued to pick up on the sound of trains running on the train tracks located approximately 150 meters south-west of the Gukovo BCP. During the reporting week, the OTs heard trains on five occasions; the OTs estimated that one train was going to the Russian Federation and four trains were bound for Ukraine. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine was informed about the trains bound for Ukraine. Visual observation was only possible in one case because of the line of trees in between the train tracks and the BCP and unfavourable light conditions.
Other observations
The majority of vehicles crossing the border have number plates issued in Luhansk region or in the Russian Federation.
The OTs continued to observe vehicles with Ukrainian license plates, including articulated trucks with “LPR” (“Luhansk People’s Republic”) or “Novorossiya” stickers, or in rare cases “DPR” (“Donetsk People’s Republic”) stickers on their license plates masking the Ukrainian flag.
On 19 March, the OT observed three ambulances that crossed from Ukraine to the Russian Federation. No injured persons were observed in these ambulances.
For trends and figures at a glance covering the reporting period from 15 March to 22 March 2016 see the attachment here
[1] 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).