Weekly update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 10:00 (Moscow time), 25 March 2015

This report is for media and the general public.

The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall cross-border traffic slightly decreased at both BCPs. The number of persons in military-style clothing crossing the border in both directions has decreased over the past reporting week.

DETAIL

OM’s staff composition

The OM is currently operating with 21 staff members, consisting of 19 permanent international observers (incl. the Chief Observer) and two first-responders (one of which is an administrative assistant). Three 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:

1. Families on foot or travelling by car, with a lot of luggage, often accompanied by elderly people;
2. Adults (usually of younger age) with no luggage or empty cars;
3. 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 slightly decreased overall from 7, 384 to 7,345 per day for both BCPs. The average net flow went from plus 65 to minus 251. The Donetsk BCP continued to experience more traffic than the Gukovo BCP. The cross-border movements registered at both BCPs accounted for nearly 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) also continued to observe bus connections on irregular routes. Often the buses do not state their direct 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 decreased from 617 to 519 at both BCPs. These people have been crossing individually or in groups and on foot or in vehicles. Approximately eighty six percent of 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 Ukrainian cars with “DPR/LPR” stickers on their license plates replacing the Ukrainian flag.

During the reporting week the OM continued to observe an increased 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 trailer truck traffic at BCP Donetsk crossing the border in both directions. The OTs also observed tanker trucks crossing the border both ways. These crossings occurred 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 increased compared to last week. A daily average of 2,204 entries and exits was recorded, which accounted for nearly ten percent of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. The net flow went from plus 119 (i.e. more entries to the Russian Federation) to plus 15 on average per day.

During the week, the OM observed a total of 70 persons in military-style clothing crossing the border at the Gukovo BCP, 35 of whom left for Ukraine while 35 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.

The OTs picked up on the sound of trains running down the train tracks located approximately 150 meters south west of the BCP on seventeen occasions during the reporting week; the OTs estimated that seven trains were going to Ukraine; ten were bound for the Russian Federation. Four of the trains bound for the Russian Federation and two trains bound for Ukraine sounded long. The sounds in these three cases were over a minute each. In four cases partial observation was possible. One train bound for Ukraine was estimated to have ten closed cargo wagons plus locomotive. On one occasion it was possible to observe part of one locomotive bound for the Russian Federation. Another train bound for the Russian Federation looked short and the fourth train partially observed looked like a cargo train.

Two helicopters and nine aircrafts were observed during the reporting period. In the first case on 20 March at 08:53hrs a helicopter was observed to fly at a distance of approximately 5km from the direction south east to the direction north east. The second time on 20 March at 10:40hrs a helicopter was observed flying directly over the BCP in the direction east. Within the limitation of observing these two helicopters, the OTs assessed that the aircrafts did not violate the Ukrainian airspace. On 23 March the OT heard the sound of an aircraft eight times from 11:44 to 18:16 for approximately 4 minutes each time. Each time an aircraft overflew the BCP area the sound came from the direction north-east and flew in the direction south-east. Visual observation was not possible but based on the sound the OT estimated these were propelled aircrafts. The pattern of flight and sound do resemble the UAV overflights of September and October 2014.

On one occasion the OT heard the sound of an aircraft however because of adverse weather conditions it was not possible to identify it as no visual observation made. The aircraft came from direction east and flew in the direction east-south-east.

On 19 March at 21:26rs, 21:46hrs and 22:00hrs, the sound of shootings was heard on three separate occasions from the direction east-north - east.

One ambulance was observed over the past reporting week at the Gukovo BCP. It crossed the border from the Russian Federation to Ukraine. No wounded persons were observed in this ambulance.

Observation at the Donetsk BCP

During the reporting period the activity at the Donetsk BCP decreased compared to last week. The daily average of 5,141 entries and exits accounted for exactly twenty three percent of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. The net flow changed from minus 54 (i.e. more exiting from Russian Federation) to minus 266 on average per day. Despite the last week’s dip in net flow, the trend of more people exiting the Russian Federation for Ukraine continues. The OT observed 449 persons in military-style clothing crossing the border at the Donetsk BCP individually and in groups; 221 persons entered the Russian Federation while 228 left for Ukraine.

During the reporting week the OTs observed six ambulances at the Donetsk BCP. On one occasion an ambulance arrived from the Russian Federation side to pick up a person in civilian clothing who felt unwell at the BCP. No wounded persons were observed in any of these six ambulances.

On 19 March at 10:09hrs, the OT observed a helicopter fly low from direction north to direction south east. Within the limitations of observing aircraft without technical means, the OTs assessed that the aircraft did not violate the Ukrainian airspace in the vicinity of the BCPs.

On 19 March at 12:36 OT heard an extremely loud detonation coming from the direction of the nearby coal-mine (approximately 250 metres away from the BCP). All the walls and windows of the BCP compound shook from the shockwave. The OM is neither in a position to confirm the source nor provide any further information about the detonation.

On March 19 at 10:15hrs, the OT heard distant sound of artillery shelling coming from the south west of the BCP. The shelling had an interval of 3-5 minutes and the OT counted five instances in total.

CONVOY

One Russian convoy was observed to cross at the Donetsk BCP.  On 19 March 2015 at 07:10hrs (Moscow time), a Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of 81 vehicles- 55 cargo trucks, 20 fuel trucks, 2 escort vehicles and 4 support vehicles, were checked by the Russian border guard and customs services. Ukrainian officers were present on site both when the convoy was outgoing and when it was incoming. All the vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 16:07hrs on 19 March.