Ukraine's border is closed: citizens are not allowed to enter or leave the country due to a malfunction

Due to a large-scale failure at customs, Ukraine has temporarily suspended the operation of checkpoints: citizens cannot enter or leave the country. According to the State Border Service, technical problems arose after an attack on the energy infrastructure. Find out when passage across the Ukrainian border will resume

Legal advice for Ukrainians

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As of 16:30, checkpoints are operating as usual! The system failure has been fixed, according to border guards.

Passage operations have been temporarily suspended at the Ukrainian border. At the moment, citizens cannot enter or leave the country. This is due to a large-scale failure in the customs system. This was reported by the State Border Service of Ukraine.

If you live in one of the EU countries and are unsure how to extend your status, you can consult with migration lawyers at Visit Ukraine. They will help you with paperwork, status verification, and preparation for transitioning to another type of permit after 2027.

Border failure: details

The reason for the suspension of work at border crossing points on the state border was a failure in the customs database.

‘In this regard, the registration of citizens and vehicles entering and leaving Ukraine is temporarily suspended,’ the statement said.

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Traffic jams at the border

The collapse at the Ukrainian border has caused huge traffic jams. Online reports say that in the Odesa region alone, 400 cars and 30 buses are stuck at the checkpoint.

When will border crossings resume operations?

Customs authorities clarify that the disruption at border crossings was caused by enemy attacks

‘The reason for the suspension of operations at border crossings was a technical failure in the power supply following large-scale enemy shelling of energy facilities,’ the statement said.

Specialists are already working to eliminate the consequences of the attack. The checkpoints will resume normal operation in the near future.

Ukrainians who plan to remain in the EU after 2027 should prepare their documents in advance and check their rights. This can be done conveniently with the support of legal experts at Visit Ukraine, who advise on legalization, work, study, and family reunification in Europe.

Reminder! The launch of the Entry-Exit System (EES) on 12 October was the most significant change at EU borders in recent years. The new rules are designed to improve security and migration control, but the first few days have been chaotic — especially for Ukrainians crossing the border with Poland. Queues, glitches and unprepared infrastructure have shown that the system needs refinement. Find out how the EES works now and what travellers can expect.

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