Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 10:00hrs (Moscow time), 09 June 2015
SUMMARY
Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both BCPs. The overall cross-border traffic increased at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs).
DETAIL
OM’s staff composition
The OM is currently operating with 20 staff members, consisting of 19 permanent international observers (incl. the Chief Observer) and one first-responder[1], which is performing the duties of an administrative assistant. Six staff members are currently on leave.
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 travelling by car and busses, with a lot of luggage, often accompanied by elderly people;
- Adults (usually of younger age) with no luggage or empty cars;
- People wearing military-style clothes with or without backpacks, crossing on foot or in vehicles.
As compared to last week, the average number of entries/exits increased overall from 8,507 to 8,693 per day for both BCPs; the average net flow remained almost the same, it went from minus 160 to minus 159 (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 just over 33 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 an increasing number of articulated trucks and 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. In addition to regular bus connections, the Observer Teams (OTs) continued to observe bus connections on irregular routes. Often the buses do not state their route; instead they just have a sign in the window saying “Irregular”.
During the reporting period, the number of men and women in military-style dress crossing the border in both directions increased slightly from 257 to 263 at both BCPs. These people continued crossing the border individually or in groups and on foot or in vehicles. Approximately eighty five percent of this category’s crossings occurred at the Donetsk BCP. The OTs continue to observe that persons in military-style dress have been travelling by bus across the border which makes it more difficult for the OTs to observe their movement across the border. The OTs also continue to observe physically fit young men in civilian clothing, who frequently travel in groups, with short haircuts who often have camouflage-colored bags.
Furthermore, the OTs continued to observe Ukrainian vehicles including articulated trucks with “DPR/LPR” stickers on their license plates replacing the Ukrainian flag.
During the reporting week the OM continued to observe a high number of trucks crossing the border in both directions. The OTs continued to observe dumper trucks transporting coal from the Luhansk region to the Russian Federation through the BCP Gukovo. The OTs observed intense cargo truck traffic at both BCPs crossing the border in both directions. While the majority of the trucks are registered in Luhansk oblast, during the reporting period the OTs observed trucks registered in the Russian Federation and Belarus crossing the border. The OTs have observed that during the reporting week the number of trucks registered in Belarus remained steady; these trucks were observed crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs Separately, the OTs also observed tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions as well and at both BCPs. 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 has decreased compared to last week. A daily average of 2,378 entries and exits was recorded, which accounted for just over nine per cent of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. The net flow went from plus 103 to plus 120 (i.e. more entries to the Russian Federation) on average per day.
During the week, the OM observed a total of 28 persons in military-style clothing crossing the border at the Gukovo BCP, 14 of whom left for Ukraine while 14 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 while leaving the Russian Federation.
In addition to the above mentioned tanker trucks with the word “Propane” and “Flammable”, the OT continued to observe a number of orange articulated fuel trucks crossing at the Gukovo BCP.
The OTs continued to pick up on the sound of trains running down the train tracks located approximately 150 meters south west of the BCP. Compared to the previous reporting week the OTs heard trains only on two occasions; the OTs estimated that one train was going to Ukraine; one was bound for the Russian Federation. Visual observation was not possible because of the line of trees in between the train tracks and the BCP.
On 2 June at 22:10hrs the OT observed that Gukovo BCP was locked down for 15 minutes. This lockdown involved closing both gates and deploying spike mats. When the BCP reopened at 22:20hrs the OT were unable to ascertain a reason for the lock down.
On 4 June at 12:30hrs the OT observed the arrival of two Russian Federation Border Guard’s trucks which picked up eight to ten Border Guards carrying personal kits and weapons and left to RF direction. The Border Guards returned at 16:20hrs and it is assumed that they may have been on an exercise.
On 5 June at 12:20hrs at the BCP where the OT observed a green Russian Federation Border Guards truck driving outside the BCP fence towards UA. The OT couldn’t detect how many persons were inside. At 13:01hrs this vehicle entered the BCP from RF side accompanied by a silvery all-road car, which also had the Russian Federation Border Guards service number plates. At 13:06hrs both vehicles left the BCP for Russian Federation, heading in the Gukovo direction. However at 13:09hrs the OT again observed the green truck, moving alongside the BCP on the field road into UA direction. At 16:35hrs the green truck arrived back at the BCP, transporting 15 armed and equipped BGs who got out of vehicle and entered the main building. The OT were unable to ascertain a reason for this activity
Observation at the Donetsk BCP
During the reporting period the activity at the Donetsk BCP has slightly increased compared to last week. The daily average of 6,315 entries and exits accounted for just over twenty four percent of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. The net flow changed from minus 264 to minus 279 on average per day (i.e. more exits from Russian Federation). The OT observed 235 persons in military-style clothing crossing the border at the Donetsk BCP individually and in groups; 139 persons entered the Russian Federation while 96 left for Ukraine.
During the reporting week the OTs observed three ambulances at the Donetsk BCP. On one occasion, the OT observed the ambulance’s crew assisting an elderly woman and subsequently taking her to the Russian Federation side.
On June 04 at 05:20 the OT heard the sound of several rifle shootings from south-west direction.
On June 06 at 20:30hrs the OT observed a white van with Ukrainian registration number plates arriving at BCP from Ukrainian direction. There was one man dressed in military style clothes and two civilian dressed men inside the car. In the right corner of its windshield the car had a white A4 format paper with number 200 written on it.
On June 07 at 10:15hrs the OT observed a minivan, similar to an ambulance car, entered the BCP from Ukraine direction. On its side it was written “Search and Rescue Service of the MES RF” and inside there were two men and a woman in dark blue MES uniform. The car was there for about five minutes and then left the BCP to Russian Federation direction.
[1] First-responders are OSCE staff or mission members deployed to another mission for a short period of time.