What Ukrainian men should know when crossing the border and how to find out about queues at checkpoints: explanations from border guards
17 July 2024 15:04
INTERVIEW
Since 17 July, border guards have been checking the military registration documents of all male citizens of Ukraine aged 18 to 60 when crossing the border to leave. The reason for these changes is that new rules for crossing the border during mobilisation have come into force. From now on, border guards will fully comply with paragraph 17 of Cabinet of Ministers Resolution 560.
Komersant ukrainskyi
asked Andriy Demchenko, a spokesman for the State Border Guard Service, about the situation at the border, queues and whether an electronic military registration document can completely replace a paper one.
From now on, men in Ukraine aged 18 to 60 are required to have a military registration document. How was it before?
Since the introduction of martial law and restrictions, we have been checking military registration documents mainly of those who were unfit for military service and excluded from military registration, which was reflected in the military registration document.
On 16 May this year, we started checking the availability of a military registration document for a separate category of citizens. First of all, these are those who had a deferment or were unfit for military service with a deregistration.
What does the border crossing procedure look like now?
From now on, the check of military registration documents applies to all men who are citizens of Ukraine aged 18-60. This rule has been applied since 00.00 today. The document can be either in paper or electronic form.
So, it is enough to show the updated data to the Reserve without presenting a paper military ID?
An electronic military registration document is indeed equivalent to an official one, but only if a QR code is generated in the Reserve mobile application. If a person presents the Reserve with a QR code, this is sufficient.
What are the grounds for refusing a man to cross the border?
We refuse in case of absence of a military registration document. Another reason for refusal is the presence in the Unified State Register of Conscripts, Persons Liable for Military Service and Reservists of information about the person being wanted by the National Police. In such cases, police officers will be called.
How many men have been denied crossing the border today?
As of 7 am, almost 40. The reason for the refusals is simple: some forgot to take their military registration documents, and some did not have them at all. The exact information for the day will be published tomorrow. I would like to note that earlier the total number of refusals to cross the border to leave due to non-compliance with the conditions of departure fluctuated between 170 and 200 people.
Have any conflict situations been recorded since the start of the new border crossing procedures?
No, so far no conflicts have been reported. Most of the men crossing the border had the necessary documents, including military registration documents.
Regarding the overall situation at the border. Are there any queues now due to holidays?
In summer and winter, during the holiday season, there is always an increase in passenger traffic. This has been the case every year, with the exception of 2022. In 2023, and in all previous years before the full-scale invasion of the holiday season, passenger traffic has always been growing.
What is the situation this year?
This year is no exception: since the beginning of the summer season, passenger traffic has been on the rise. Before June, the average number of people crossing the border per day was 80-90 thousand on weekdays in both directions, and on weekends the passenger traffic could reach 90-100 thousand, while now 110-120 thousand people cross the border on weekdays, and on weekends it can reach 130 thousand people per day in both directions.
In June, most people were leaving Ukraine: 5-10 thousand more people were leaving than entering. And starting in July, on some days, the preference is for people to enter Ukraine. Or the passenger flow is 50-50 in percentage terms. On some days, more people are travelling outside Ukraine.
In other words, people actually return to the territory of Ukraine at the end of their holidays.
Who crosses the border more – women or men?
The main categories of people crossing the border are women, children, the elderly, and foreigners. The share of male citizens of Ukraine has not increased. Still, men between the ages of 18 and 60 are allowed to cross the border exclusively in accordance with the rules for crossing the border by citizens of Ukraine. After all, this category is subject to restrictions on travelling outside our country, except for those specified in the border crossing rules. And on the basis of supporting documents, men are allowed to leave Ukraine.
When are the queues longer in general – at the beginning of the week or at the end?
In general, the number of people in queues at the border is constantly fluctuating. At the beginning of the week, there are usually no queues. Instead, at the end of the week: Thursday, Friday, and partly Saturday, when more people choose to travel outside Ukraine, passenger traffic increases and the simultaneous arrival of a large number of citizens from abroad, including by bus, leads to an increase in queues.
Where can I see the queues?
Every three hours, we publish the state of congestion at the checkpoints in the west on the Facebook page of the Western Regional Directorate so that people can get acquainted with the situation and choose the least congested checkpoints.
Because it happens that of all the checkpoints operating on the border with Poland, one may be busy, and the rest may not have a queue at all. But people continue to come exclusively to this busy one because it is logistically more convenient for them. Instead, they will spend more time waiting in line instead of choosing a freer direction.
Alyona Kaplina
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