Weekly update from OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 10:00 (Moscow time), 18 February 2015
This report is for media and the general public.
SUMMARY
Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both BCPs. Overall, compared with last week, cross-border traffic flows slightly decreased at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The OM continued to observe a number of persons in military-style clothing crossing the border in both directions.
DETAIL
OM’s staff composition
The OM is currently operating with 18 staff members, consisting of 16 permanent international observers (incl. the Chief Observer), one first-responder and one administrative assistant. Three international observers are currently on leave and one on duty travel.
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 by car with a lot of luggage;
- Elderly people with few bags;
- Adults (usually of younger age) with no luggage or empty cars;
- People wearing military-style clothes with or without backpacks.
The average number of entries/exits slightly decreased overall from 6,776 to 6,648 per day for both BCPs during the reporting period compared to last week. More people entered the Russian Federation than Ukraine. The average net flow (i.e. the balance of entries and exits) was plus 408 per day for both BCPs. More people are still entering the Russian Federation than Ukraine. However, over the past couple of weeks this number has been diminishing. The Donetsk BCP continued to experience more traffic than the Gukovo BCP. The cross-border movements registered at both BCPs accounted for 31.5 percent 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 the long-distance coaches commuting between Luhansk and cities in the Russian Federation, predominantly in the Rostov region.
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. The Observer Teams (OTs) continued to observe more people on the buses arriving from Ukraine than leaving the Russian Federation. In addition to regular bus connections, the OTs also continued to observe bus connections unusual for the two BCPs: Rovenky (Luhansk Oblast) - Kharkiv, and Luhansk-Kharkiv. Due to military activity in the area of the bus connections, these routes continue to be temporarily redirected through the Russian Federation.
During the reporting period, the OTs observed 576 men and women in military-style dress crossing the border in both directions. These people have been crossing individually or in groups. Ninety one percent of these border crossings occurred at the Donetsk BCP. The OTs continued to observe a number of Cossacks, who were identified by their traditional hats, as well as by Cossack insignias. Furthermore, the OTs continued to observe cars with “DPR/LPR” stickers on their licence plates replacing the Ukrainian flag.
People crossing the border in particular at BCP Donetsk continued to approach the OTs to share their stories, experiences and observations from the Ukrainian side of the border. People continued to tell the OTs that it is very difficult to live in areas where military activity is taking place. There are no jobs; food and medicine is lacking. People crossing the border continued to remark that aid sent by the Russian Federation was not reaching those in need.
During the reporting week, the OTs observed tanker trucks crossing the border both ways but predominantly to Ukraine. These crossings occurred mainly at BCP Gukovo. These trucks for the most part had the word “Propane” and “Flammable” written across the tanks in Russian.
Military movement
At the two BCPs the OM did not observe military movement, apart from the usual vehicles of the Russian Federation Border Guard Service.
Observation at the Gukovo BCP
The traffic flow at the Gukovo BCP increased compared to last week. A daily average of 1, 851 entries and exits was recorded, which accounted for approximately nine percent of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. Compared to last week more people entered the Russian Federation. The net flow went from plus 79 (i.e. more exits from Ukraine) to plus 47 on average per day.
During the week, the OM observed a total of 51 persons in military-style clothing crossing the border at the Gukovo BCP, 27 of whom left for Ukraine while 24 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 observers saw Russian Federation customs officers verifying that the trucks were empty when leaving the Russian Federation.
The OTs picked up on the sound of a train passing by the BCP on sixteen occasions during the reporting week; the OTs estimated that nine trains were going to Ukraine; four were bound for the Russian Federation. It was not possible to identify the direction of three trains. Visual observation of the trains was not possible.
During the reporting week, the OT heard single shots on two different days. On one occasion, the sound came from the west-south-west. The shots were most probably fired from the previously mentioned nearby shooting range located nearby on the territory of Ukraine. On another occasion, the sound came from the north-east on the territory of the Russian Federation. It was not the first time that shootings were heard coming from that direction.
On one occasion, the OT observed a minivan registered in the Russian Federation arrive at the BCP from Ukraine. After it was checked by the border guards and customs officers, it parked at the BCP. Three of the passengers of the minivan and two Russian border guards brought from the inside of the main BCP building a blue box resembling a coffin. The box resembling a coffin was loaded into the minivan after which the minivan left towards the Russian Federation.
Observation at the Donetsk BCP
During the reporting period the activity at the Donetsk BCP decreased compared to last week. The daily average of 4,797 entries and exits accounted for approximately twenty three percent of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. The net flow changed from plus 460 (i.e. more entering the Russian Federation) to plus 362 on average per day which describes a slowing down of the number of people crossing from Ukraine and to the Russian Federation. On 16 February, the BCP recorded for the first time since 8 January a negative net flow which may confirm the slowing down.
The OT observed 525 persons in military-style clothing crossing the border at the Donetsk BCP individually and in groups; 291 persons entered the Russian Federation while 234 left for Ukraine.
During the reporting week, the OTs heard again the sound of artillery on two separate days. The artillery sound on 12 February was identified to have come from the south-west. Heavy artillery sound was heard on five occasions throughout the day on 13 February from the west-north-west direction. On one occasion the OT picked up on a sound of one rifle shot being fired from the south-west.
Since the 15 February cease-fire, the shootings and artillery detonations have stopped.
Over the past week, the OTs observed eleven ambulances at BCP Donetsk. The OTs observed the transfer of wounded or sick people. In most instances, it was not possible for the OT to observe clearly the transfers as they occurred on the other side of the customs areas which is not readily accessible to the OT. One ambulance transfer attracted the attention of the OT. On February 11 a military ambulance UAZ 452 from the Ural military district arrived at the BCP from the Russian Federation side with four Russian military uniformed personnel coming out of the vehicle. At the same time a blue Volkswagen minivan arrived from the Ukrainian side and maneuvered to be parked back to back with the aforementioned military ambulance. Three men dressed in military style clothing and one civilian stepped out, opened the back of the minivan and carried with the help of the Russian military uniformed personnel a black plastic back, estimated by the OT to be the size and weight of a human body, into the military ambulance. The men from the Volkswagen minivan were nervous and the OT’s presence visibly irritated them. One of the men, who seemed to be in charge of the transfer, made a hand sign signaling the OT to move away. The OT did not move from its position and continued to observe the scene. The two groups (Russian military and men from the minivan) conversed for 15 minutes and then parted. The Russian military ambulance drove back to the Russian territory and the men from the Volkswagen minivan went inside the main BCP building. About an hour later a police minivan arrived and the police officers went inside the building. About two hours later they all left the BCP building. The police returned to the Russian federation and the men got into their Volkswagen minivan and after passing all the border and customs control left back to Ukraine.
CONVOY
On 15 February 2015 at 07:50hrs (Moscow time), a Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of 86 vehicles were inspected by the Russian border guard and customs services. Ukrainian officers were present on site and performed visual observation of the opened trucks from the outside. All the vehicles crossed back into the Russian Federation (RF) at 19:22hrs on February 15. (See OM Spot Report, 15 February 2015)