Zelenskyi assigned to complete the checkpoint in Zakarpattia and deal with the lines of cars at other points
photo: Office of the President
The Uzhhorod-Vyšné Nemecké international automobile border crossing point on the Ukrainian-Slovak border is to be included in the BigBud program and finally completed next year.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyi set this task during a working trip to the Zakarpattia region.
Returning to Ukraine from Slovakia through the Uzhhorod-Vyšné Nemecké checkpoint where the president was on an official visit, Zelenskyi noticed long lines of trucks. The President expressed outrage at the situation at the border.
Serhii Deineko, the head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, reported to Zelenskyi that the lines were caused by a broken scanner at the checkpoint on the Slovak side, and now the checkpoint's capacity has dropped to five trucks per hour.
Zelenskyi called the situation unacceptable because drivers have to stand at the border for several days.
"I do not understand why such issues cannot be resolved. We have people standing at the border for six days," he said.
Deineko noted that the State Border Guard Service has already involved the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to resolve the vehicle congestion at the border. The Foreign Minister said that he had discussed the transport passage with the Slovak Foreign Minister.
The President ordered the government and relevant agencies to resolve the issue of car lines at all Ukrainian checkpoints where observed.
"You can get information on lines from ambassadors of all neighboring countries," the head of state said.
Zelenskyi also pointed out that it's not the first time we raise the reconstruction issue at the Uzhhorod-Vyšné Nemecké international border crossing point. He stressed that the checkpoint should be included in the BigBud construction program and finally completed.
Deputy Head of the Office of the President Kyrylo Tymoshenko noted that the reconstruction project, which had been developed earlier, could be used as a basis for speeding up work at the checkpoint.
It involves restoring existing buildings, constructing a box for in-depth inspection, pedestrian crossing, video surveillance, and weighing systems. They need UAH 146.7 million to complete the work. The scheduled date for completing the facility in full and commissioning is December 2021.
Zelenskyi added that the reconstruction project should provide for an increase in the checkpoint's capacity.
