Slovakia reports 82% surge in illegal border crossings from Ukraine

Tibor Gašpar, Chairman of the Committee on Defence and Security of the National Council (Parliament) of Slovakia, has highlighted a concerning trend of heightened illegal border crossings between Slovakia and Ukraine.

Gašpar attributes this surge to Ukrainian citizens' reactions to their country's newly enacted mobilization law, TASS reports.

Gašpar revealed that since the beginning of the year, Slovakia has witnessed an alarming 82% increase in cases of illegal border crossings compared to previous periods., according to pravda.sk.

He specified that approximately 300 illegal refugees attempted to cross from Ukraine into Slovakia through unspecified locations.

The chairman emphasized the need to address the underlying causes behind this surge in illegal crossings, particularly in light of Ukraine's mobilization law. He expressed concerns that Ukrainians of the conscription age might attempt to flee their country out of fear of being mobilized for military service.

Gašpar hinted at potential strategies to assist Ukraine in managing the situation, suggesting that discussions are underway to facilitate the return of some Ukrainian citizens to their homeland.

However, he cautioned that the threat of increased illegal border crossings persists, posing challenges for both Slovakia and neighbouring European states.