Border queues over 4 hours: how 'єЧерга' can restore time and dignity to millions of passengers
Spending several hours at the border is not just an inconvenience. It means lost working hours, additional costs, and a challenge to national mobility. We examine the results of the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development’s survey and the steps that could change the situation.
By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik
March 6, 2026 · 2 min read
The gist
A survey by the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development, with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and funding from the EU, showed: the average international bus trip from Ukraine lasts 24 hours 25 minutes, of which passengers spend over 4 hours at the border. Border procedures themselves take up to 2 hours — the remaining time is spent waiting in line.
By the numbers
The study covered 542 passengers who have traveled by bus from Ukraine abroad since June 2025. Over the year the average trip duration fell from 30.8 to 24.4 hours, and the average waiting time at the border decreased from 7.1 to 4.7 hours — but inconveniences remain significant.
Most popular destinations: Poland — 34% of trips, Moldova and Germany — 12% each. Overall, more than half of trips are to neighboring countries.
Main issues passengers highlight
The biggest obstacle for 28% of respondents was long queues. Other problems include comfort on buses (toilets are absent or not working in 47% of cases) and the quality of infrastructure at crossing points: 47% rated it "good" or "excellent", 29% — "satisfactory", and 22% — "poor" or "very poor".
"We deliberately build transport policy based on data, not assumptions. The reform of international bus transport is not about rules for carriers. It is about comfort, predictability and decent travel conditions for millions of Ukrainians."
— Serhii Derkach, Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development
Solutions on the table
Seventy percent of respondents support introducing an electronic queue system at border crossing points. The Ministry plans to use the survey results as a basis for developing the «єЧерга» system, modernizing border infrastructure and raising service standards. Support from IOM and the EU provides technical and financial capacity for pilot projects and scaling solutions.
What it means for people and the country
Shorter waits mean convenience for millions of passengers, but also a direct economic effect: less lost work time, fewer extra costs for carriers and passengers, and easier access to labor markets and services abroad. In wartime, reliable citizen mobility is part of national resilience.
Short outlook
Improvements are already noticeable, but systemic change requires coordination between border guards, local authorities, carriers and international partners. Whether «єЧерга» can cut waiting times by a few more hours depends on the speed of implementation, technical readiness and funding. This is a practical test of the state's ability to turn data into results for people.
