Today at 01:03
New roads, sidewalks and posts for border guards and customs officers. This is the service zone at the Kalanchak entry/exit check point on the border with occupied Crimea. It was built to provide people with a comfortable crossing and government services.
“A month ago, it was difficult to cross the checkpoint with a baby carriage. Now, it is very comfortable. It’s warm, bright and cozy. At least three thousand people and 500 cars cross this checkpoint every day,” Crimean resident Oleksandr said.
The entry/exit checkpoint started operating in November. Now, it has a service zone with a bus terminal, resting places for travelers and drivers, a first-aid station and a post office, as well as a center for administrative services.
“We will start normal operations — not trials any longer. We will also issue international passports, Ukrainian identity cards and driver’s licenses. They will be printed in this room and issued immediately,” Head of Administrative Services Department of Kherson Regional State Administration, Pavlo Kulyk said.
Violetta from Crimea often flies to Israel. She has an international passport, but she said that it would be much easier to get it here.
“It’s convenient, very nice. Although I already have a international passport, it would be wonderful if they were issued here. You will not have to go to Kherson to get it,” she said.
Local officials say they have taken care of security.
“The border service ensures security at the checkpoint. Law enforcement agencies of Crimea and Kherson region are among those responsible for safety at the service centers,” Head of Kherson Regional State Administration, Yuriy Husyev said.
Ukraine spent three million dollars on the reconstruction of the entry/exit checkpoint. It was opened by Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
“The only thing that makes me sad is that one day we will have to dismantle this checkpoint, right after the liberation of Crimea. We will transfer this infrastructure to some other border. For example, with Belarus. There are places there that need to be equipped,” he said.
A service zone like this was also built at the Chonhar checkpoint.
