09:15, 5 July 2014

Border checkpoints "Gukovo" and "Donetsk" in Rostov Region resume work

Trace of a fired shell at the checkpoint "Novoshakhtinsk". Rostov Region, July 3, 2014. Photo: Federal Customs Service, http://customs.ru/

The border crossing points "Gukovo" and "Donetsk" have resumed normal operation, said Vasily Malaev, the spokesman for the Border Guard Department of the FSB for the Rostov Region.

On July 4, several shells allegedly fired at the Rostov Region from the neighbouring Ukrainian territory blew up near the crossing point "Donetsk". The frontier guards stationed at the checkpoint are safe. After the incident the checkpoints "Donetsk", "Gukovo" and "Novoshakhtinsk" were temporarily closed.

The Russian News Service reports, citing Mr Malaev, that in the case of threats to the lives of citizens and employees of the checkpoint because of shooting in the adjacent territory, both checkpoints may be temporarily closed.

The "Interfax" adds that earlier, on July 2, the checkpoint "Veselo-Voznesenskoe" was also suspended.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 3 as a result of shelling the Ukrainian checkpoint "Dolzhansky", several explosions also occurred in the territory of the checkpoint "Novoshakhtinsk" in the Rostov Region. There were no injuries; however, the checkpoint was closed on July 3 and reopened on July 4.