Belarus–Ukraine border

The border is situated in a geographic region of Polesia (Polesian Lowland) that stretches approximately from Western Bug to Dnieper along Prypiat River (just to the south of it). It is part of bigger East European Plain and known for its Pripet Marshes[3] (or Pinsk Marshes).

The west end of the border starts at Western Bug around the area of lakes of Shatsk and runs eastward across the Pinsk Marshes. Further it stretches parallel to Pripyat River some distance south from it passing densely wooded areas that were contaminated after the Chernobyl disaster. The border passes Pripyat just to the north of Pripyat city and then also turns southeast as the river and continues to run parallel to it. As the border reaches Dnieper, it turns north towards Homiel and runs along the river. At the midpoint between Homiel and a town of Ripky, the border turns and again runs eastward towards Central Russian Upland for about 100 km (62 mi) where it terminates at triple junction point with Russian border.

Sign at Ilmivka checkpoint (local border traffic) written in Ukrainian and Russian

Novi Yarylovychi

The modern state of the border is dated to World War I, when the Ukrainian People's Republic appeared on the map of the world in 1918.

However, the border has historical roots. The border between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland under the Union of Lublin was similar. It corresponded to administrative border of Brest-Litovsk and Minsk voivodeship on the Lithuanian side and Kyiv Voivodeship, Volhynian, and Ruthenian voivodeships on the Polish side.

After World War I and the treaty of Riga the western portion of the border roughly coincided with administrative border of the Polesia and Volyn provinces of the interwar Polish Republic, and the eastern portion coincided with the border between the Soviet republics of Belarus and Ukraine.

At first, the border between both Soviet republics was recognized by the Treaty between the Ukrainian SSR and the Belarusian SSR from December 12, 1990.

The status of the state border with Ukraine was given by the Supreme Soviet of Belarus of 11 June 1993, but there is an international agreement between Belarus and Ukraine, in which they mutually recognize the border BSSR and USSR recognized in 1990.

To date, the border is governed by the Agreement between Belarus and Ukraine on friendship, good neighborliness and cooperation of 17 June 1995, the Treaty on the State Border between Belarus and Ukraine on 12 May 1997 in the same year was ratified by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and in 2010 the National Assembly of Belarus, but the parties still have not exchanged instruments of ratification.

According to Chairman of the State Border Committee of Belarus, Igor Raczkowski, work on border demarcation may continue for up to 10 years and require 51 billion rubles.[4]

Demarcation of the border began with the 13 November 2013 inauguration of the first border sign at the place where the borders of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia meet.[5]

Following the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, a big portion of the border lies with the so-called Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (Ukrainian side) and Polesie State Radioecological Reserve (Belarusian side). The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in Ukraine is governed by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources through its special agency. The area does not have adequate infrastructure for border crossing which is conducted in the area under special authority due to contamination. The exclusion zone has its own checkpoints. The Chernihiv–Ovruch railway runs along the border on the Ukrainian side, connecting the abandoned Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station with the city of Slavutych. The tracks cross the border twice.

Ovruch to Chernihiv Line
km South to Korosten 0.0 Ovruch North to Mazyr 6.1 Poselok 12.0 Hrezlia 13.8 Husarivka 22.8 Nyvky 30.5 Tychkiv 33.3 Racha 40.5 Vilkhova Exclusion zone 44.4 Vilcha 52.0 Pavlovichi 57.0 Klivini 63.0 Tovstyi Lys 71.0 Krasnytsa 76.0 Buriakivka 79.0 Shepelychi 87.0 Yaniv (in Pripyat) To Chernobyl Plant "Bridge of Death" To Chernobyl Plant 91.1 Semikhody Pripyat River 97.0 Zimovishche 105.0 Masheve Exclusion zone Ukraine Belarus 109.0 Posudovo 113.0 Kolyban 118.1 Kaporenka Radioecological Reserve 122.7 Iolcha Dnieper River Belarus Ukraine 131.1 Nedanchychi 135.1 Poselok Lesnoi 139.7 Slavutych 145.6 Demeyka 150.3 Maleyke 0.0 Zhidinichi 13.2 Karkhivka 157.1 20.2 Zhukotki 160.9 Levkovichi 168.1 Belous 173.9 Chernihiv Pidusivka 174.6 Chernihiv Post 175 Km North to Gomel 175.5 Chernihiv South to Kyiv

Iolcha train station

Pishcha border crossing

Checkpoints in bold have international status.

• Schematic map of the Southwestern Railway. Southwestern Railway website.
• Schematic map of the Lviv Railway. Lviv Railway website.
• List of border checkpoints. State Border Service of Ukraine website.