Code of conduct at the border during air raid alerts and queue status in "eCherga"

Border guards' reaction to an air raid alert

In the event of an air raid alert being declared in the area of a border crossing point, the processing of citizens and vehicles is immediately suspended. The primary priority at such a moment is the safety of people. Border guards initiate the evacuation process to move travellers out of potentially dangerous zones and prevent them from gathering in one place.

Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, noted that it is not advisable to remain in a car and wait for the alert to end. Citizens should strictly follow the instructions of the staff and move to safer locations. If the alert catches a driver while still approaching the border, they must leave the vehicle and seek shelter. This can be done using existing shelters nearby, or natural obstacles and concrete structures, if the safety of the situation permits.

Status of shelters and infrastructure at the border

The establishment of protective structures at border crossing points remains an important issue. According to the SBGS representative, responsibility for the infrastructure is shared among several agencies, while local authorities are responsible for the adjacent territories.

Work is currently underway to increase the number of shelters directly at border crossing points and in their vicinity. International partners are planned to be involved in this process. Meanwhile, safe zones are already functioning in some border areas. They were created primarily for control service employees, but can also accommodate a limited number of civilians who find themselves at the border crossing point during an attack.

Is the place in "eCherga" retained during a suspension?

Drivers are particularly interested in the status of their place in the "eCherga" electronic queue in the event of a border crossing point suspension. The administration of this system is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Development of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure, so the operating rules are determined by this agency.

As a general rule, during a prolonged suspension of a border crossing point, the formed queue is retained, and its movement resumes after the threat has passed. If necessary, a driver has the opportunity to re-register at another border crossing point through the same system. However, the exact procedure for retaining a place may depend on the specific operating algorithms of the service, so it is recommended to check the current terms before travelling.

Factors affecting the duration of the crossing

The SBGS emphasises that on the Ukrainian side, processing procedures are carried out as quickly as possible. However, the total time to cross the border also depends on the speed of operations of the neighbouring state. Even after the completion of Ukrainian control, a vehicle will not be able to proceed further if the border crossing point on the other side of the border is not ready to accept it.

Andrii Demchenko added that Ukraine's European neighbours also react to security threats. In particular, the Polish side is implementing mechanisms that allow for the rapid dispersal of people during air raid alerts and to prevent dangerous congestion in the neutral zone.

Travellers are advised to monitor official communications from border services, familiarise themselves in advance with the operating rules of "eCherga", and unconditionally follow the instructions of the staff during an alert.

It was previously mentioned that constant air raid alerts, explosions, and lack of sleep can cause anxiety, irritability, and emotional exhaustion even in those who have lived under war conditions for a long time. Psychologists advise limiting continuous news consumption, finding time for sleep and rest, maintaining contact with loved ones, and focusing on what can be controlled. If anxiety interferes with sleeping, working, or performing daily tasks, it is worth seeking professional help.