Passenger traffic has doubled: border guards report record queues on the eve of the holidays
22 December 13:27
EXCLUSIVE
The New Year and Christmas period traditionally intensifies border traffic, and this year the trend has become particularly noticeable. Ukrainians joke on social media that they are forced to stand at the border with the EU for 20 hours or more.
Passenger traffic has doubled compared to the beginning of December, which has already led to record loads at checkpoints after the end of the summer season.
Andriy Demchenko, a spokesman for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, told "Komersant Ukrainian".
“First of all, it should be noted that the passenger traffic has been increasing week by week. This is primarily due to people’s desire to travel during the New Year and Christmas period. Some people have already fulfilled some of their needs, while others continue to travel, including to cross the border,” he said.
According to Demchenko, almost 155,000 people crossed the border in two directions in just one day, the highest number in recent months. Moreover, for the first time in a long time, a significant advantage of entering Ukraine was recorded: about 15 thousand more people returned home than went abroad.
“As of yesterday (December 21 – Ed.), we had the highest rate of border crossings since the end of the summer period. In total, almost 155 thousand people crossed the border yesterday. This is the total for the day in both directions.
Yesterday, the majority of people were entering Ukraine. That is, about 15 thousand more people crossed the border to enter Ukraine than to leave the country. For comparison, three weeks ago about 75 thousand people crossed the border on weekdays. That is a twofold increase,” the official explained.
According to Demchenko, the increase in mobility is attributed to holiday travel, family plans, and the need to resolve personal matters at the end of the year. At the same time, a sharp jump in passenger traffic inevitably creates queues, as the infrastructure capacity has its limitations, even if all services are operating at maximum capacity. Traditionally, the biggest load falls on the Ukrainian-Polish border, with about half of the total traffic and the longest queues both for exit and entry.
“Of course, an increase in passenger traffic leads to queues. Because all the available infrastructure is loaded, but it cannot pass more people than its capacity.
50 percent of the total passenger traffic I’m talking about falls on the border with Poland. Even though there are a large number of checkpoints on the border with Poland, if we compare it with other sections, it is the most congested. The longest queues are recorded somewhere.
But there are queues both to leave Ukraine and to enter. Especially if we talk about yesterday, when I say that the preference is for entering Ukraine,” Demchenko said.
The situation is further complicated by the growing number of buses: during the pre-holiday period, the number of buses leaving Ukraine increased from 350 to 550 per day. Border guards emphasize that they are working in an enhanced mode together with the neighboring services of neighboring countries, but advise citizens to plan their trips in advance and allow extra time for border crossing.
“The controlling services of both Ukraine and the neighboring state are working as fast as possible. This is to ensure that citizens are processed. But the increase in passenger traffic leads to queues. That is why I advise people to allow more time for border crossing during the New Year and Christmas period.
Not only the number of cars has increased, but also the number of buses. Previously, on ordinary days, it was 350 buses leaving Ukraine per day. Now it is 550 buses leaving Ukraine per day,” he summarized.
As a reminder, the National Bank of Ukraine has released an updated forecast on migration processes and stated that in the coming years it expects a significant return of Ukrainians who left abroad after the outbreak of a full-scale war.
