Following the peak pressure at the end of 2025, border operations stabilized in January: traffic flows normalized, and delays were mostly technical or localized in nature. The primary focus shifted inward – toward refining procedures, modernizing infrastructure, and strengthening institutional capacity across customs and border agencies.
Within the customs system, competitions for leadership positions continued, while the border guard service updated its senior management. On the operational side, improvements were made to the eQueue system, data exchange protocols were fine-tuned, and coordination with neighboring countries’ border authorities was enhanced. Most congestion at border crossing points was due to ongoing technical work or temporary restrictions on the adjacent side.
At the policy level, legislative priorities were outlined across the road, maritime, and inland waterway transport sectors. The rollout of digital ECMT permits (European Conference of Ministers of Transport) advanced steadily. This international system allows freight carriers to transit multiple member countries using a single permit, thereby simplifying logistics, reducing administrative burdens on businesses, and promoting Ukraine’s integration into the European transport network. Investment planning for seaport infrastructure also remained in focus.
A dedicated section of the digest highlights the results of the EU4IBM-Resilience project. It outlines progress in risk management, inter-agency coordination, and the implementation of modern border management approaches. These developments are already becoming embedded in the daily operations of Ukraine’s IBM institutions.
