Government bans Ukrainians from leaving country for tourism purposes

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a resolution banning Ukrainians from leaving the country for tourism purposes from March 24. The ban applies to passenger transportation.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal wrote this on his Facebook page following an extraordinary government meeting on March 23.

"From tomorrow [March 24] from 12:00 citizens are forbidden to leave Ukraine for tourism purposes. Activities of all airports, except for Boryspil, will be suspended. Exceptions will include the measures of state necessity in line with certain resolutions by respective ministries,” he wrote.

Shmyhal has added that the decision is unpopular and inconvenient, but due to the coronavirus spreads, “we need to tighten restrictive measures”.

As Ukrinform reported, the Cabinet of Ministers on March 14 approved a resolution to temporarily ban foreigners from entering Ukraine and closed the international passenger service. The temporary ban on entry into the territory of Ukraine for foreign nationals came into force on March 16, 2020 and will last by April 3, 2020. From March 17, 2020 to April 3, 2020, the border crossing points across the state border of Ukraine will be closed for air, rail and bus passenger transportation.

As of the morning of March 24, 84 COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Ukraine, including three lethal cases.

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