Who does Belarus border with?
The longest state border is with the Russian Federation. Its length is about 1280 km. The remaining countries bordering Belarus are Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania and Latvia.
In second place is the border separating Belarus and Ukraine. Length - 1084 km. Belarus borders on the EU states from the west and north. Thus, with the Republic of Poland its length is 398 km. Its length with the former republics of the USSR is: with Lithuania - 678 km; with Latvia - 173 km. The total land border of the Republic of Belarus is 2969 km. The country has no access to the sea.
Modern borders were actually established in 1964 on the basis of a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, which determined the size of the territory of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic.
The states with which Belarus borders recognize their borders and have no territorial claims.
Russian-Belarusian border
It was formed from the moment Belarus and Russia acquired the status of separate and independent states. Until 1991, it was a conditional dividing line between the union republics of the Soviet Union. Now this border does not have any border crossing points or any checkpoints. In fact, it exists formally. There are no customs barriers. Of the total 1239 km of this border, it runs on land for 857 km. Along river beds, its length is 362 km. 19 km - along the lakes. Elements of border control on the Belarusian-Russian border were introduced in February 2021 by the Russian Federation. Russia created a border zone to ensure the security of the country.
Large Russian cities bordering Belarus: Velikie Luki, Smolensk, Roslavl, Bryansk. Among the small border settlements are Nevel, Sebezh, Rudnya, Velezh, Klintsy, Surazh.
On the Russian side, the regions bordering Belarus are Pskov, Smolensk, Bryansk.
Also inside the Republic of Belarus, Russia owns the Medvezhye-Sankovo enclave with an area of 4.5 square kilometers.
With most of the states with which Belarus borders, checkpoints have been identified within the framework of the Decree of the President of the Republic of May 10, 2006.
How to get to Russia for a Belarusian: we studied the options
The story of restrictions on the movement of Belarusians and Russians within the Union State began in mid-March 2021. Then Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin ordered a partial closure of the country’s external border to “prevent the spread of coronavirus.” This measure also affected Belarusians.
But less than two weeks later, Russia still allowed citizens of Belarus - close relatives of Russians - to enter the country. On June 1, 2020, employees of large Belarusian companies were allowed to travel to Russia.
The real “thaw” came in February 2021. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed documents on the resumption of railway communication with Belarus, as well as an increase in the number of flights to Minsk.
What has changed since then? How can Belarusians get to Russia?
Trains from Belarus to Russia
On February 8, 2021, passenger rail service with Belarus was resumed on a reciprocal basis.
So, train No. 2 Minsk-Moscow was the first to cross the border. It departs from Minsk on even dates (departure at 22:10, arrival at 8:13), and from Moscow on odd dates (departure at 22:13, arrival at 7:26). The train makes several stops for boarding or disembarking passengers at Orsha-Tsentralnaya, Smolensk and Vyazma stations. And starting from Tuesday, April 13, it will run daily.
The Yantar train Kaliningrad - Moscow began running daily on February 21; on Belarusian territory it makes stops in Minsk and Orsha. The train arrives from Kaliningrad to Minsk at 00:23 and departs for Moscow at 00:37. On the way back, the train leaves at 4:41 in the Belarusian capital and leaves for Kaliningrad at 4:55.
Train 080Ч Kaliningrad – St. Petersburg runs twice a week. The route runs through the northern part of Belarus. The train makes a stop in Vitebsk at 7:47.
From April 13, train No. 52/51 Brest – Minsk – St. Petersburg will resume service. Departure from Brest is at 14:30 (from Minsk - at 18:44), and arrival in St. Petersburg is at 7:55. Departure from St. Petersburg is at 18:23, arrival in Minsk is at 7:15, and in Brest at 11:56.
Also from this date, train No. 4/3 Moscow – Brest will begin running. He will leave the city above the Bug at 17:37 and arrive in the Russian capital at 6:53. It will depart back from Moscow at 22:17 and arrive in Brest at 10:31. It will run every other day.
The Gomel – Adler train is being resumed. It will depart on its first voyage on April 27. It is expected to run once every four days.
The train will depart from Minsk at 12:20 (from Gomel - at 17:40) and arrive in Adler two days later at 12:32. It will depart back on April 29 at 16:08 and arrive in Gomel on May 1 at 12:30, in the Belarusian capital at 17:09.
The Belarusian Railways noted that for now only citizens of Belarus and Russia will be able to buy train tickets.
Important: You must wear a protective mask the entire time you travel.
Sputnik has already written about ticket prices.
Planes from Belarus to Russia
Previously, Russia accepted flights from Belarus only through Domodedovo Airport; since January, 20 Russian air checkpoints have been available to Belarusians.
And this is the easiest, fastest way. But it is important to understand - and the most expensive.
As of March 10, Belavia operates seven flights a week in the Russian Federation - five to Moscow (except Tuesdays and Saturdays) and one each week to St. Petersburg and Rostov.
The airline also increased the frequency of flights on the Moscow-Minsk route from three to five per week. In addition to flights on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, flights on this route are also operated on Tuesdays and Fridays.
On March 31, Utair resumed flights Moscow - Minsk - Moscow; in the future it is planned to operate them on Wednesdays: from Moscow (Vnukovo Airport) the flight will depart at 11:30, from Minsk - at 12:30.
In addition, from April 2, Belavia resumed flights to Kaliningrad: the plane will fly on this route once a week on Fridays, departure from Minsk at 8:30 Minsk time, due to the difference in time zones, you will also arrive in Kaliningrad at 8: 30 – already local time.
Air traffic between Minsk and Nizhny Novgorod will resume on April 11. Flights from Minsk are on Sundays at 00:25, landing in Nizhny at 02:20.
From April 13, the Belarusian air carrier flies to Kazan again: flights will operate from Minsk on Tuesdays at 23:50 (arrival at destination airport at 02:10 local time).
The closer to the departure date you buy a ticket, the more expensive it will cost. And the price of a flight can be several times higher than travel by rail - even when compared with SV, let alone a reserved seat.
PCR test is required
Belarusians can travel to Russia only if they have negative coronavirus tests. Good news: you do not need to serve quarantine.
But there are difficulties with the test. Firstly, it is valid for travel for 72 hours from the date the results are issued.
And secondly, passing it is not so easy: you need to sign up for the laboratory in advance. Both public and private clinics are testing for coronavirus in Belarus.
For those traveling by plane, there is another option: you can take the test at the National Airport. True, there are limitations. First, you need to have your airline tickets or boarding pass in hand. Testing will then be available for both departing and arriving travelers. Secondly, only 34 people can take a PCR test for coronavirus at the same time.
Testing is performed 3 times a day according to the schedule: at 9:50, 12:30 and 15:10. The results are issued in paper form in English.
Flight passengers are required to fill out arrival forms and present them at the checkpoint. The result of the PCR test is presented upon check-in for the flight at the airport.
You can also download a certificate about the PCR test into the “Travel without COVID-19” mobile application. This application also finds the nearest medical institutions where you can get tested for coronavirus before traveling.
By bus or car - not options for everyone
Two large carrier companies have destinations to Russia. Today Ecolines and Intercars buses travel from Minsk to Moscow.
The ticket price is fixed – 50 Belarusian rubles.
True, be it a bus or a car, not all Belarusians can enter the territory of Russia by road.
Those Belarusians who travel to Russia through automobile checkpoints due to the death of a close relative have this right. Belarusians whose spouses, parents, children, adoptive parents, or adopted children are Russian citizens are also allowed to enter the Russian Federation. Those citizens of Belarus who are engaged in highly skilled labor in the Russian Federation, as well as those who are sent for treatment, can enter by bus or by car.
More precisely, the entire list of categories of Belarusians who can enter the Russian Federation is presented on the website of the border service of the FSB of Russia.
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Belarusian-Ukrainian border
Its length is 1084 km. It starts from the junction of the states with the Republic of Poland in the west. And it ends in the east, at the triple junction with the Russian Federation.
The state border line was established by an agreement between these former Soviet republics of the USSR dated May 12, 1997. It received state status even earlier, in June 1993.
Until 2021, this border existed only nominally. It was free to cross. However, after it was simultaneously broken through by 200 violators from the Ukrainian side, the border on the Belarusian side began to be equipped with engineering barriers. Protective measures have been seriously strengthened.
Belarusian-Polish border
Has the status of a state border. Its length with the Republic of Poland is almost 399 km. In the north it begins at the triple junction with Lithuania and extends in the south to the border with Ukraine. It is legally defined as the border of the union state of Belarus and Russia with the European Union. Along its entire length it is equipped with engineering protection systems. Security is carried out by the Border Service of the Republic of Belarus.
13 checkpoints have been established with Poland. Of these: 4 – railway; 6 – automobile; 3 - simplified checkpoints.
Currently, work is underway to create another automobile checkpoint.
Is it possible to travel to Belarus by train now?
By order of the Russian government, railway traffic between Russia and Belarus resumed on February 8, 2021. The number of flights to Minsk from Moscow is increasing, flights from St. Petersburg and Rostov-on-Don are being resumed.
On February 3, Mikhail Mishustin signed a decree according to which the railway communication between Belarus and Russia, interrupted due to the pandemic, will be resumed on February 8, 2021 on a reciprocal basis. The order also talks about the resumption of air traffic with Azerbaijan and Armenia
The trains will run on the routes Moscow – Minsk – Moscow and Moscow – Kaliningrad, Kaliningrad – St. Petersburg via Minsk.
