The Ukrainian Border Has Turned into a Sieve

The US military began building US Naval operational center in Ukraine. Between Kherson and Odessa, just 150 km from Crimea, it appears, there will be a US military base. Officially for joint exercises with Ukraine, which has no fleet of such a size.

The US military began building US Naval operational center in Ukraine. Between Kherson and Odessa, just 150 km from Crimea, it appears, there will be a US military base.

Officially for joint exercises with Ukraine, which has no fleet of such a size. But no one hides the fact that plans for such a base, but only in Crimea, were planned by the US long before the referendum in the peninsula and Maidan in Kiev. Back then they even picked one of the Sevastopol schools as the headquarters.

At the same time, Ukrainian State Border Service at the end of the week announced a new strengthening of the borders with Russia, Moldova, and Belarus. Now, based on the European model. Border posts will be built every 15-20 km, now the distance between checkpoints is from 30-100 km.

Moreover, in the western sections, with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania, nothing will change. The current Ukrainian authorities have already tried to isolate themselves from the eastern neighbors. $4 million for Yatsenyuk's "Wall' project was plundered. Even Ukra-patriot, Savchenko, called the project last week, a grill for BBQ. However, no matter how the Ukrainian authorities try to close the border or make visas for Russians, it is impossible to break off kinship ties. And it's used by those who earn on the illegal crossing of this border, which can't be strengthened.

Our correspondent, Elena Erofeeva, whose entry Kiev closed for three years, found out that this ban can be easily overcome. Yes, we went to Kharkov, bought shoes and clothes there, and now everything is closed to us. Zhuravlyov residents have not traveled there for many years, although it can be seen from the outskirts without binoculars. Maria Petrovna calls herself a hutsul, she is from Ivano-Frankovsk, but in Russia for 35 years. She pronounces her maiden name emphatically with a stressed "heck." Her mother lives there and sisters, but like this they have not seen each other for a long time. They don't come here, she's afraid to go there.

 

The child is small, 5 years old. If a child there speaks Russian...you know what the situation in Ukraine is now. Kiev is trying. First, it introduced foreign passports for Russian citizens, closed simplified crossings, and continuing to build the wall. This is the Ukrainian side, which put up its border.

The grandiose project of the former Ukrainian Prime Minister, Yatsenyuk, named "The European Wall." Some of the wire was removed and sold as metal. State budget money, almost $4 million, was stolen. You know, there is such a principle, divide and rule, and God's is unite and reign, so the further we separate, the worse it will be for us. The ghost of the Russian threat walks through the offices of Bankova and Grushevsky. But at the frontier checkpoints it's not seen, there are always people there. They go to see relatives, on a visit, on business. — Hello! Where are you coming from? — From Zaporozhye. Ukrainians still go to Crimea.

At the checkpoint, leaflets are distributed from that side. Such people stood there and handed out leaflets. My God. -So people don't go to Crimea? -Yes. I am in shock, myself. But how could she not go, if her youngest son is in Yalta, and they hadn't met for a year. But the Ukrainian border guards are making it difficult, they keep cars at the checkpoint for several hours on purpose. A huge kilometer long traffic jam tires with waiting. We stood for quite a long time at the Ukrainian customs, 6 hours. No matter how long the lines are and how they are let through, people will still go on vacation.

Under the scorching sun, when the temperature is almost 105°F, with young children and huge bags, people walk across the border on foot. Previously, buses and trains were going to Crimea, but Kiev canceled them too. We need to negotiate somehow, solve problems. Regular people are suffering because of this. From Kiev to Russia, not all buses have been canceled. Almost every hour from the bus station routes to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Volgograd leave. These are the only legal routes. Express, without stops and off-routes. And the border? I'm interested in the border. It's normal, quick. Give bribes and go on.

From Moscow from the Kotelniki metro every evening a "shuttle bus" to the "intersection" leave, this is what Ukrainians call a conditional crossing of the border. When 90 days of their allowed stay in Russia expire, they must leave the country. Masha has been riding like this for 10 years already. I must go to Ukraine, so that I get a stamp that I left. And later, in order to again to go to Russia, I need to give them 4000. This is Matlab, he's in charge here. Speaking with him, I mention that in the passport there is a three-year ban on entry into Ukraine. He proposes to solve this problem. We join to the game. -They asked for money. Five thousand ($84). — Five thousand? Yes. -Hryvna or rubles? -Rubles. -In order to go through? -Yes. In the cab of the seven-seater Mazda we find ourselves with the operator, a married couple, a pensioner, Sergei from Zaporozhye, he is going to Moscow to his beloved woman, and realtor Maroussia, from Zakarpattya. Right now is half past four in the morning, we arrived at the Russian-Ukrainian border. As promised, a guide must meet us there, but, unfortunately, no one met us.

Our fellow travelers, Maria and Sergei are already there, getting stamps to return to Russia. They return in an hour and a half with new immigration cards. Ukrainians take the money. They love bribes. Victor is one of those guides who promises to quickly get to the other side of the border. There must be an invitation, we don't have it. But this can also be solved. — Five. — Five? Yes, only for him. His passport is clean. I understand. Let him try it himself, but they will send him back. With my banned one it's also possible, but more difficult, either illegally by forest trails, or my spouse can give my passport to the right person in Ukraine. There is a person in Glukhov who can solve your problem. But it will cost decent money. — Decent, how much is that? — Well, I don’t know, I think $500, not less. — 500 dollars? For my passport? — Yes, to remove you from the computer. We return by train "Odessa-Moscow."

On the platform money changers offer hryvna for rubles. Traders offer Odessa tourists the first Russian souvenirs, crystal and plush toys. Russia's capital is 5 hours away. The menu of the Odessa train dining car is all in Ukrainian, the prices are indicated in hryvna. Cuisine is international: shish kebab, baked salmon, buckwheat porridge. From the national, only borscht and Kiev cutlets.

An old train, the cars are rusty. In the open wagon there are no empty seats, in the compartment there are several upper beds. And it's like this every day. Some are going to work, others returning from their relatives. From Kiev, from Ivano-Frankovsk, and from Zhitomir. But at the same time from Moscow, from Belarus, anywhere you want! Everyone is resting, everyone is interacting.

There are only 8 Ukrainian trains to Russia left. Nearest flights with transfers in Minsk or Riga, are long and expensive. Sergei Nikitsky, along with his wife, flew through Switzerland into Ukraine. They wanted to see the capital of Kievan Rus. But they weren't allowed in. We were told you came in during the wrong shift, they were against Russians during this shift. If they're in a bad mood they will deny entry, in a good mood, please come in. Life depends on the mood of the government every day. Kiev again started talking about a visa regime with Russia, they say, there is nothing for Ukrainians to do there at all. The wall of enmity grows, while the leaky wall of Yatsenyuk can't even be called a barbecue grill. Just a sieve.