Poland reopens two Belarus border crossings that had been closed for years

Operations at the checkpoints in Poland’s Podlaskie Voivodeship resumed after midnight. The crossing in Kuźnica had been closed for about four years because of the migration crisis created by Alexander Lukashenko’s regime. The Bobrowniki crossing had been shut for more than two and a half years in response to the conviction of Polish community activist Andrzej Poczobut in Belarus.

Even before the official reopening, a 4–5 kilometer line formed on the approaches to the Bobrowniki checkpoint.

The decision to reopen the crossings was made after lengthy discussions with local authorities and businesses. The latter had repeatedly stressed the need to reopen the border, citing “significant economic losses’’ for the region due to its closure.

Under the new rules, the Kuźnica checkpoint will accept only passenger cars, while Bobrowniki will allow passenger vehicles, buses and trucks.

Until now, only two of six crossings on the Polish-Belarusian border were operating, and during the Russia-Belarus Zapad-2025 military drills, the border was completely sealed.