Crossing the Contact Line November 2021 EECP Survey Snapshot [EN/UK]

Ukraine

On 5 November, for several hours no one could cross the contact line in Luhansk oblast due to shelling near the Stanytsa Luhanska checkpoint, only one of two EECPs still open on both the GCA and the NGCA sides of the line. Then on 24 November the Marinka checkpoint was also shelled. Only exceptional crossings are authorized by NGCA side at Marinka EECP, with 14 crossings reported in November (SBGS statistics).

Last month for the first time, travellers crossing Stanytsa Luhanska showed a higher percentage of respondents reporting concerns than those crossing Novotroitske EECP in Donetsk oblast. The proportion in Stanytsa Luhanska jumped from one eighth in September to one quarter in October and November. Raised levels of concern in Luhansk oblast appear to correlate with the temporary anti-COVID restrictions imposed by the Luhansk NGCA from 9 October to 11 November and will probably fall back to September levels from December.

Stanytsa Luhanska EECP is usually open seven days a week. By contrast movement in Donetsk Oblast is more restricted. Novotroitske EECP is only open two days per week, and residents must seek permission from Donetsk NGCA two weeks in advance, giving a humanitarian justification for their request.

In November, 737 persons, 55 per cent of those who entered the GCA through Novotroitske EECP, were tested for COVID-19 as were 2,312 persons, 14 per cent of those who entered GCA via Stanytsa Luhanska EECP. They were tested because they could not install the Vdoma location-aware app on their phones, an acute problem for people crossing the contact line to GCA, especially people aged 60+ and people with serious illnesses.