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 increased at both BCPs.
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 12,632 to 13,875 per day for both BCPs compared to last week. The average net flow for both BCPs went from plus 216 to plus 18 (i.e. more entries to 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 35.8 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 47 this week at both BCPs compared to 43 last week; 24 of them crossed into the Russian Federation, 23 into Ukraine. Approximately 79 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
During the reporting period, the OTs observed an increased number of 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 eleven families were observed crossing into Ukraine and eleven families into the Russian Federation.
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 489 buses crossing the border at both BCPs, 250 of them were bound for the Russian Federation and 239 for Ukraine. Twenty one out of those 489 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 slight increase in the number of trucks crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. Compared to the previous week, the total number of trucks increased from 683 to 691 (222 in Gukovo BCP and 469 in Donetsk BCP); 420 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation and 271 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 slightly decreased from 42 to 40. 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 117 X-ray checks. At the Donetsk BCP, out of the total number of trucks scanned during the reporting period, 88 trucks (75 per cent) were bound for Ukraine; the remaining 29 trucks (25 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 increased from 129 to 168; 74 crossed to the Russian Federation and 94 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 44 occasions; the OTs assessed that 24 trains were travelling to the Russian Federation, with the other 20 were 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, cars and/or trucks with Georgian, Lithuanian and Polish licence plates as well as “LPR” or “DPR” plates crossing the border in both directions.
On 17 August, at 02:56hrs, the OT at Donetsk BCP observed a van with Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region and the inscription “Ritual” crossing the border from Ukraine into the Russian Federation. The same vehicle crossed back into Ukraine on the same night at 03:13hrs.
During the reporting period the OT at Donetsk BCP observed two ambulances on two separate occasions. On 17 August at 05:49 hrs the ambulance (with Russian licence plates) entered the BCP from the Russian Federation and parked inside the customs control zone. Two female paramedics were observed exiting the vehicle, however, the OT was unable to assess their activity within the BCP area. The vehicle crossed back into the Russian Federation after around ten minutes. The second ambulance, also bearing Russian licence plates, was observed on 19 August at 12:10 hrs crossing from Ukraine into the Russian Federation.
On both occasions the OTs were unable to confirm whether any patients were being transported inside.
On 16 August, the OTs observed two helicopters in the airspace above the two BCPs. At 11:11hrs at the Donetsk BCP, a military-style helicopter was observed flying over the BCP area, coming from a north-westerly direction and continuing to fly to the east. Afterwards, at the Gukovo BCP, the OT noted a Mi-8/17 type helicopter flying from the north which then left in an easterly direction at an altitude of 20-30 metres at 11:35hrs.
On both occasions, the OTs assessed that both aircraft remained inside the Russian Federation airspace.
For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 18 July 2017 to 22 August 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).
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