Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 13 October 2015
Please note that 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
DETAIL
OM’s staff composition
The OM is currently operating with 18 staff members, consisting of 17 permanent international staff members and one first responder[1]. The new Chief Observer has taken up his duties on 12 October 2015. One permanent observer is performing the administrative duties. 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 categorized 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.
Compared to last week, the average number of entries/exits increased overall from 10,301 to 11, 104 per day for both BCPs; the average net flow went from minus 472 to minus 326 (i.e. more exits from the Russian Federation). This continues to exhibit the trend observed by the OM for the past five weeks of more people returning to Ukraine through the two BCPs. The Donetsk BCP continued to experience more traffic than the Gukovo BCP. The cross-border movements registered at both BCPs accounted for just under thirty-seven per cent of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. The majority of the vehicles crossing the border have number plates issued in Ukraine (Luhansk region), including a number of articulated trucks and long-distance coaches commuting between Ukraine (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 Services conducted checks and controls.
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 Observer Teams (OTs) continued to observe bus connections on irregular routes. Often the busses do not state their route; instead they just have a sign on the windshield saying “Irregular”. Among the irregular lines observed by the OTs the following destinations were noted: eight busses bound for Kharkiv, one bus on the route Luhansk-Kyiv and one bus to Kyiv (via Belgorod, Kharkiv and Poltava).
During the reporting period, the number of men and women in military-style dress, crossing the border in both directions, increased from 146 to 201 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 private cars, some used busses, but also bikes and motorbikes). Approximately eighty six 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 travelled across the border by bus, making it more difficult for the OTs to observe their movement across the border. Furthermore, the OTs continued to observe physically fit young and middle-aged men in civilian clothing, with short haircuts, many of whom carried camouflage-coloured backpacks.
The OTs continued to observe vehicles with Ukrainian license plates, including articulated trucks, with “Donetsk People’s Republic / Lugansk People’s Republic” (“DPR/LPR”) and “Novorossiya” 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, including intense cargo truck traffic at both BCPs and dumper trucks transporting coal from Ukraine (Luhansk region) to the Russian Federation through the Gukovo BCP. While the majority of the trucks are registered in the Luhansk region, the OTs frequently observed trucks registered in the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions. The OTs also observed trucks registered in the Russian Federation and Republic of Belarus that crossed the border. During the reporting week the number of trucks registered in the Republic of Belarus has increased from 57 to 76; all of these trucks were observed crossing the border at the Donetsk BCP. Separately, the OTs also observed tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. The number of tanker trucks has decreased slightly from 43 last week to 42 this week. Thirty-eight of these trucks crossed at the Donetsk BCP, while the remaining four crossed at the Gukovo BCP. These trucks for the most part had the words “Propane” and “Flammable” written across the tanks in Russian. The majority of tanker trucks have hazardous signs indicating that they transport propane or a mix of propane with butane.
Military movement
At the two BCPs the OM did not observe military movement, apart from the movement of Russian Federation Border Guard Service vehicles transporting BCP personnel and supplies.
Observation at the Gukovo BCP
The traffic flow at the Gukovo BCP has increased compared to last week. A daily average of 3,834 entries and exits was recorded, which accounted for over twelve per cent of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. The net flow went from plus 45 to plus 121 (i.e. more entries to the Russian Federation) on average per day.
During the reporting period, the OM observed a total of 29 persons in military-style clothing crossing the border at the Gukovo BCP, 12 of whom left for Ukraine while 17 entered the Russian Federation.
As in previous weeks, the OM observed dumper trucks transporting coal from Ukraine to the Russian Federation.
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. During the reporting week, the OTs heard trains on 11 occasions; the OTs estimated that 6 trains were going to the Russian Federation and 5 trains were bound for Ukraine. Visual observation was not possible because of the line of trees in between the train tracks and the BCP.
Observation at the Donetsk BCP
During the reporting period the activity at the Donetsk BCP increased compared to last week. The daily average of 7,270 entries and exits was recorded. This accounted for just over twenty-four percent of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. The net flow changed from minus 518 to minus 447 (i.e. more exits from the Russian Federation) on average per day.
During the reporting week, the OTs observed 172 persons in military-style clothing crossing the border at the Donetsk BCP individually and in groups; 92 persons entered the Russian Federation while 80 left for Ukraine. The OTs observed on three separate days three large groups of persons in military-style clothing. Groups varied from 8 to 14 persons and had luggage with them; two groups were on foot and one group travelled by minibus. Two groups crossed into Ukraine and one crossed into the Russian Federation.
During the reporting period, the OTs observed two funeral vans crossing the border through the Donetsk BCP. The first funeral van, registered in Ukraine, crossed from Ukraine into the Russian Federation in the evening of October 8. The van bore inscription “Ritual Service Kharon”. The OT could not ascertain whether there was a coffin on board or not. The second funeral van crossed from the Russian Federation into Ukraine on the morning of October 13. Once again the OT could not ascertain whether there was a coffin on board or not.
[1] First-responders are OSCE staff or mission members deployed to another mission for a short period of time.