Russia Closes 20 Border Crossings with Ukraine Starting August

The Russian government has decreed the closure of 20 border crossing points with Ukraine, effective August 1, 2025, as part of an agreement originally established in 1995. This includes 13 road and 7 railway checkpoints, some located in areas of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions that Russia occupies. Ukraine has maintained that all crossings on its border with Russia have been closed since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, and no regular crossing operations occur there. Ukrainian authorities have questioned the rationale behind Russia's announcement amid ongoing conflict, noting that some of the crossings are within territories Russia seized in 2014 and 2022. Despite the closures, Ukraine remains committed to facilitating the return of its citizens across the border. The closures reflect the continued tensions and shifting control over border areas amid the conflict between the two countries.