Nievieĺ & Prykladniki Border Crossing

A Closed River 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 Nievieĺ with Prykladniki in Ukraine was a unique and seasonal checkpoint. It was not a bridge but a pontoon or ferry crossing over the Pripyat River, one of the largest and wildest rivers in Eastern Europe. This was a crossing that was deeply connected to the rhythms of nature, operating only during the warmer months when the river was navigable and the temporary bridge could be safely deployed. It served the remote, sparsely populated communities of the deep Polesie region, a land of immense forests and impenetrable marshes. To cross here was to experience the border at its most rustic and elemental.

Operational Details

This checkpoint connected the Brest Region of Belarus with the Rivne Oblast of Ukraine. It was a very minor, seasonal crossing, intended only for local residents, pedestrians, and perhaps very light vehicles. Its operation was entirely dependent on the weather and the river conditions. The deployment of the pontoon bridge was an annual event, a vital link for the summer months that disappeared with the coming of winter ice. Its purpose was purely to facilitate local life in one of the most remote and inaccessible parts of the border.

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 Nievieĺ-Prykladniki crossing was one of the most basic but essential links that helped to mitigate this division for the people living in the heart of the Pripyat marshes.

Former Border Procedure

The border crossing procedure, when it was operational, was a very simple and informal affair. It would have involved small checkpoints on either bank of the river, staffed by border guards during the operational season. Travelers, likely on foot, by bicycle, or perhaps in a small car, would have had their documents checked before being allowed to cross the pontoon bridge. It was a border crossing at its most human and least intimidating scale, a world away from the massive international terminals.

The Surrounding Region

The surrounding area is one of the wildest and most pristine natural landscapes in Europe. The Pripyat River and its vast floodplain create a huge network of wetlands, marshes, and forests, teeming with wildlife. This is a region that appeals to the most adventurous nature lovers, birdwatchers, and those seeking to experience a landscape that has changed little for centuries. The nearest town of any significance on the Belarusian side is Pinsk, and on the Ukrainian side, the town of Zarichne. The entire area is deeply rural, with traditional wooden architecture and a way of life that is still closely tied to the land and the river.

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 simple pontoon bridge at Nievieĺ-Prykladniki was removed, and the river became a hard, impassable military barrier.

Final Considerations

The Nievieĺ–Prykladniki border crossing was a small, seasonal link that was nonetheless vital for the isolated communities of the deep Polesie. It was a testament to a way of life governed by the seasons and the river. Its closure is a tragic but necessary consequence of the war. The place where a simple pontoon once connected neighbors is now a fortified and closed border. It is a poignant symbol of how major geopolitical conflicts can extinguish even the smallest, most fundamental human connections, turning a shared river into a dividing line of conflict.