--- title: "Ukraine introduces special border regime in one-kilometer zone along borders with Russia and Belarus" description: "Ukraine has introduced a special border regime in a one-kilometer zone along the borders with Russia and Belarus: free presence of people and unauthorized work are prohibited. The restrictions remain in effect until the end of martial law." date: 2026-09-12T20:32:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukraine-special-border-regime-kilometer-zone-russia-belarus-border tags: [ukraine, border-regime, gbss, russia, belarus, martial-law, lithuania, security] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Ukraine introduces special border regime in one-kilometer zone along borders with Russia and Belarus ![Border guards in camouflage with a dog and ballistic shield at a checkpoint in the border zone](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/12/ukraina-specialnyy-pogranichnyy-rezhim-kilometrovaya-polosa-granitsa-rf-belarus/ukraina-specialnyy-pogranichnyy-rezhim-kilometrovaya-polosa-granitsa-rf-belarus-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - The SBGS introduced a special border regime in a one-kilometer zone along the borders with Russia and Belarus - The zone prohibits free presence of people and any work not related to defending the state - The restrictions are temporary and apply only during martial law - The decision is justified by the risk of reconnaissance and sabotage activities from Belarusian territory 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 β€” 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. ## πŸ” Fact-Check Verification - [What you can no longer do at the border with Russia and Belarus: SBGS explanations](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/shcho-teper-mozhna-robiti-bilya-kordonu-rf-1789244759.html) - ΠžΡ„ΠΈΡ†ΠΈΠ°Π»ΡŒΠ½ΠΎΠ΅ Ρ€Π°Π·ΡŠΡΡΠ½Π΅Π½ΠΈΠ΅ ГНБУ ΠΎ Π²Π²Π΅Π΄Π΅Π½ΠΈΠΈ ΡΠΏΠ΅Ρ†ΠΈΠ°Π»ΡŒΠ½ΠΎΠ³ΠΎ ΠΏΠΎΠ³Ρ€Π°Π½ΠΈΡ‡Π½ΠΎΠ³ΠΎ Ρ€Π΅ΠΆΠΈΠΌΠ° Π² ΠΊΠΈΠ»ΠΎΠΌΠ΅Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΎΠ²ΠΎΠΉ полосС. Π£ΠΊΠ°Π·Π°Π½Ρ‹ ΠΊΠΎΠ½ΠΊΡ€Π΅Ρ‚Π½Ρ‹Π΅ ограничСния, ΠΈΡ… обоснованиС ΠΈ Π²Ρ€Π΅ΠΌΠ΅Π½Π½Ρ‹ΠΉ Ρ…Π°Ρ€Π°ΠΊΡ‚Π΅Ρ€. ΠšΠΎΠ½Ρ‚Π΅ΠΊΡΡ‚Π½Ρ‹Π΅ Π΄Π°Π½Π½Ρ‹Π΅ ΠΎ Π›ΠΈΡ‚Π²Π΅ ΠΈ заявлСниях Каллас Ρ‚Π°ΠΊΠΆΠ΅ ΠΏΡ€ΠΈΠ²Π΅Π΄Π΅Π½Ρ‹ Π² ΠΌΠ°Ρ‚Π΅Ρ€ΠΈΠ°Π»Π΅. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: What is prohibited in the one-kilometer zone along Ukraine's border with Russia and Belarus? **A:** Within the one-kilometer zone, the free entry, presence, residence, and movement of persons are prohibited, as is any work not related to repelling armed aggression, defending the state, or guarding the border. ### Q: How long will the special border regime remain in effect? **A:** The restrictions are temporary and apply only for as long as the legal regime of martial law remains in force on the territory of Ukraine. Once it is lifted, the regime will be terminated. ### Q: Why did the SBGS introduce this regime? **A:** The border service explains the decision by the need to strengthen defense capabilities amid Russian aggression, as well as the risk of Belarusian territory being used for reconnaissance and sabotage activities and to destabilize the border region. ### Q: Do the restrictions apply to all land plots in the zone? **A:** Yes, the SBGS confirmed that the restrictions apply to all land plots within the one-kilometer zone along the state border line.