Ukraine begins reopening border crossings after temporary customs database malfunction

According to the State Migration Service, processing of citizens and vehicles for entry to and exit from Ukraine has resumed. The agency said it will provide further updates when full border capacity is restored.

Earlier, around 1:40 p.m., the State Border Guard Service reported a temporary halt of border crossings due to a technical failure in the customs database.

The disruption was caused by a power outage following a Russian strike on energy infrastructure.

Since Oct. 12, a new automated IT system for registering third-country nationals — including Ukrainians who are not EU or Schengen members — traveling for short stays, called EES, has been operational in Europe.

According to the State Border Guard Service, first-time entrants to the Schengen zone undergo extended registration, which includes a facial photograph and four fingerprint scans.

Queues were reported at Ukrainian border crossings following the introduction of the new EES system.