Hluškavičy & Maidan Kopyshchansky Border Crossing

A Closed Industrial Crossing

Important Note for Travelers: Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and the volatile political situation with Belarus, this border crossing is closed and the entire region is a high-risk security zone. It is not operational. This guide is provided for historical and informational purposes only.

The border crossing connecting the Belarusian village of Hluškavičy with Maidan Kopyshchansky in Ukraine was a specialized checkpoint with a unique industrial purpose. Situated in a remote, heavily forested area, this crossing’s primary function was to serve the large granite quarry located at Hluškavičy. It was a route for heavy trucks transporting stone and other materials, a piece of industrial infrastructure that happened to straddle an international border. While it also served as a local crossing for residents, its character was overwhelmingly defined by the quarrying industry. To cross here was to take a journey through a landscape shaped by both nature and heavy industry.

Operational Details

This checkpoint connected the Gomel Region of Belarus with the Zhytomyr Oblast of Ukraine. It was a smaller crossing with limited daylight operating hours. Its main purpose was to facilitate the transport of granite from the Hluškavičy quarry, which is a major local employer. The road was used by a constant stream of heavy-duty trucks. It also allowed for the passage of local residents in passenger cars, providing a convenient link in this otherwise remote region.

A History of the Polesie Region

The history of this region is the history of Polesie, a vast lowland that has long been a distinct cultural and geographic zone. The people of this area, known as Poleshuks, have their own unique traditions and dialects, shaped by the forested and often waterlogged environment. The region has been part of various larger states over the centuries, but it has always retained a strong local identity. The border established in the 20th century between the Belarusian SSR and the Ukrainian SSR divided this region. The Hluškavičy-Maidan Kopyshchansky crossing was a practical solution to an economic reality: a major industrial site in Belarus that needed access to markets and transport routes in Ukraine.

Former Border Procedure

The border crossing procedure, when it was operational, was a standard two-part process, but with a focus on commercial traffic. Truck drivers would have had their cargo manifests and transport permits thoroughly checked by customs officials on both sides. Passenger cars would have undergone the standard passport and vehicle document checks. Travelers would first complete exit formalities at the Belarusian checkpoint at Hluškavičy. They would then proceed to the Ukrainian entry checkpoint at Maidan Kopyshchansky for inspection by the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service. Due to the industrial nature of the traffic, the process could be slow, even with a relatively low number of vehicles.

The Surrounding Region

The surrounding area is deeply rural and heavily forested. On the Belarusian side, the Hluškavičy granite quarry is the dominant feature of the landscape. The nearest town of any significance is Lelchytsy. On the Ukrainian side, the crossing leads into the northern part of the Zhytomyr Oblast, an area known for its forests and its history of partisan resistance during World War II. The nearest Ukrainian town is Olevsk. This entire region is part of the vast Pripyat Marshes, one of the largest wetland areas in Europe.

Closure Due to War

The closure of this crossing, like all others on the Belarus-Ukraine border, was an immediate and direct consequence of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Belarus’s complicity in the invasion turned the entire border into a hostile frontier. All checkpoints were sealed, and the area became a militarized zone. The industrial traffic from the Hluškavičy quarry came to an abrupt halt, severing a key economic link for the local Belarusian community.

Final Considerations

The Hluškavičy–Maidan Kopyshchansky border crossing was a unique example of a checkpoint that existed primarily for an industrial purpose. It was a vital economic link for the local community in Belarus, a testament to the cross-border economic interdependencies that existed before the war. Its closure is a tragic but necessary consequence of the conflict. The road that once carried heavy trucks loaded with granite now stands silent and empty, a symbol of a shattered economic relationship and a severed community lifeline.