Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 19 September 2017
This report is for the 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 number of border crossings by persons slightly increased at both BCPs compared to the previous week.
OPERATIONAL REMARKS
The OM is currently operating with 20 permanent international staff members, including the Acting Chief Observer (CO). The Mission is supported administratively by a Vienna-based staff member.
OBSERVATIONS AT THE BORDER CROSSING POINTS
Persons crossing the border
The profile of the people crossing the border can be categorized as follows:
- Adults travelling on foot or by car with little or no luggage;
- Persons in military-style outfits;
- Families (often including elderly people and/or children) travelling on foot or by car with a significant amount of luggage.
The average number of entries/exits increased from 11,643 to 11,969 per day for both BCPs compared to last week. The average net flow for both BCPs went from plus 222 (i.e. more entries into the Russian Federation) to minus 95 (i.e. more exits from the Russian Federation).
The Donetsk BCP continues to experience more traffic than the Gukovo BCP. The cross-border movements registered at both BCPs accounted for 36.5 per cent of all entries/exits in Rostov region[1].
Persons in military-style outfits
During the reporting period, the number of persons in military-style outfits crossing the border in both directions was 50 this week at both BCPs compared to 43 last week; 25 of them crossed into the Russian Federation, 25 into Ukraine. Approximately 78 per cent of this category’s crossings occurred at the Donetsk BCP. They continued to cross the border individually or in groups. Most individuals crossed by foot, however, some made use of private vehicles, buses or minivans, making it more difficult for the observer teams (OTs) to observe their movement across the border, especially since many of the private vehicles have tinted windows, and buses and minivans have drawn curtains.
Families with a significant amount of luggage
On some occasions, the OTs continue to report on families crossing the border, sometimes with elderly people and/or children, crossing at both BCPs with a significant amount of luggage, or travelling in heavily loaded cars. During this reporting period, at the BCPs nine families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and four families into Ukraine.
Bus connections
Regular local and long-distance bus connections continue to operate between Ukraine (mostly from/to the Luhansk region) and the Russian Federation. In addition to regular bus connections, the OTs continued to observe bus connections on irregular routes. Often the buses do not state their route; instead they have a sign on the windshield stating “irregular”.
During the reporting period the OTs observed 440 buses crossing the border at both BCPs, 217 of them were bound for the Russian Federation and 223 for Ukraine. Twenty-four out of those 440 buses were connecting Ukrainian towns through the Russian Federation (circumventing the contact line).
On some occasions, the OTs noticed the bus drivers removing the itinerary signs from the windshields of their buses, while some buses do not display their route at all. The majority of long-distance buses commuting between the Luhansk region and cities in the Russian Federation have Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region.
Trucks
During the reporting period the OM observed a decrease in the number of trucks crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. Compared to the previous week, the total number of trucks decreased from 661 to 639 (204 in Gukovo BCP and 435 in Donetsk BCP); 377 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation and 262 crossed into Ukraine. Most of the trucks observed by the OTs had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region.
Separately, the OTs also observed tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. The number of tanker trucks decreased from 49 to 41. These trucks were observed crossing the border at both BCPs. The trucks had the words “Propane” and “Flammable” written across the tanks in either Russian or Ukrainian. The majority of tanker trucks have hazard signs, indicating that they are transporting propane or a mix of propane with butane.
All trucks undergo systematic inspection by Russian Federation officials, which may include an X-ray check. Due to the unfavourable position at the Gukovo BCP, the OTs continued to be unable to observe any X-ray checks. At the Donetsk BCP the OTs observed 99 X-ray checks: out of the total number of trucks scanned during the reporting period, 68 trucks (69 per cent) were bound for Ukraine; the remaining 31 trucks (31 per cent) crossed into the Russian Federation.
Minivans
The OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans[2] crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. The OTs observed minivans predominantly with Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region; however, the OTs also frequently saw minivans registered in the Russian Federation.
As compared to the previous week, the number of cargo minivans decreased from 151 to 142; 69 crossed to the Russian Federation and 73 to Ukraine.
Trains
The OTs continued to pick up the sound of trains running on the train tracks located approximately 150 metres south-west of the Gukovo BCP. During the reporting week, the OTs heard trains on 49 occasions; the OTs assessed that 24 trains were travelling to the Russian Federation, with the other 25 bound for Ukraine. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine was regularly informed about the trains bound for Ukraine.
Visual observation was not possible because of the line of trees located between the train tracks and the BCP, as well as due to unfavourable light conditions.
Other observations
The majority of vehicles crossing the border had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region or Russian Federation licence plates. In addition, the OTs also observed vehicles with Belarusian, Georgian and Lithuanian licence plates and with “LPR” and Abkhazian plates crossing the border in both directions.
Between 12 and 14 September the OTs noted some exercises conducted by the Border Guard Service inside and around the Gukovo BCP. On 12 September, the OT observed during the entire morning extra security measures at the checkpoint and armed BGs (carrying assault rifles AK47), patrolling the area around the BCP. On 13 September, the trainings, conducted by small groups of armed BGs, continued during the entire day and were resumed again during the following morning until 14:00.
During the reporting period, on four separate occasions, the OTs also observed military helicopters (Mi8/17) flying at low altitude along the border. On 14 Septembers the helicopters were observed at 10:42 at the Gukovo BCP flying at about 50 meters altitude for around one minute and at the Donetsk BCP at 11:11 coming from a north-westerly direction and continuing to fly to the east.
On the day after, the OTs observed again two helicopters in the airspace above the two BCPs. The first one was noted for around one minute at 10:40 at the Gukovo BCP coming from a south-eastern direction. Afterwards, at the Donetsk BCP, the OT noted again a Mi-8/17 type helicopter flying from the south-east which then left in a north-westerly direction at an altitude of 40 metres at 11:00. On all occasions, the OTs assessed that the helicopters remained inside the Russian Federation airspace.
On 15 September, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed a white minivan crossing the border from Ukraine to the Russian Federation. The van bore Russian number plates and the inscription “Ritual Service” (in Russian). The OT was not able to ascertain whether there was a coffin on board or not.
On 18 September, at 10:30 a convoy of four buses was observed at Donetsk BCP transporting children to Ukraine from the Russian Federation. On the same day, also at the Donetsk BCP, the OT noted a horse trailer with a Russian registration number issued in the Moscow region. On the trailer were observed 5-6 horses and two young men in Cossack style clothes (military like trousers, white-blue stripped sleeveless T-shirt and “Kubanka” style hat). The trailer crossed into Ukraine at 16:10.
For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 15 August 2017 to 19 September 2017 see the attachment here.
[1] Based on data received from Rostov-on-Don region Border Guard Service
[2] Cargo minivans: light commercial vehicles with a maximum authorized mass of more than 3.5 t and not more than 7.5 t; with or without a trailer with a maximum mass of less than 750 kg (small cargo vehicles which correspond to driving licence C1).