This report is for media and the general public.
SUMMARY
On 26 May 2016 at 06:33hrs (Moscow time), a Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of 47 vehicles were checked by the Russian border guards and customs services. All of the 47 vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 14:45hrs on 26 May.
DETAIL
Leaving the Russian Federation
On 26 May 2016 at 06:33hrs, the Observer Mission observed the arrival of a Russian convoy at the gate of the Donetsk BCP. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations team led the process of the convoy movement. The convoy consisted of 40 cargo trucks and 7 support vehicles. All but one cargo truck bore the inscription “Humanitarian help from the Russian Federation”.
At 06:38hrs the vehicles entered the customs control area and lined up in three lines. The cargo trucks were visually checked from the outside by Russian border guards and customs officers. Two service dogs were present on site during the convoy crossing and were used to check some of the cargo trucks from the outside. Ukrainian representatives – three border guards and two customs officers – were present during the check. They performed light visual checks of the opened trucks from the outside. By 07:13hrs the vehicles had left the BCP towards Ukraine.
Returning to the Russian Federation
At 14:30hrs on 26 May, the convoy arrived and lined up in three lines at the customs area. The tailgates and tarpaulin of the trucks were opened and Russian and Ukrainian border guards and customs officers visually checked the returning convoy from the outside. Two service dogs were present on site during the convoy crossing and were used to check some of the cargo trucks from the outside. By 14:45hrs all of the 47 vehicles had returned and crossed back into the Russian Federation.
[1] According to the statement of the Russian Federation officials, this convoy is considered the fifty-second Russian Convoy which was sent to Ukraine. As one of these convoys did not cross through the “Donetsk” or “Gukovo” border crossing points, the Observer Mission did not record it. Hence, based on the Observer Mission’s counting, this convoy is considered the fifty-first convoy to cross into Ukraine.
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