Photo from UNIAN

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says the Cabinet of Ministers has restricted transit through the country due to numerous abuses by foreigners who enter Ukraine for transit, but in fact remain on its territory.

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"Every tourist should be conscientious ... We have a free and democratic country, if you cross the border, you may go anywhere. Therefore, the issue is very delicate and we should realize that citizens should also behave in good faith, declaring the purpose of their entry into the country," he said at a morning TV show "Snidanok z 1+1", as reported by TSN.ua on September 3.

According to the minister, there were numerous abuses of transit via the territory of Ukraine. So, the Cabinet of Ministers on September 2 decided to limit it.

Kuleba added that transit is mostly used by citizens of Moldova and Russia, who travel home through Ukraine by car. In such cases, there will be police escorts, while transit may be extended for them.

Temporary entry ban for foreigners: background

  • On August 26, 2020, the Cabinet extended the adaptive quarantine across Ukraine until November 1.
  • Then the government imposed a temporary entry ban for foreigners from August 29 until September 28, with a number of exceptions for certain categories of foreign nationals.
  • One of such exceptions was reportedly made for Belarusian citizens due to the mounting unrest in the neighboring country.
  • Late on Thursday, August 27, the Cabinet declared that borders would be shut a day early, from midnight on August 28.
  • On September 2, the Cabinet changed entry rules for foreigners. In particular, the right to transit up to two days was removed from the list of grounds for entry of foreign nationals, while the list of Ukrainian citizens' relatives who may cross the borders was expanded.