Weekly update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 10:00 (Moscow time), 12 May 2015
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 BCPs. The overall cross-border traffic decreased 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 who is performing 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, 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 decreased overall from 7,542 to 7,126 per day for both BCPs; the average net flow went from minus 305 (i.e. more exits from the Russian Federation) to plus 386 (i.e. more entries to 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 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 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 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 from 319 to 381 at both BCPs. These people have been crossing individually or in groups and on foot or in vehicles. Approximately ninety percent of border crossings occurred at the Donetsk BCP. The OTs have observed that recently 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 have observed an increasing number of physically fit young men in civilian clothing with short haircuts who often have camo-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 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. While majority of the trucks are registered in Luhansk oblast, during the reporting period the OTs have also observed trucks registered in Belarus and Lithuania cross the border. 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 decreased compared to last week. A daily average of 2,178 entries and exits was recorded, which accounted for exactly ten percent of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. The net flow went from plus 14 to plus 162 (i.e. more entries to the Russian Federation) on average per day.
During the week, the OM observed a total of 38 persons in military-style clothing crossing the border at the Gukovo BCP, 18 of whom left for Ukraine while 20 entered the Russian Federation.
As in previous weeks, the OM observed dumper trucks transporting coal from the Luhansk region to the Russian Federation though the intensity of the transportation has significantly decreased during the reporting week. 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 observed an unusual number of orange articulated fuel trucks crossing at the Gukovo BCP. On one morning eleven of these trucks were lined up at the entrance of the BCP waiting to cross into Ukraine. Such movement of fuel trucks has not been seen before.
The OTs picked up on the sound of trains running down the train tracks located approximately 150 meters south west of the BCP on twelve occasions during the reporting week; the OTs estimated that seven trains were going to Ukraine; five were 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 May 9 at 16:17 the OT heard approximately 20 assault rifle shots fired in short bursts; the sound came from the west. At 22:36 on the same day the OT heard small arms shots, single and in series, for about 25 seconds coming from direction north-west; the shots were chaotic in their nature. About an hour later the OT once again heard small arms shots, single and in series, for about 10 seconds coming from the same direction.
Observation at the Donetsk BCP
During the reporting period the activity at the Donetsk BCP decreased compared to last week. The daily average of 4,947 entries and exits accounted for just under twenty three percent of all entries/exits in the Rostov region. The net flow changed from minus 319 (i.e. more exiting from Russian Federation) to plus 224 (i.e. more entries to the Russian Federation) on average per day. The OT observed 343 persons in military-style clothing crossing the border at the Donetsk BCP individually and in groups; 162 persons entered the Russian Federation while 181 left for Ukraine.
Two ambulances were observed at the BCP Donetsk during the reporting period. On one occasion an ambulance arrived from the Russian Federation side to pick up middle aged lady who felt unwell at the BCP. No injured or wounded persons were observed in the other ambulance.
During the reporting period the OT observed a minivan with a white A4 format paper that had Gruz 200 (“Cargo 200” which is a well-known Russian military code used for “military personnel killed in action”) written on it. No coffin was observed inside. On another occasion during the reporting week, the OT observed a van with a sign “Funeral Service” in Russian.