PRESS RELEASE

Spot report UPDATE: Russian humanitarian aid trucks departed from the Donetsk Border Crossing Point without ICRC’s escort

This update is for media and the general public.

SUMMARY

DONETSK CHECKPOINT, Russian Federation, 22 August 2014 – On 22 August (until 15:55) a total number of 227 vehicles passed the Donetsk Border Crossing

Point (BCP) control area towards the border between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. Out of the total number of vehicles, 37 had been inspected. In addition, out of the 227 vehicles, between 27-30 were support vehicles and rest of them trucks.

DETAIL

In the afternoon and evening of the 21 August 2014, 29 cargo trucks and 8 support vehicles (ambulances, recovery and maintenance and fuel vehicles) entered Donetsk BCP. These 37 vehicles (group 1) were checked by RF and UKR border and customs personnel under ICRC’s supervision. After that, these vehicles moved beyond the BCP control area towards the border, which is out of sight of OM observers. During the late evening of 21 August, a second group (group 2) of 37 vehicles arrived and was parked for the night before the Donetsk BCP control area.

On 22 August at around 11:00 OT observed some movement beyond the control area.

At 11:48, group 2 departed, thus, group 1 must have left before (Reported at 12:08 in the Spot Report).

Between 13:05 and 13:25, group 3 consisting of 37 vehicles passed the control area towards the border.

Between 13:30 and 13:55, group 4 consisting of 39 vehicles passed the control area towards the border.

Between 14:45 and 15:10, group 5 consisting of 32 vehicles passed the control area towards the border.

Between 15:15 and 15:50, group 6 consisting of 45 vehicles passed the control area towards the border.

After the last vehicle passed the control area at 15:55, a total number of 227 vehicles had passed the control area towards the border.

At 16:20, OT observed 5 fuel trucks and one ambulance re-entering the BCP from the border.

The number of 227 vehicles coincides with the number given by a RF senior official, who reported that 227 vehicles had passed in four hours.

For PDF attachments or links to sources of further information, please visit:http://www.osce.org/om/122935

Contacts:

Communication and Media Relations Section