The Ukrainian Embassy in Moldova has issued a notice advising those traveling to the “temporarily occupied territories” in Ukraine to follow a set of rules. In particular, the Crimean peninsula must be entered and exited through official Ukrainian checkpoints only, and travel is allowed only for a limited number of purposes, IPN reports.
The advisory says that automobiles must pass through the checkpoints Kalanchak, Chaplynka and Chongar; and trains must cross through Kherson, Melitopol, Vadim and Novoaleksejevka. At the checkpoint, foreigners must produce a valid passport and a special permit issued by the Ukrainian Migration Service.
Such permits are issued to those who intend to visit relatives either living or buried in the temporarily occupied territories; to those who own real property there; to those who travel frequently there for job-related purposes; to journalists; and to those who have “religious interests” related to those territories. Special permits are not issued for tourist purposes.
The Embassy warns that the failure to observe the rules may entail penalties. A number of foreign politicians and artists, as well as sailors engaged in illicit transportation, have already been barred from entering the region for breaking these rules.
