Ukraine reopens 66 border crossings with E.U., Moldova

Ukraine reopened 60
of its border crossings with neighboring E.U. countries to vehicular, rail and
pedestrian traffic as of midnight, May 29, the State Border Service confirmed,
as reported by the pravda.com.ua news site. Letters about the decision have
been sent to inform neighbors, who decide independently and separately as to
whether to reopen mutually, the service said. Another six crossings (two rail
and four vehicular) were opened with Moldova, which responded with a mutual
reopening, the service confirmed this morning. Fifty-six crossings remain
closed with Russia and Belarus. The decision was based on a cabinet resolution
on relaxing quarantine restrictions issued on May 20.

Ukraine is still
restricting its citizens traveling to London to those who have British
permanent residency, the eurointegration.com.ua news site reported on May 28,
citing a Facebook post on the British Embassy that indicated such requirements
for a June 3 SkyUp flight. The embassy also announced that its visa center in
Kyiv will reopen as of June 1. The embassy reported similar restrictions in the
past, drawing denials from PM Shmyhal, who insisted overseas travel was open to
all those legally able to do so.

An estimated 429 new
coronavirus infections were reported in Ukraine on May 28, Health Minister
Maksym Stepanov reported the same day, as reported by the pravda.com.ua news
site. Of the 429 new cases, 66 were medical workers (or 15.4%). Ten died on the
same day and 495 recoveries were confirmed.

Zenon Zawada: The Ukrainian government is
gradually reopening international travel, which is necessary to satisfy the
economic needs of citizens, which can’t be satisfied domestically. Ye the
flight restrictions that are apparently continuing (as reported by the British
Embassy) are highly unpopular, especially denials from the prime minister that
they don’t exist. Some measure of normalcy will be achieved on June 15, when
much of air travel will be renewed. Otherwise, the coronavirus situation in
Ukraine has been stabilized, and renewed travel will ease economic-related
tensions.