Poland Open to Joint Ukrainian Border Checks on Its Territory, but No Decision Made
Poland is ready to allow joint border controls with Ukraine on Polish territory if security conditions require them, but Warsaw has not approved a decision. The proposed mechanism would involve both countries’ services, require coordination with the European Commission under Schengen rules, and could help maintain traffic while protecting personnel from Russian attacks.
Key points
- Poland has not decided whether to introduce joint border controls with Ukraine on its territory
- Any such arrangement would require notification of the European Commission because Poland is in the Schengen Area
- Ukraine’s Ministry of Restoration, Infrastructure and Transport is negotiating an agreement allowing Ukrainian border services to work on the Polish side
- Ukrainian services could not independently conduct border checks under current rules for Schengen states
- Joint controls could keep traffic moving if Ukrainian border infrastructure is damaged and reduce risks to personnel
- A shell fired during Russian attacks hit a bus and dispatch booth near Ukraine’s Palanka-Maiaky-Udobne crossing with Moldova on October 5, prompting its suspension
- Poland expects its border crossings could also come under Russian attack
Why it matters
The proposal would shift part of the Ukraine-Poland border-control process to Polish territory, affecting traffic, queue management and border-crossing conditions for people and goods. It also frames border infrastructure as a security concern directly exposed to Russian attacks. Because Poland belongs to the Schengen Area, the EU would need to be notified before the arrangement could be implemented.
What happened
Poland said it is willing to introduce joint border controls with Ukraine on Polish territory if the security situation requires them, but no decision has yet been made. Ukraine’s Ministry of Restoration, Infrastructure and Transport is negotiating with Poland on an agreement that would allow Ukrainian border services to operate on the Polish side. Under the proposed mechanism, Ukrainian and Polish services would conduct checks jointly on Polish territory. This could allow traffic to continue if infrastructure on the Ukrainian side is destroyed and protect personnel from Russian attacks near border crossings. The issue was discussed during a working meeting of Polish and Ukrainian delegations at the Yahodyn-Dorohusk crossing. Poland’s Interior Ministry said the existing rules do not allow personnel from a third country to independently conduct border control on Schengen territory, including document and goods-compliance checks.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian media emphasize the security rationale for moving checks to the Polish side and the risk of Russian strikes near crossings. They also foreground Ukraine’s negotiating role, identifying the Ministry of Restoration, Infrastructure and Transport as the Ukrainian participant in the talks and describing the proposal as joint checks on Polish territory.
Background
Poland is part of the Schengen Area, so any arrangement on its territory must comply with EU border rules. Polish officials have cited incidents near the Yahodyn-Dorohusk crossing: a Russian drone strike on September 13 that reportedly caused a filling station and trucks to burn, and a reported fall of a jet-powered drone near the crossing on September 28. Poland has designated six border crossing points for military personnel and reduced transport and pedestrian flows to allow rapid evacuation if needed.