Waiting in the queue at the border could take up to ten days: Danil Menshikov about how the border experienced the influx of people with the start of a full -scale war

Danil Menshikov, the then head of the Lviv Customs, tells about organizing the border crossing process for Ukrainians who fled to Poland after the war, and how it was possible to provide basic services and maintain control in the situation. On February 24, 2022, the Ukrainian-Polish border appeared three hours after the start of full-scale Russian aggression. It was across the border with Poland that most Ukrainians fled the horror of war. People up to the week could stand in queues.

Therefore, the key task was to reassure people, to establish the fastest process of crossing the border. And those who were waiting in queues to provide everything necessary as much as possible, remembered the then chief of Lviv Customs Daniel Menshikov in an exclusive interview with UNN. According to Menshikov, an hour after the first Russian missiles, bombs and shells began to break, he was in the workplace.

I understood that the situation is extraordinary, we would have to face a lot of new problems, make non -standard solutions and take responsibility for them. In particular, it was clear that large queues of people fleeing from the war would be formed on the border and had to prevent chaos. "The first people began to appear at the checkpoints about three hours. crutches or in wheelchairs. People could stand in line for up to ten days.

But they need to eat and drink, go to the toilet, wash, warm up somewhere, hide from rain and snow. which we coped. In conjunction with the Red Cross, organized tents for people, food. They provided people with hygiene products, other essentials, and many even clothing. After all, people, running away from Russian missiles and shells, simply did not have time to put bags, and when They got to the border, then they had nothing to dress, " - said Danil Menshikov. The situation was kept under control.

Although, according to the then chief of Lviv customs, there were also unpleasant moments when people had nerves. But mostly strangers always tried to help each other, support the warm words, always sought to smile and rejoice a little. "Seven babies were born on the PP during the time. When the first births occurred, I was called, reported and said that the holiday was absolutely for anyone who was at the point at that moment. I didn't believe it first.