Spot report by the OSCE Observer Mission at the Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk (OM), 13 September 2014

Russian convoy of 220 vehicles entered Ukraine through the Donetsk Border Crossing Point

This report is for media and the general public

SUMMARY

On 12 September 2014 starting at 22:20 (Moscow time) and throughout the night, a Russian convoy of 220 vehicles, including 193 cargo trucks, entered the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP) and crossed into Ukraine in six groups. By 13 September at 07:45, all the vehicles had crossed into Ukraine. According to the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations (MES), the convoy is carrying only food products and heading to Luhansk.

The first group of 40 trucks were quickly checked by the Russian border guard and customs services. The 180 other vehicles were not inspected. All vehicles crossed into Ukraine without being inspected by Ukrainian border guard and customs officers or the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

DETAIL

On 12 September 2014 at 22:10 (Moscow time), the Observer Mission (OM) observed the arrival of vehicles belonging to a second Russian convoy.

At 22:10, two cars arrived at the BCP. One of the passengers introduced himself to the Observer Team (OT) as an official of the MES of the Russian Federation (RF). He explained that soon a humanitarian aid convoy consisting of 200 vehicles loaded with food products but without medicines, would arrive at the BCP. The MES official added that the vehicles would undergo a control by the RF customs and the border guard services. According to him, the process would not involve Ukrainian customs and border guard officers who are still present in the vicinity of Donetsk BCP. He also stated that the convoy was due to cross the border on 13 September at around 06:00 hrs.

The convoy entered the BCP compound in groups as detailed below:

At 22:20, a first group of 40 white coloured trailer trucks accompanied by one workshop truck, one tow truck and one spare truck tractor entered the BCP. By 23:30, Russian border guard and custom checks were completed and all vehicles were parked in the buffer zone between the Russian and Ukrainian BCPs (outside of OSCE sight).

At 03:50, a second group of 34 cargo trucks accompanied by one workshop truck, one tow truck and one spare truck tractor entered the BCP. The second group of vehicles joined the first group parked in the buffer zone between Russian and Ukrainian BCPs (outside of OSCE OM’s sight).

At 04:50, a third group of 25 cargo trucks accompanied by five fuel trucks, one ambulance, two workshop trucks, one tow truck, and one spare truck tractor entered the BCP and joined the other two groups.

At 06:00, the fourth group of 30 cargo trucks accompanied by one spare tractor, one ambulance and one tow truck entered the BCP and joined the rest of the convoy.

At 06:45, the fifth group of 33 cargo trucks accompanied by one spare truck tractor and one workshop truck entered the BCP and joined the rest of the convoy.

At 07:00, the sixth and final group of 31 cargo trucks accompanied by one ambulance, two spare trucks tractor, two workshop trucks and one tow truck entered the BCP.

By 07:45, all vehicles of the convoy had crossed the checkpoint and exited into Ukraine.

The movement of the first groups into Ukraine must have started earlier because of the lack of space in the aforementioned buffer zone. Since this area was out of sight, the OM cannot confirm the exact time of departure of the convoy.

Only the cargo trucks of first group were inspected by Russian authorities as mentioned above. The cargo trucks of groups two to six had their trailer doors open upon arrival but were not inspected at all by the Russian border guard and customs services. Most of the trucks were marked with a Russian flag.

Total number of vehicles which crossed into Ukraine: 220 (193 cargo trucks and 27 support vehicles).