Ukraine's State Border Guard Service (SBGS) has announced the introduction of a special border regime within a one-kilometer zone along the state border with the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing an official clarification from the border service. According to SBGS representatives, the decision is aimed at strengthening the country's defense capabilities amid ongoing Russian aggression and is intended to close legal gaps that previously allowed unrestricted presence of civilians and economic activity right at the border line.
What exactly is prohibited in the one-kilometer zone
According to the SBGS clarification, within the established one-kilometer zone along the state border line, the free entry, presence, residence, and movement of persons are prohibited. In addition, no work of any kind not directly related to repelling armed aggression against Ukraine, defending the state, or guarding the state border is permitted in this zone. Border guards emphasize that the restrictions apply to all land plots within the one-kilometer zone, regardless of their form of ownership or intended use.
Justification: threats from Belarus and Russia
The SBGS explained the need for the regime by citing specific threats. The service pointed to the risk of Belarusian territory being used to destabilize the situation in Ukraine's border regions, to carry out reconnaissance and sabotage activities, and to create direct threats to the state's national interests. These statements are supported by a number of incidents: in August 2026 alone, the Lithuanian Border Police recorded the third attempt within the month to dig a tunnel from Belarus into Lithuania, while the total number of such attempts since the beginning of the year has reached 12. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas previously accused Alexander Lukashenko of deliberately using the border as a tool of pressure on the European Union, including through the organization of illegal migration.
Temporary nature of the restrictions
The border service specifically emphasized that the new special regime is not permanent. The established restrictions are of a temporary nature and will apply only for as long as the legal regime of martial law remains in force on the territory of Ukraine. This means that upon the lifting of martial law, all restrictions in the one-kilometer zone will automatically cease to apply, and the regime of free civilian presence and economic activity will be restored as before.
Broader context: engineering measures on the EU's eastern flank
The introduction of the border regime in Ukraine is taking place against the backdrop of strengthened security engineering measures on the eastern flank of the European Union. Notably, the Lithuanian government has changed its approach to protecting the border with Belarus and Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast: the country's Cabinet of Ministers decided to form a new security zone using natural and artificial water barriers — essentially creating a marshy strip that hinders both pedestrian and mechanized crossing of the border. These measures complement the previously built fences and reflect the general trend toward multi-layered protection of the border region in the area.
