Passenger traffic across the Ukrainian border during the week from May 31 to June 6, with the onset of summer, the end of the school year, and the start of the vacation season, increased by 13.2% to 573,000, according to data from the State Border Service on Facebook.
According to the data, the outbound flow jumped from 253,000 to 311,000, while the inbound flow increased from 253,000 to 262,000.
The number of vehicles that passed through checkpoints this week did not increase significantly, from 124,000 to 125,000, and the flow of vehicles carrying humanitarian cargo even decreased slightly, from 524 to 514.
According to the agency, at noon on Sunday, there was only one queue of passenger cars at the Ustyluh checkpoint on the Polish border, with 30 vehicles, while four buses were waiting to cross the border at Shehyni.
At all other checkpoints, there were queues of 15 and 10 vehicles at the Vylok and Luzhanka checkpoints on the border with Hungary and 10 vehicles at the Uzhgorod and Maly Berezny checkpoints on the border with Slovakia.
The total number of people crossing the border this year is higher than last year: during the same seven days last year, 291,000 people left Ukraine and 251,000 entered, and the flow of cars was also lower – 118,000.
Last year, a significant summer increase in passenger traffic began in the first week of June and lasted for five weeks in a row.
As reported, from May 10, 2022, the outflow of refugees from Ukraine, which began with the start of the war, was replaced by an influx that lasted until September 23, 2022, and amounted to 409,000 people. However, since the end of September, possibly influenced by news of mobilization in Russia and “pseudo-referendums” in the occupied territories, followed by massive shelling of energy infrastructure, the number of departures exceeded the number of arrivals. In total, from the end of September 2022 to the first anniversary of the full-scale war, it reached 223,000 people.
During the second year of the full-scale war, the number of border crossings to leave Ukraine, according to the State Border Service, exceeded the number of crossings to enter by 25,000, during the third year by 187,000, and since the beginning of the fourth year by 79,000.
As Deputy Minister of Economy Serhiy Sobolev noted in early March 2023, the return of every 100,000 Ukrainians home results in a 0.5% increase in GDP.
In its April inflation report, the National Bank again estimated the outflow from Ukraine in 2024 at 0.5 million (according to the State Border Service – 0.315 million). In absolute terms, this means an increase in the number of migrants remaining abroad in 2024 to 6.8 million. The NBU also maintained its forecast for outflow in 2025 at 0.2 million.
According to updated UNHCR data, the number of Ukrainian refugees in Europe as of April 17, 2025, was estimated at 6.358 million, and worldwide at 6.918 million, which is 15,000 fewer than on March 20.
In Ukraine itself, according to the latest UN data at the end of last year, there were 3.669 million internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The multimodal terminal of the Fiska-Nov company will be launched in the territory of the Hlybotska community (Chernivtsi region), near the border with Romania, the community’s press service reported.
“The launch of this terminal will be an important step in the development of transport infrastructure, increase the transit potential of the region, and contribute to economic growth at both the local and national levels. In addition, its location near the border with Romania gives it strategic importance for transportation between Ukraine and the European Union,” the community said.
The facility’s infrastructure includes six railway tracks and special equipment that allows for transshipment between Ukrainian 1,520 mm gauge and European 1,435 mm gauge railcars. The terminal will also accept cargo by road. The purchased and installed load cells are designed to ensure accurate weight control of cargo during loading and unloading.
The Fiska-Nov company plans to create about 100 new jobs.
Oleg Nivievsky, Chairman of the Center for Food and Land Use Research at the Kyiv School of Economics, praised the community’s initiative on Telegram, which took advantage of the feasibility study developed by KSE in 2023 for the construction of a dry port on the border with Poland.
“The result was quite unexpected but pleasant — such projects are economically viable even without state support. Why is this important? Because improving and increasing the capacity of communications with the EU is a kind of insurance against a ‘crazy’ neighbor. In other words, it is something that can be supported with taxpayers’ money, but here the result is that everything looks good without support,” the scientist summed up.
Polish carriers have announced a new protest action on the border with Ukraine. This was announced by the Committee for the Protection of Transport Carriers and Employers of Poland, which submitted an official request to hold the event near the Dorohusk-Yagodin checkpoint, one of the largest between the two countries.
According to the organizers, the decision to resume protests is related to the Polish government’s lack of response to the demands of representatives of the transport industry.
“We have registered a protest at the largest border crossing point. Disappointed by the inaction of the authorities, we want to restore the balance in the transport market, which was disrupted after the cancellation of permits for Ukrainian carriers,” the Committee said in a statement.
At the moment, the date and duration of the protest have not been specified.
Context: ongoing tensions at the border
Protests by Polish carriers and farmers on the border with Ukraine have been ongoing since November 2023. The main demands of the participants are the return of the permit system for Ukrainian carriers, a ban on imports of Ukrainian products, state subsidies for fertilizers, compensation for fuel excise taxes, and immediate payment of subsidies.
In some cases, the protests have led to the effective blockade of border crossing points, creating long queues and significant disruptions to logistics.
Restrictions at the border
In addition to possible protests, capacity at a number of border crossing points is limited due to repair work:
From April 24 to mid-July, work is being carried out at the Medyka-Shehyni border crossing point;
From April 30 to June 5, at the Ustyluh-Zosin checkpoint;
From May 8 to mid-June, at the Korcheva-Krakovets checkpoint.
In addition, a new road checkpoint, Nizhankovychi-Malhovychi, has been operating since the end of 2024, open to passenger and freight transport.
History of border blockades
The first large-scale stage of protests by Polish farmers and carriers began in the fall of 2023. Over the following months, they repeatedly blocked key border crossings, including Yagodyn, Rava-Ruska, Krakivets, and Shehyni. The protests were accompanied by political rhetoric and discontent over the expanded access of Ukrainian carriers to the EU without permits, which caused concern among Polish trade unions.
Despite temporary agreements between the Ukrainian and Polish authorities, tensions at the border remain high. Experts note that the situation requires a systemic political and economic solution, including the renewal of agreements and the easing of competitive tensions between the countries.
Passenger traffic across the Ukrainian border in the sixth week of spring, from April 5 to 11, with the end of school holidays, remained at the level of the previous week – 488 thousand, while the net inflow decreased from 40 thousand to 22 thousand, according to the State Border Guard Service on Facebook.
According to the data, the flow of entry decreased by 3.4% – from 264 thousand to 255 thousand, while the flow of exit increased by 4% – from 224 thousand to 233 thousand.
The number of vehicles crossing the checkpoints this week increased from 122,000 to 127,000, while the flow of vehicles carrying humanitarian aid decreased from 546 to 625.
According to the State Border Guard Service, as of 12:00 on Saturday, the queue to leave the border with Poland was only at the Ustyluh checkpoint – 20 cars, on the border with Slovakia at the Uzhhorod and Maly Berezny checkpoints – 25 and 10 cars, respectively, while on the border with Hungary at the Tisa and Vylok checkpoints – 15 and 10 cars, respectively.
The total number of people crossing the border this week in 2025 is slightly higher than last year’s: 238 thousand people left Ukraine and 234 thousand entered during the same seven days, with a traffic flow of 116 thousand. But last year, Easter was celebrated on March 31 (Western rite) and May 5 (Eastern rite), while this year the celebration falls on one day – April 20, and an increase in passenger traffic is expected.
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. In total, from the end of September 2022 to the first anniversary of the full-scale war, it reached 223 thousand people.
In 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 in the third year – by 187 thousand, and since the beginning of the fourth year, a small net inflow of 3 thousand has been recorded.
As Deputy Economy Minister Serhiy Sobolev noted in early March 2023, the return of every 100,000 Ukrainians home results in a 0.5% increase in GDP.
In its January inflation report, the National Bank estimated the outflow from Ukraine in 2024 at 0.5 million (0.315 million according to the State Border Guard Service). In absolute terms, the number of migrants staying abroad will increase to 6.8 million in 2024. The NBU also maintained its outflow forecast for 2025 at 0.2 million.
According to updated data from the UNHCR, the number of Ukrainian refugees in Europe as of March 20, 2025, was estimated at 6.373 million, and 6.933 million worldwide, which is 26 thousand more than as of February 19.
In Ukraine itself, according to the latest UN data, 3.665 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), including approximately 160 thousand people, were displaced from the frontline areas in the east and south between May and October 2024 due to the intensification of hostilities.
Passenger traffic across the Ukrainian border in the first week of spring, from March 1 to March 7, increased by 1.1% compared to the previous week, to 440 thousand, due to an increase in the number of people entering Ukraine.
According to the State Border Guard Service’s Facebook page, the number of exit crossings decreased from 225,000 to 222,000, while the number of entry crossings increased from 210,000 to 218,000.
The number of vehicles that crossed the checkpoints remained at 117 thousand, while the flow of vehicles with humanitarian cargo increased from 553 to 621, so the ban on the “Shlyakh” system for volunteers has not yet affected the statistics.
According to the State Border Guard Service, as of 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, there were small queues at the Uzhhorod checkpoint (15 vehicles) on the border with Slovakia, at the Ustyluh checkpoint (15 vehicles) on the border with Poland, and at the Luzhanka (20 vehicles), Vylok (10 vehicles), and Tisa (6 vehicles) checkpoints on the border with Hungary.
The total number of people crossing the border this week in 2025 is slightly higher than last year’s: 215 thousand people left and 210 thousand entered Ukraine in the same seven days, with a traffic flow of 110 thousand. Last year, passenger traffic remained at this level for another week before increasing during the spring school holidays.
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. In total, from the end of September 2022 to the first anniversary of the full-scale war, it reached 223 thousand people.
In 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 in the third year – by 187 thousand, and since the beginning of the fourth year – by another 21 thousand.
As Deputy Economy Minister Serhiy Sobolev noted in early March 2023, the return of every 100,000 Ukrainians home results in a 0.5% increase in GDP.
In its January inflation report, the National Bank estimated the outflow from Ukraine in 2024 at 0.5 million (0.315 million according to the State Border Guard Service). In absolute terms, the number of migrants staying abroad will increase to 6.8 million in 2024. The NBU also maintained its outflow forecast for 2025 at 0.2 million.
According to updated UNHCR data, the number of Ukrainian refugees in Europe as of February 19, 2025, was estimated at 6.346 million, and 6.907 million worldwide, which is 43 thousand more than as of January 16.
In Ukraine itself, according to the latest UN data, 3.665 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), including approximately 160 thousand people, were displaced from the frontline areas in the east and south between May and October 2024 due to the intensification of hostilities.
Passenger traffic across the Ukrainian border in the week of December 21-27 increased by another 12.5% compared to the previous week, to 657,000, primarily due to a sharp increase on the weekend before Christmas, when it reached 133-136,000 people per day.
According to the State Border Guard Service’s Facebook page, the number of outbound crossings increased from 294,000 to 325,000, while the number of inbound crossings increased from 290,000 to 332,000.
At the same time, the number of vehicles crossing the checkpoints decreased from 134 thousand to 117 thousand over the week, while the flow of vehicles with humanitarian cargo decreased from 633 to 471.
“We would like to draw the attention of citizens crossing the border at Krakovets, Uhryniv and Rava-Ruska checkpoints. There is a certain accumulation of vehicles leaving Ukraine,” the State Border Guard Service said on Sunday.
On the border with Poland, as of 18:00, there were queues at the checkpoints Krakovets (80 cars), Ustyluh (65), Uhryniv (30) and Rava-Ruska (10).
On the border with Hungary, the longest queue is at Tisa checkpoint – 15 cars, while Luzhanka has 10, Kosyno and Vylok – 5 cars each.
At the Maly Berezny checkpoint on the border with Slovakia, 25 cars have accumulated, while at the Uzhhorod checkpoint, 6 buses have accumulated.
The total number of people crossing the border in the fourth week of winter this year is higher than last year’s: 280 thousand people left Ukraine and 302 thousand entered during the same seven days, with a traffic of 110 thousand cars.
Last year, passenger traffic decreased by 3.6% during this week, while the following week it dropped by another 18.4%.
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 has increased by another 191 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 is expected to increase to 6.8 million this year.
According to updated UNHCR data, the number of Ukrainian refugees in Europe was estimated at 6.254 million as of December 16 this year, and 6.814 million in the world in general, which is 28 thousand more than as of November 18 this year.
In Ukraine, 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.
