The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted Resolution No. 1130, which launches a new road crossing point on the state border with Romania — 'Bila Tserkva — Sighetu Marmației' in Zakarpattia Oblast. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a government document. The decision takes effect under conditions in which the country's border infrastructure is regularly targeted by strikes from the Russian Federation, making the opening of additional routes both a logistical and an infrastructural step.
What the resolution provides for
The new crossing point will operate using temporary infrastructure. Movement of passenger vehicles with a maximum permissible mass of up to 3.5 tonnes is permitted through it. The checkpoint will have a permanent operating mode and function around the clock. Until construction is completed, the facility will operate within the construction site of the 'Construction of an international crossing point on the Ukrainian–Romanian state border between the settlements of Bila Tserkva (Ukraine) and Sighetu Marmației (Romania), with access roads to the road border bridge in Zakarpattia Oblast.'
Organizational details and throughput capacity
The administrations of the State Border Guard Service and the State Customs Service have been instructed to ensure the operation of the relevant units at the new international crossing point. According to several Ukrainian media outlets, the estimated throughput capacity of the new route across the Tisza River is approximately 700 vehicles per day, which will help relieve existing directions in Zakarpattia and provide an alternative 24-hour exit for small- and medium-category passenger transport.
Context: Russian strikes on border infrastructure
The launch of the new checkpoint comes against the backdrop of a series of Russian attacks on border facilities. According to the State Border Guard Service, all crossing points on Ukraine's state border are operating in normal mode, including those that had previously come under fire. On the night of September 9, the international crossing point 'Starkozaie' on the border with Moldova was attacked by strike drones — there are fatalities and injuries. The 'Orlivka' checkpoint on the border with Romania was also attacked, causing the point to temporarily suspend operations. On the morning of September 13, Russian occupiers struck a gas station and a passenger train at 'Yahodyn' station in Volyn Oblast, when the train was approximately two kilometres from the border with Poland.
Neighbors' reaction and the significance of the route
In connection with the incident in Volyn Oblast, Poland is tightening security at crossing points on the border with Ukraine: the 18th Pontoon-Bridge Regiment will reinforce the guard of posts and infrastructure near the border. In this situation, the opening of the new 24-hour route 'Bila Tserkva — Sighetu Marmației' on temporary infrastructure is seen as a measure to diversify passenger transport and reduce the load on individual border nodes that have been subjected to targeted strikes in recent weeks.
