Border-crossings in west Ukraine decrease - Interior Ministry

KYIV. March 12 (Interfax-Ukraine) - Nearly 75,000 people left Ukraine through its western border on March 11, the country's Interior Ministry stated on Saturday.

That route was used by more than 94,000 people and over 14,000 transport vehicles on the previous day. A majority, around 49,000 people, crossed into Poland, it said. "Accumulations of pedestrians, cars and passenger buses there have been minimal," the statement said.

Also on Friday, "over 18,000 people arrived in Ukraine, almost 15,000 of them Ukrainians, mainly male. Over the past 16 days, around 220,000 of our fellow citizens have returned to Ukraine," the ministry said.

To cross into the European Union citizens are encouraged to use Ukraine's border with Hungary, Slovakia and Romania, and also with Moldova, it said.