The Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting (IER) conducted an online survey of Ukrainians about their experience of crossing the state border when entering Ukraine in the spring of 2025.
The purpose of the study was to find out how much time citizens spend on border procedures, as well as to assess the level of organization of the process of crossing through Ukrainian and foreign checkpoints.
The results(http://tfdialogue.ier.com.ua/archives/7810) show that most respondents crossed the border quite quickly. In particular, 64.7% reported that waiting in front of a Ukrainian checkpoint lasted no more than 30 minutes. It took about the same amount of time to get to the checkpoint.
At foreign checkpoints, there was a wide variation in the experience of crossing the border. Thus, 49% of respondents said they had waited in line for up to 30 minutes, but at the same time, almost one in five respondents (19.6%) had been in line for more than three hours.
The organization of the state border crossing process on the Ukrainian side received higher marks than on the foreign side. The average level of satisfaction with the actions of Ukrainian services was 3.9 points on a five-point scale, with 43% of respondents giving their experience the highest rating.
By comparison, foreign checkpoints received an average score of 3.5 points, with only 21% of respondents giving the maximum 5 points.
This result is largely due to the systematic modernization of customs control procedures and the introduction of modern technological solutions.
In particular, Ukrainian customs officers are increasingly using the latest scanners and other modern control tools. This allows not only to speed up the inspection process, but also to maintain its effectiveness even in the face of existing security challenges.
Please note that due to the seasonal increase in the number of travelers, waiting times at checkpoints in the summer may exceed the figures recorded in the spring of 2025. For our part, we are doing everything possible to ensure that the border crossing process remains fast, convenient and comfortable for citizens – regardless of the circumstances.
All checkpoints on the Ukrainian-Polish border were unblocked on Sunday night, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Mykola Solsky said.
“We express our gratitude to the Polish Ministry for their constructive work on unblocking the border, as well as to the industry associations of both countries. The ongoing negotiations were not easy, but the main thing is that we have a result,” the press service of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy quoted him as saying at the online talks on Monday.
According to the report, negotiations between the ministries and associations will continue. The parties agreed to exchange monthly figures on the transit of agricultural products to monitor the situation.
The next meeting of the agriculture ministers of Ukraine and Poland is scheduled for May 7. They will discuss the terms of cooperation between the agricultural sectors of the two countries in the summer.
Polish farmers have resumed blocking the Korchova-Krakovets and Medyka-Shehyni checkpoints, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported on its Telegram channel on Thursday morning.
“The protesters on the territory of Poland took such actions today after 09:00. In the direction of the Krakovets checkpoint, the movement of trucks heading towards Ukraine is restricted, and in the direction of Shehyni – both exiting and entering Poland. According to available information, the protesters plan to block traffic in Krakowiec until 9:00 a.m. on April 20, and in Shehynia until 9:00 a.m. on April 19,” the statement said.
According to the border guard agency, on Thursday morning, about 1,500 trucks are waiting in queues in Poland in these directions to cross into Ukraine. No complications are expected for the movement of cars and buses.
Free Wi-Fi will appear at checkpoints on the western border, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine said.
“The secure network can already be used by travelers who cross “Shehyni”. Before the end of April, Wi-Fi zones will appear in more checkpoints “Krakivets”, “Rava-Russkaya”, “Yagodin”, “Porubnoe”, “Krasnoilsk” and “Dyakivtsy”, – said in a message of the State Border Service of Ukraine in Telegram-channel on Wednesday.
The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine warns of possible technical interruptions in the work of checkpoints on the border with Poland, Slovakia and Hungary on March 7 from 8:00 to 22:00.
“On March 7, 2023 from 8:00 to 22:00 there may be technical interruptions in the passage of passengers at the border. Information systems used in border control at external borders will be updated,” such announcement was posted on the official page of the State Border Service on Monday with a request to take this information into account when planning a trip.
Interruptions are possible in the work of checkpoints on the border with the European Union and Moldova, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine has warned.
“Due to enemy shelling and damage to critical infrastructure facilities in western Ukraine, there may be interruptions in the operation of checkpoints on the border with the EU and Moldova,” the State Border Guard Service said in the Telegram channel on Monday.
