KIEV, December 15. /TASS/. A new entry/exit checkpoint Maryinka has been opened on the separation line in the Kurakhovo-Donetsk direction in the Donbas region, the press service of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported on Tuesday.
"The new checkpoint has been opened to stabilize the situation with the passage of citizens and to improve the traffic capacity," the agency reported.
At the same time, the press service added that in recent weeks, "the situation at the checkpoints of entry and exit on the separation line in the military operation zone has been very dynamic" — a significant increase in the passenger and transport traffic has been recorded.
Maryinka’s traffic capacity, according to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, is up to 6,000 people and 1,500 transport vehicles. "The operation of this checkpoint will significantly reduce the passenger traffic flow and queues at the other two checkpoints — Zaitsevo and Novotroitskoye in the Donetsk region.
The new checkpoint of entry and exit is located about 2 km from the separation line, its working hours are from 07:00 to 17:00 local time, the press service said.
Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service reported previously that starting from mid-October the passenger traffic through the checkpoints on the separation line in Donbas considerably intensified. "The main reason for the queues is the cessation of hostilities in the region and citizens’ intensified activity to cross the separation line. In particular, people have begun to travel more often to purchase goods and essential items, as well as to visit their relatives," the agency said.
"In order to stabilize the situation, the State Border Guard Service jointly with the Donetsk military-civil administration, the anti-terrorist operation headquarters and the anti-terrorist centre have coordinated the possibility of opening more checkpoints," the press service said. The Ukrainian State Border Guard Service has also increased the number of its personnel at checkpoints. "However, the situation is still rather dynamic at the entry and exit checkpoints on the separation line, due to the passage of individuals," the service said.
On January 21, 2015, Ukraine imposed a transport blockade on Donbas. Ukraine’s authorities introduced a special access control regime for the entry to the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk republics (DPR and LPR) and exit from them. The regime is in effect on a limited number of routes. In March, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine blocked the passage of trucks with food products to Donbas. The full transport blockade was imposed on June 18. On that day, all the roads from DPR to the Kiev-controlled territory were closed. On June 26, the blockade regime was softened and Ukraine’s authorities allowed private cars to cross the border at certain checkpoints.