Pulemets & Tamašowka Border Crossing

A Closed Gateway to the Shatsk Lakes

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 Tamašowka with Pulemets in Ukraine was a secondary, local checkpoint situated in a unique and beautiful landscape of lakes and forests. It is located at the tripoint where Belarus, Ukraine, and Poland meet, a remote corner of the historic Polesie region. This was not a major transit corridor but a quiet crossing that served the local communities and tourists heading to the scenic Shatsk Lakes in Ukraine. To cross here was to take a journey into a land of pristine nature, a tranquil passage through one of the most ecologically important regions in Eastern Europe.

Operational Details

This checkpoint connected the Brest Region of Belarus with the Volyn Oblast of Ukraine. It was a smaller crossing with limited daylight hours and was intended primarily for passenger cars and local traffic. Its location was its defining feature, providing the most direct access from Belarus to the Shatsk National Natural Park. The crossing itself was a simple, low-key facility, in keeping with its rural and natural surroundings.

Before Crossing

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A History of the Polesie Region

The history of this region is that of Polesie, a vast, marshy, and forested lowland that has historically been a distinct cultural and geographic entity. It has been part of Kievan Rus’, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the Russian Empire. The borders drawn in the 20th century divided this region between Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine. The Tamašowka-Pulemets crossing was a link between the Belarusian and Ukrainian parts of Polesie. The area is known for its traditional wooden architecture and the unique dialects and culture of the Poleshuk people. The crossing is near the Bug River, which forms the nearby Poland-Ukraine and Poland-Belarus borders.

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 Belarusian checkpoint at Tamašowka. This involved checks by border guards and customs officials. They would then proceed to the Ukrainian entry checkpoint at Pulemets for inspection by the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service. A valid passport and vehicle documents, including international insurance (Green Card), were required. As a small, local crossing, the process was generally much faster and more personal than at the major international posts.

The Shatsk Lakes National Park

The primary attraction for travelers using this route was the Shatsk National Natural Park in Ukraine. This park contains over 30 lakes, the largest and most famous of which is Lake Svitiaz, the deepest lake in Ukraine. The area is a hugely popular destination for summer holidays, offering swimming, boating, fishing, and camping in a beautiful pine forest setting. The crossing at Pulemets was the main entry point for Belarusian tourists heading to the lakes. On the Belarusian side, the crossing is in a quiet agricultural and forested region. The nearest major city is Brest, but the immediate area is very rural. The crossing was part of the “Polesian Meridian” tourist route.

Closure Due to War

The closure of this crossing was an immediate consequence of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Belarus’s role as a staging ground for Russian forces made the entire Belarus-Ukraine border a frontline and a high-risk security zone. All border crossings were immediately closed to general traffic, and the area became heavily militarized.

Final Considerations

The Tamašowka–Pulemets border crossing was once a peaceful gateway to a region of outstanding natural beauty. It was a beloved route for summer vacationers and nature lovers, a symbol of the cross-border tourism that connected the people of Belarus and Ukraine. Today, it is a silent and heavily secured point on a closed and hostile frontier. Its story is a tragic casualty of the war, a transformation from a place of leisure and natural beauty to a line in a conflict zone. The quiet road to the lakes is now a dead end, a poignant reminder of the peace that has been lost.