Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 19 April 2016
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 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.
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 10,210 to 10,451[1] per day for both BCPs compared to last week; the average net flow for both BCPs went from minus 114 to minus 135 (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 36% of all entries/exits in Rostov region1.
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 143 last week to 96 this week at both BCPs; 53 of them crossed to the Russian Federation while 43 of them crossed to Ukraine. Approximately 81% 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 buses or in minivans, making it more difficult for the 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 both BCPs with a significant amount of luggage or travelling in overloaded cars; one family was observed crossing into the Russian Federation and two families into Ukraine at the Gukovo BCP; four families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and five families into Ukraine at the Donetsk BCP.
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 buses 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 or destinations were noted: Odessa, Alchevsk-Kharkiv-Kyiv, Kharkiv-Moscow, Alchevsk-Kharkiv, and Kirovsk-Moscow.
On some occasions, the OTs noticed the bus drivers removing the itinerary signs from the windshields of their buses.
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 631 to 666; 341 of these trucks crossed to the Russian Federation and 325 crossed to Ukraine.
Most of the trucks observed by the OTs were registered in Luhansk region.
Separately, the OTs also observed tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. The number of tanker trucks increased from 43 last week to 58 this week. These trucks were observed crossing the border at both BCPs. 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, no X-ray checks were observed at the Gukovo BCP while 146 X-ray checks were observed at Donetsk BCP. At Donetsk BCP, out of these 146 trucks scanned during the reporting period, 93 trucks (64%) were bound for Ukraine; the remaining 53 trucks (36%) crossed into the Russian Federation.
Minivans
During the reporting period, the OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans[2], 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 308 to 385; 191 crossed to the Russian Federation and 194 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 sixteen occasions; the OTs estimated that nine trains were going to the Russian Federation and seven 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 in between the train tracks and the BCP and unfavourable light conditions.
Other observations
The majority of vehicles crossing the border have license 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 15 April from 11:24hrs to 11:27hrs the OT observed a helicopter flying at a low altitude from the north-easterly direction along the borderline near the Gukovo BCP. Upon approaching the BCP the helicopter turned in the south-easterly direction.
During the reporting week, the OTs observed one ambulance registered in Ukraine cross into the Russian Federation at 14:05hrs on April 14 and back into Ukraine at 19:55hrs on the same day at the Donetsk BCP; two ambulances registered in Ukraine were observed crossing into the Russian Federation at 10:10hrs on April 15 and then back to Ukraine at 19:25hrs the same day at the Gukovo BCP. Besides the medical crew, the OTs did not observe any other persons on board these ambulances.
[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).