The State Border Service of Ukraine warned that border crossing points on the state border may temporarily cease operations during air raid alerts. This was stated by SBSU representative Andrii Demchenko on the "Kyiv 24" TV channel, according to RBC-Ukraine. According to him, the decision to suspend crossing operations is made under conditions of heightened danger posed by Russian attacks near the border.
Operating mode of crossing points: priority — threat from the air
"If there is a threat of an air strike by the enemy, if we understand that aerial assets are moving toward the state border, then during a certain period crossing operations may be temporarily suspended," Demchenko explained. Thus, this is not about a permanent closure, but about situational, temporary restrictions that are introduced during the immediate threat and lifted once it passes.
Call for citizens to disperse
Separately, the SBSU spokesperson emphasized that in such situations people need to disperse. According to his explanation, this is done to avoid the gathering of people directly at the crossing point: the concentration of citizens in one place at the moment of a possible strike multiplies the risk of casualties. Border guards, therefore, recommend not gathering at checkpoints during the alert and to comply with safety requirements.
Context: strikes near the border and Poland's position
The SBSU statement came against the backdrop of a tense situation in the border regions. On the morning of September 13, according to available data, Russian forces carried out a strike near the Ukrainian-Polish border in the Yagotyn area. Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that Poland was preparing for possible intensified Russian actions against the backdrop of attacks near the Ukrainian-Polish border, and Polish authorities expected attempts by Russia to disrupt the operation of Ukrainian crossing points. In an earlier context, the SBSU also pointed to heightened danger in the border area, which makes temporary restrictions on the crossing regime a logical step.
What this means for passengers
For citizens planning to cross the border, the key factor becomes time: crossing operations may be halted for an indefinite period during an active air raid alert. Border guards urge people to take this into account when planning trips, to monitor official SBSU messages, and not to create crowds at crossing points during periods of threat. The statement does not mention a mass or systematic permanent closure of crossing points — the emphasis is on temporary, situational suspensions.
