Kyiv, October 8, 2015. The opening of the first pedestrian checkpoint between Ukraine and temporarily occupied areas in Luhansk region will take place on October 10, 2015. “This is a milestone event for us in Luhansk region, where, in contrast to Donetsk region, there were no checkpoints for automobiles or pedestrians, so there was practically no contact possible with fellow citizens on the occupied territory”, informs Yuriy Klymenko, deputy Head of Luhansk Regional Military-Civil Administration at a press-briefing in Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
The pedestrian checkpoint is built over the Syversky Donets River. “The pedestrian crossover checkpoint is basically a bridge which was half ruined in the course of military activities with some metal beams put on top and a wooden construction with railing installed upon them. The bridge leads to the community of Stanytsa Luhanska”, – says Yuriy Klymenko.
As Mr. Klymenko points out, people will be able to cross the bridge by e-passes and there will be no restrictions as to who can obtain such passes. For those without passes there will be a Coordination Center with information on where the population can get the necessary consultations as well as email addresses for downloading the necessary documents. “If someone does not have a computer, he or she will have to drop printed papers in a special box. The process of obtaining passes is not too long and the instructions are explicit. All the information can be found on the SBU (Security Service of Ukraine) website”, says the deputy Head of Luhansk Regional Military-Civil Administration.
Several meters from the checkpoint on the territory of Stanytsa Luhanska there will be a station with small busses for passengers going further into Luhansk region. Some additional bus routes will bring people to Severodonetsk and Starobelsk on the occupied territory. “Concerning Stanytsa Luhanska, we will organize a service center there with migration service, pension fund, and social and legal services representatives. Among other issues there are problems with processing Ukrainian and foreign passports, Ukrainian birth or death certificates, delivery, re-calculation and processing of pensions, obtaining all sorts of bonuses and additional financial assistance as well. People will also be able to take advantage of Stanytsa Luhanska State Saving Bank, pharmacy and market services”, comments Yuriy Klymenko.
The deputy Head of Luhansk Regional Military-Civil Administration also pointed out that by the end of the year there will be two more checkpoints opened in Luhansk region. One on the commutation route Lysychansk – Gorskoye – Zolote- Pervomaysk and one more in the vicinity of the 29-th military checkpoint on Bakhmut highway.
