Novaja Rudnia & Vystupovychi Border Crossing

A Closed Gateway on the Edge of the Zone

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 Novaja Rudnia in Belarus with Vystupovychi in Ukraine was one of the three major international checkpoints between the two nations. It is situated on the M10/P28 highway, a critical north-south corridor that links St. Petersburg with Kyiv and Odesa via Belarus. This was a busy, 24/7 artery for freight and passenger traffic, but its character was also shaped by its proximity to a place of global notoriety: the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. To cross here was to travel through the heart of the Polesie region, a land of forests and marshes, but always with the knowledge that you were on the edge of a unique and somber landscape, a place where nature has reclaimed a land scarred by human disaster.

Operational Details

This checkpoint connected the Gomel Region of Belarus with the Zhytomyr Oblast of Ukraine. It was a full-service international crossing, open to all passenger cars and commercial freight. Its location on the main highway made it the most direct route for traffic moving from central Belarus, including the major city of Gomel, towards the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. The facility was large and designed to handle a high volume of traffic, with separate lanes and processing areas for cars and trucks, reflecting its importance as a primary channel for trade and travel between the two populous regions.

A History Shaped by Nuclear Disaster

The history of this route is tied to its strategic position as the main road between Gomel and Kyiv. The area is part of the historic Polesie region. The most significant historical event to shape the modern character of this region was the Chornobyl nuclear disaster in 1986. The Vystupovychi checkpoint is located just west of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. The border area on both the Belarusian and Ukrainian sides was heavily affected by radioactive fallout. In response, Belarus established its own Polesie State Radioecological Reserve, an almost 2,200-square-kilometer area adjacent to the Ukrainian zone, from which the population was evacuated. This has turned the surrounding region into one of the largest wilderness experiments in Europe, a place where wildlife, including wolves, lynx, and Przewalski’s horses, has returned and thrived in the absence of humans.

Former Border Procedure

The border crossing procedure, when it was operational, was a standard two-part process. Travelers would first complete exit formalities at the large Belarusian checkpoint at Novaja Rudnia. This involved checks by border guards and customs officials. They would then proceed to the Ukrainian entry checkpoint at Vystupovychi for a full inspection by the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service. A valid passport and vehicle documents, including international insurance (Green Card), were required. As a major freight corridor, the crossing was often congested, and queues, especially for trucks, were a common feature. Passenger cars could also experience significant delays, particularly during peak travel times, making it a crossing that required a degree of patience from all who used it.

The Surrounding Region

The surrounding region is a mix of dense forests, extensive marshes, and agricultural land. On the Belarusian side, the crossing is near the town of Yelsk. The major city of Gomel, with its beautiful palace and park ensemble on the banks of the Sozh River, is further to the northeast. On the Ukrainian side, the crossing is the gateway to the Zhytomyr Oblast. The nearest major city is Ovruch, a historic town with ancient churches. The road from the border is the main route south to Kyiv. The proximity of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone is the dominant feature of the region, and while the main road is safe for transit, the area is a place of profound historical and ecological significance, attracting scientists, researchers, and, in recent years, a specific type of tourist.

Closure Due to War

The closure of the Novaja Rudnia-Vystupovychi crossing was an immediate and direct consequence of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The crossing was on one of the main axes of advance for Russian forces moving south from Belarus towards Kyiv. The area saw intense fighting in the early days of the invasion as Ukrainian forces defended the route. The entire border was immediately sealed by Ukraine, and the region became a heavily militarized and fortified frontline, with roads mined and bridges destroyed to prevent any further incursion.

Final Considerations

The Novaja Rudnia–Vystupovychi border crossing was once a vital economic and social artery, the main highway between two major Slavic cities. Its proximity to the Chornobyl zone gave it a unique and somber context. Today, it stands silent and fortified, a casualty of a brutal war. Its closure has severed a critical trade route and a path that connected millions of people. The empty highway, once filled with trucks and cars, is now a stark symbol of the conflict, a road that leads not to a neighboring capital, but to a hostile and dangerous frontier, a place where the ghosts of one disaster now coexist with the harsh reality of another.