Queue of 100 Cars Builds Up at Krakivets Border Crossing as Ukrainians Head Abroad

Exiting Ukraine

According to Главком: Vehicle queues are growing at Ukraine’s western border with Poland, with the Krakivets checkpoint reporting a backlog of 100 cars waiting to leave the country. Other heavily congested crossings include:

• Shehyni – 60 vehicles;
• Rava-Ruska – 65 vehicles;
• Ustyluh – 95 vehicles;
• Uhryniv – 25 vehicles;
• Hrushiv – 25 vehicles;
• Nyshankovychi – 25 vehicles.

In addition, 13 buses are waiting at Krakivets and another 13 at Shehyni, while Ustyluh has one bus in line. The Smilnytsia and Nyshankovychi checkpoints remain free of traffic.

On the inbound side, 20 vehicles are waiting to enter Ukraine at Ustyluh. With the summer tourist season underway, border crossings in the western region are expected to see a significant rise in passenger traffic-this year, border guards predict an increase of up to 20%.

Checkpoint Reconstruction

In the Vinnytsia region, reconstruction of the Bronnytsia-Ungury checkpoint is ongoing, with costs exceeding 162 million Ukrainian hryvnias. On January 14, a new pedestrian crossing was opened at Uzhhorod-Vyshnie Niemecke. These infrastructure upgrades aim to improve service and capacity at the border.

The growing queues reflect a surge in Ukrainians leaving the country, likely driven by the start of the summer holiday season and increased tourism. The reconstruction of key checkpoints is a critical step toward reducing wait times and enhancing overall efficiency. The anticipated 20% rise in passenger flow underscores the urgent need for these improvements to better handle the evolving travel conditions.

As the demand for travel increases, the Ukrainian railway system is also adapting to the surge in passenger numbers. This summer, seven train routes will shift to daily service, aiming to accommodate the growing influx of travelers heading both domestically and abroad. These enhancements reflect a broader trend of rising mobility, further influenced by the ongoing reconstruction efforts at border checkpoints.