More than 300 heavy-duty trucks have accumulated in traffic jams on the border of Russia and Ukraine at checkpoints leading to the territory of the Rostov region, RIA Novosti reported , citing a representative of the Southern Customs Administration (YUT) of the Russian Federal Customs Service (FCS).

He explained the congestion by saying that some carriers were not ready for the new border crossing rules.

In total, according to him, since Thursday morning, 204 trucks have accumulated in front of the Novoshakhtinsk checkpoint, waiting to enter Russia, at the Veselo-Voznesenka checkpoint of the Taganrog customs - 157, at the Matveev-Kurgan checkpoint - more than 40. During the day, only a few dozen heavy trucks were able to cross border.

The Federal Customs Service on Thursday promised to soon restore capacity on the Russian-Ukrainian border, which was disrupted due to the cancellation of international road transport (TIR) books for southern Russia. “Capacity will be restored in the near future,” the department said in a press release.

On October 28, YTU began to implement in its region the requirements of the Federal Customs Service of Russia to cancel the validity of international road transport (TIR) books. Previously, information about the new standards was covered in the media and conveyed to participants in foreign economic activity, primarily carriers. The UTU representative explained that at the time of the introduction of new requirements, many foreign carriers who had issued TIR Carnets in the countries of departure were already on their way and, having arrived at the checkpoints, were not ready to provide security at the border when processing transit. It was these first cars that created the traffic jam. More trained carriers were simply physically unable to move forward and cross the border.

To speed up the processing of procedures, UTU suggests going to the customs and logistics terminals located near the border.

The Ministry of Revenue and Duties of Ukraine on Thursday said that Russia did not notify Ukraine in advance about changes in the rules for the transportation of goods, and asked the Federal Customs Service to clarify the situation.

On September 14, the Federal Customs Service changed the procedure for using TIR Carnets on the territory of Russia - they will no longer be used as security for customs payments, as provided for by the International Customs Convention. Security for payment can be provided in cash, a bank guarantee, a surety or a pledge of property. And measures to ensure compliance with customs transit will be applied to each transportation of goods through the transit zone.

Currently, all countries that have signed the convention (there are 68 of them) use a simplified procedure for transporting goods and providing guarantees using a TIR book with tear-off coupons. When crossing borders, such a coupon is a financial guarantee of payment of all customs duties. In Russia, the Association of International Road Carriers (ASMAP) serves as the guarantor.

More than 300 trucks have accumulated on the border of Russia and Ukraine