Passenger traffic across Ukraine’s border increased by 3.7% year-on-year to 452,000 passengers in the first week of winter (November 30-December 6) as the Christmas holidays approached.
According to the State Border Guard Service’s Facebook page, the number of outbound crossings increased from 222,000 to 229,000, while the number of inbound crossings increased from 214,000 to 223,000.
As for their distribution by day of the week, according to the border guards, traditionally, the maximum flow of exit traffic was on Friday-Sunday, while the maximum flow of entry traffic was on Saturday-Monday.
The number of vehicles crossing the checkpoints increased from 118,000 to 122,000 over the week, while the flow of vehicles carrying humanitarian aid slightly decreased from 577 to 565.
The State Border Guard Service indicates that as of 12:00 Sunday, a small queue was observed at only one checkpoint: “Ustyluh” on the border with Poland – 10 cars, while at all other checkpoints there were no queues.
The total number of people crossing the border in the first week of winter this year is higher than last year’s: 206 thousand people left Ukraine and 209 thousand entered during the same seven days, with a traffic flow of 108 thousand cars.
As reported, on May 10, 2022, the outflow of refugees from Ukraine, which began with the outbreak of war, was replaced by an influx that lasted until September 23, 2022 and amounted to 409 thousand people. However, since the end of September, possibly under the influence of news about mobilization in Russia and “pseudo-referendums” in the occupied territories, and then massive shelling of energy infrastructure, the number of people leaving has been exceeding the number of people entering. It temporarily stopped in the second half of December and early January during the holidays, but then resumed again and reached a total of 223 thousand people from the end of September 2022 to the first anniversary of the full-scale war.
During the second year of the full-scale war, the number of border crossings to leave Ukraine, according to the State Border Guard Service, exceeded the number of crossings to enter by 25 thousand, while since the beginning of the third year, the number of crossings to enter has increased by another 184 thousand.
As Deputy Economy Minister Serhiy Sobolev noted in early March last year, the return of every 100,000 Ukrainians home results in a 0.5% increase in GDP. In its macroeconomic forecast for this year, the Ministry of Economy has included 1.5 million people returning to Ukraine.
At the same time, the National Bank, in its October inflation report, again downgraded its forecast for the outflow from Ukraine this year from 0.4 million to 0.5 million. In absolute terms, the number of migrants staying abroad this year is expected to increase to 6.8 million.
According to updated UNHCR data, the number of Ukrainian refugees in Europe was estimated at 6.226 million as of November 18, and 6.786 million worldwide, which is 34 thousand more than as of October 15.
In Ukraine itself, according to the latest UN data as of August this year, there were 3.669 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), which is 121 thousand more than in April this year.
According to regional authorities cited by the UN, more than 128,000 people have left Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine since August 1, including 24,000 who fled active hostilities, while approximately 330,000 remain in the region, including approximately 63,000 in active combat zones.
In Sumy region, the authorities estimate that 36,000 people, including 6,000 children, were evacuated between August 1 and October 3.
“The State Logistics Operator has purchased almost 163,000 bulletproof vests over the past year, enough to fully supply the armies of several NATO countries combined; 11,000 railroad cars of fuel have also been delivered, said Arsen Zhumadilov, Director General of the State Logistics Operator.
“We have purchased 162 thousand bulletproof vests. Almost 163 thousand. This would be enough to outfit the armies of several NATO countries,” he said during the event ”DOT. A Year of Supply Reform” event in Kyiv on Saturday.
According to the DOT, this would be enough to fully equip the armies of Hungary, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Belgium, and Sweden combined.
“This is a lot. I am very grateful to the manufacturers who have joined in and are increasing their production capabilities,” Zhumadilov added.
He also informed that 11,000 railroad cars of fuel had been delivered. According to the DOT, this is the same amount as “a railroad convoy of fuel tanks from Kyiv to Zhytomyr.”
According to Zhumadilov, today we can say that there is a certain level of predictability in procurement and supply for the Armed Forces. In particular, winter clothing is purchased in the summer; suppliers for 2025 are contracted in 2024; delivery times under contracts with suppliers are generally 3-6 months.
The State Logistics Operator (SLO) is a state agency that meets the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. On October 30, 2023, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov signed a contract and a decree appointing Arsen Zhumadilov as the Director General of the State Logistics Operator.
The countries contributing to the International Cooperation Account for Chernobyl have announced the allocation of about EUR7 million for the development of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukrainian Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Svitlana Hrynchuk said on Facebook.
“Canada has announced its plans to transfer EUR 5 million from the fund that was recently closed in Russia. The European Commission is adding EUR 1.7 million to the EUR 5 million that was previously provided. Belgium’s contribution will also be added. “The meeting adopted important decisions, namely the creation of a Project Management Group for more effective implementation of grant agreements, and agreed on the direction of work on dismantling unstable structures of the Shelter,” the Minister said about the results of the meeting of the Assembly of Account Holders organized by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
She clarified that the depositors’ funds will be used to restore the equipment of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant destroyed and damaged during the Russian occupation.
Hrynchuk reminded that these are not the first contributions to the account. Earlier, Ukraine has already received more than EUR 26 million from 18 contributing countries.
The Minister assured that work on the restoration of the Chornobyl zone will continue. Thus, on June 5, the law of Ukraine on ratification of the Framework Agreement between Ukraine and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on the operation of the International Cooperation Account for Chornobyl came into force. In addition, Ukraine has a wide range of opportunities for partnership in nuclear safety. Plans for 2025 include signing new grant agreements and implementing joint projects.
Some Ukrainian refugees will receive less support from Slovakia starting in March 2025, after lawmakers approved minor amendments to immigration legislation in late November – the Foreigners’ Residence Act and the Asylum Act, the Slovak Spectator reported.
“Starting March 1, 2025, people who received Ukrainian refugee status after February 28, 2025, will be allowed to stay in shelters for no more than 60 days, compared to the current 120 days. Similarly, the accommodation allowance will be limited to the first 60 days, not 120 days, as it has been since July this year,” the statement said.
The changes will not apply to vulnerable groups: pensioners over 65, children under five, or single guardians of these children.
The government claims that these measures will allow the Ministry of the Interior to save EUR2 million, a necessary step given the current pressure on public spending.
Slovakia’s Deputy Interior Minister Peter Krauspe defended the changes, noting that Ukrainian refugees usually find work and housing within two months of arriving in Slovakia. “We need to save money wherever possible,” he said.
Opposition MPs, however, said the cuts were excessive, noting that neighboring countries provide support for up to 90 days. They also criticized the lack of transparency and consultation in making these last-minute changes.
Electricity exports to Europe in November decreased by 31% compared to October and were almost four times lower than imports, according to DiXi Group, a Ukrainian think tank in the areas of politics, energy and security, citing Energy Map.
“Last month, electricity exports fell by 31% to 41.9 thousand MWh,” DiXi Group said in a Facebook post.
According to it, 30% or 12.7 thousand MWh went to Slovakia, another 23% (9.4 thousand MWh) to Hungary. 19% (8.1 thousand MWh and 7.8 thousand MWh) went to Moldova and Romania. 9% (3.9 thousand MWh) went to Poland.
According to DiXi’s information, imports amounted to 162.4 thousand MWh, which is 11% less than in October and almost four times more than exports.
DiXi explained that exports fell in the second half of last month, while imports increased due to Russia’s massive attacks on energy infrastructure on November 17 and 28, which led to a shortage in the power system.
As reported, according to D.Trading, in November-2024, Ukraine remained a net importer of electricity, and its imports amounted to 165 million kWh, which is 9% lower than in October.
As DiXi reported earlier, in October-2024, Ukraine exported 60.7 thousand MWh instead of 0.7 thousand MWh in September.
Despite the overall shortage of electricity caused by 11 massive Russian attacks on the power system this year, at certain hours, in particular, during the active operation of renewable energy generation, as well as at night, Ukraine has a surplus, which allows for exports. An alternative to exports is, in particular, a forced limitation of electricity production from renewable energy sources, which should be compensated by NPC Ukrenergo. Due to the surplus, other types of generation should also reduce their capacity.
