Ukrainian govt imposes special border regime, several bans

MOSCOW. Dec 7 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian government has imposed a special border regime and banned the free entry, stay, residence and travel of individuals in the border areas.

The government made the decision at a meeting on Thursday, Ukrainian media reported, citing government envoy to the Verkhovna Rada Taras Melnichuk.

In particular, the decree imposing the border regime was amended in pursuance of the February 24, 2023 law introducing amendments to certain Ukrainian legislative acts on Ukrainian state border protection.

The amendments establish a special border regime and prohibit individuals from free entry, stay, residence, and travel in the border areas, and ban activities not associated with defending or protecting the state border within the land plots provided for permanent use to military units of the State Border Guard Service to build, develop and maintain engineering facilities, fortifications, fences, border signs, clearings, and communications.

They also set out the procedure for issuing permits for entry, stay, residence, activities and passes to the border areas.