Polish side faces queues, Russian border operations streamlined for holidays

The Kaliningrad Regional Customs Office has implemented a series of measures to streamline operations at the Mamonovo II International Automobile Border-Crossing Point on the Russia–Poland border, anticipating increased traffic from Poland during the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

Multiple media outlets report several-kilometre-long vehicle queues on the Polish side of the border. At the Grzechotki checkpoint, more than 200 vehicles are reportedly waiting at all times to enter the Kaliningrad region, with some cars experiencing delays exceeding 24 hours for inspection by Polish customs officials. No significant congestion has been observed on the Russian side, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

“During the winter holiday season, the number of people crossing the EAEU customs border along the Russia–Poland section traditionally increases. Most passenger cars pass through the Mamonovo II customs post. Many travelers use Kaliningrad’s Khrabrovo Airport as a hub for onward flights across the Russian Federation.” said Oksana Ivanova, head of the regional customs press service.

She noted that whereas previously approximately 300 vehicles from EU countries crossed the three checkpoints along the Russia–Poland and Russia–Lithuania borders daily into Kaliningrad, the figure has recently exceeded 500 vehicles per day, with the vast majority transiting through Mamonovo II.

In preparation for the seasonal surge, Denis Partomenko, head of the regional customs office, introduced measures to expedite processing for passenger buses and private vehicles. Ivanova detailed, “Additional staff have been assigned at Mamonovo II for handling individuals and passenger vehicles. Coordination has been established with the Kaliningrad Regional FSB Border Directorate for joint control of scheduled transport. A dedicated information board has been installed with customs declaration forms and examples of how to complete them, and a separate priority lane has been created for certain vehicles.”

These measures have reportedly prevented congestion and ensured smooth passage on the Russian side.

The press service also confirmed that all customs posts in the Kaliningrad region will operate on a normal schedule during the holiday and weekend period from December 31, 2025, to January 11, 2026.

By Vafa Guliyeva