Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 16 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. Five 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 8,693 to 8,988 per day for both BCPs; the average net flow decreased, it went from minus 159 to minus 73 (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 32 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 the Luhansk region and cities in the Russian Federation.
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 on the windshield saying “Irregular”.
During the reporting period, the number of men and women in military-style dress, crossing the border in both directions, decreased from 263 to 211 at both BCPs. These people continued crossing the border individually or in groups and on foot or using different types of transport (in addition to vehicles, some use busses, but also bikes and motorbikes). Approximately eighty-five per cent of this category’s crossings occurred at the Donetsk BCP. The OTs continued to observe that from time to time 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 and middle-aged men in civilian clothing, who frequently travel in groups, with short haircuts and often have camouflage-coloured backpacks.
Furthermore, the OTs continued to observe Ukrainian vehicles, including articulated trucks, with “Donetsk People’s Republic / Lugansk People’s Republic” (“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 Luhansk region to the Russian Federation through the BCP Gukovo. The OTs continued to observe intense cargo truck traffic at both BCPs, crossing the border in both directions. While the majority of the trucks are registered in Luhansk region, during the reporting period the OTs also observed trucks registered in the Russian Federation and Belarus that crossed 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. In addition, during the reporting period, the OTs also observed a truck registered in the Federal Republic of Germany crossing the border to Ukraine (see more details below under the Donetsk BCP section). Separately, the OTs also observed tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions and at both BCPs. These trucks for the most part had the word “Propane” and “Flammable” written across the tanks in Russian language.
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 increased compared to last week. A daily average of 2,530 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 120 to plus 102 (i.e. more entries to the Russian Federation) on average per day.
During the reporting period, the OM observed a total of 28 persons in military-style clothing crossed the border at the Gukovo BCP, 12 of who left for Ukraine while 16 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 and border service personnel 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 on the train tracks located approximately 150 meters south-west of the BCP. The OTs heard trains 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.
During the reporting week, the OTs observed one ambulance at the Gukovo BCP. On this occasion, the ambulance arrived at the BCP from the Russian Federation side and two medical personnel went inside the main building. After a while, a middle aged woman was accompanied by medical staff and a BG officer to the ambulance and all together left the BCP to the Russian Federation side.
During the reporting week, the OTs observed a number of activities on and around the BCP during which Russian Federation border guards, equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE) and small calibre weapons, were moving in and out of the BCP in their service vehicles. In two instances, border guard foot patrols were observed moving outside the BCP towards the Green Border.[2]
During the reporting week the OTs had been approached by Ukrainian residents who let them know that the current situation in “LPR” was stable nonetheless difficult to live in. They have also noted that access through the Line of Contact (LoC) between “LPR” and Ukraine has been limited by Ukrainian authorities. They explained further that in order to access Ukrainian controlled areas, they had to travel through the Russian Federation.
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 6,458 entries and exits accounted for just over twenty three percent of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. The net flow changed significantly from minus 279 to minus 175 on average per day (i.e. more exits from the Russian Federation). During the reporting week, the OT observed 183 persons in military-style clothing crossing the border at the Donetsk BCP individually and in groups; 87 persons entered the Russian Federation while 96 left for Ukraine.
During the reporting week the OTs observed six ambulances at the Donetsk BCP. On June 11 at 15:00 the OT observed a convoy of three ambulances which crossed the BCP to Ukraine without undergoing any border and customs controls. Later on, at 21:45, the three ambulances returned back to the Russian Federation undergoing the usual controls.
On June 13 at 11:26, the OT observed a white minibus and a red Gazelle arriving at the BCP from the Russian Federation to the Ukrainian side. On the side of the minibus “Search and Rescue Service” was written in Russian language. There were 10 to 12 children in both vehicles. The drivers were in dark blue uniform. After passing through usual border and customs controls, both vehicles left to Ukraine.
On June 14 at 18:10, the OT observed a black Volvo-type truck with a trailer, registered in the Federal Republic of Germany, arriving at the BCP from the Russian Federation side. There were four men and one woman in the vehicle and all were speaking Russian. The truck bore a banner with the inscription “Humanitarian Aid” on the side of the vehicle in both Russian and German languages. The truck also had German and “DPR” flags on it. After passing the usual border and customs controls, the truck left the BCP for Ukraine.
CONVOY
On 11 June 2015 at 06:55hrs (Moscow time), a Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk BCP (see the OM Spot Report of 11 June). A total of 52 vehicles - 43 cargo trucks and 9 support vehicles - were checked by the Russian border guard and customs services; one Russian service dog was used to check most of the cargo trucks. Five Ukrainian officials were present on site when the convoy crossed into Ukraine but they were not observed when the convoy returned. All the vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 15:45hrs.
[1] First-responders are OSCE staff or mission members deployed to another mission for a short period of time.
[2] The Green Border is the border line between official BCPs.