For many Ukrainians in 2025, the issue of crossing the state border remains relevant. Someone returns home after a long stay abroad, someone goes to their relatives, someone is forced to leave a dangerous region not for the first time. More than two years of full-scale war have shaped a special type of traveler—not a tourist, not a worker, but a refugee who acts under the pressure of circumstances. That is why the choice of exit route is not a matter of comfort or speed, but often of safety, endurance, and resources. In this text, we consider the realities of five main destinations — Poland, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary — taking into account the needs of Ukrainian refugees, not ordinary travelers.
Border with Moldova
For refugees from the south of Ukraine — Odesa, partly Mykolaiv region — the Moldovan direction was and remains quieter, less congested and more efficient. Checkpoints in this section are rarely fully loaded. The crossing often takes 15 minutes to an hour. The point “Mayaki – Palanka – Udobne” is the most active, through which both cars and pedestrians pass.
The disadvantage is a weaker transport network. If you are traveling without a car, it is more difficult to get to the checkpoint than to the western border. Also, in some areas, Moldova does not accept pedestrians, and there are often no buses to the checkpoint itself. But there are no queues, and no one sits in a car for 6 hours, waiting for a permit.
In 2025, Moldova still accepts Ukrainians on humanitarian grounds, although the support programs there are not as large-scale as in Poland or Germany. If you need to leave without fuss, this direction is worth paying attention to.
Polish border
Most of the refugees who left Ukraine in 2022 crossed the border with Poland. This direction is still the main departure point. A developed infrastructure works in its favor – numerous checkpoints, the presence of a pedestrian crossing (for example, Shegyny – Medyka), bus and rail connections, and the presence of assistance centers from Polish NGOs.
However, the main problem is queues. On holidays, weekends, before major Orthodox and Catholic events, queues stretch for 5–10 hours. Buses stand at the entrances to checkpoints, passengers with small children are forced to wait for hours without being able to get out, especially in winter or summer. You can cross the border on foot, but the queue is no less than in transport. Delays happen even on weekdays. For people with weak health, for parents with babies, this route is psychologically and physically exhausting.
If you have to go through Poland, it is best to leave early in the morning on Tuesday or Wednesday. It is worth checking online information about the state of queues on the website of the State Border Service of Ukraine.
Border with Slovakia
Slovakia maintains a humanitarian friendly position towards Ukrainian refugees. The checkpoint “Uzhgorod – Vyshnye Niemetske” operates continuously, and the queues here are not as massive as in the western or southern direction. A pedestrian lane is available. For residents of Uzhhorod, Mukachevo, and Irshava, this is the most convenient option.
On the Slovakian side, there are aid stations, and there are buses that take you to Košice or Pryašev. In 2025, this infrastructure is partially preserved, although the flow of Ukrainians has significantly decreased. Here you don’t have to stand for 6 hours and look for a volunteer with tea – everything is calm and clear.
Border with Romania
Unlike Poland, the Romanian border does not feel such pressure. The most famous point is “Porubne – Siret”. The infrastructure here is better than on the southern border, volunteers work, there are hot drinks, temporary shelters, convenient crossings.
It is important to take into account that not all points on the border with Romania have a pedestrian lane. If you plan to leave on foot, you need to find out in advance where this is allowed. For example, “Dyakivtsi – Radautsi-Prut” is a road crossing without a pedestrian zone.
The advantage of the Romanian direction is flexibility. For refugees from Bukovyna, Halychyna or even Kyiv region, this may be a more logical option than the long road to the Polish border. Queues are shorter here, especially on weekdays.
The border with Hungary
The border with Hungary, in particular through “Chop-Zachon” or “Berehove-Beregdarots”, works smoothly and without congestion. The problem is the lack of volunteer support and assistance. If you don’t have your own transport or a precise plan, this direction is less convenient.
Points often do not accept pedestrians. Transport infrastructure on the Ukrainian side is limited. But if you have a car, this is one of the fastest options.
Hungary is not a leader among the countries that provided assistance to Ukrainians after 2022, but access to the EU through its territory remains.
What you must pay attention to before departure
When going abroad in 2025, even for the first time, you should have a complete set of documents: passport (Ukrainian and foreign), documents for the child, birth certificate (if one of the parents is leaving), medical certificates, confirmation of vaccinations (some countries still have relevant rules), confirmation of status (temporary protection, registration in the reception system).
If you are traveling by car, check the technical condition, car documents, Green Card insurance. If you are on foot or by bus, stock up on water, food, medicine, blankets or sleeping mats. It is also worth having cash in euros or zlotys with you in case of interruptions in the operation of ATMs near the checkpoint.
For a Ukrainian refugee, the border is not a line on a map, but a psychological barrier, transportation difficulty and vital choice at the same time. When choosing a route, you should not only look at the map, but also take into account the state of health, the presence of children, the amount of luggage and readiness for the unexpected. In 2025, humanitarian mobility remains critical — and choosing the right path can ease your way into a new phase of life.
