“Yampil–Cosăuți” added to the list of border crossing points: Ukraine and Moldova formalize a strategic corridor across the Dniester

On April 10, 2026, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted a resolution supplementing the list of international crossing points on the Ukrainian-Moldovan state border with the road border crossing point “Yampil–Cosăuți.” This is an important step in the development of new cross-border infrastructure intended to strengthen transport connectivity between Ukraine and Moldova and create an additional logistics route toward Romania and the European Union.

The decision was announced by Taras Melnychuk, the government’s representative in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. According to him, the Cabinet approved the Protocol between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Moldova on amending the Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Moldova on crossing points across the Ukrainian-Moldovan state border and the simplified crossing procedure for citizens residing in border areas. The Protocol was signed in Kyiv on February 10, 2026.

Under the provisions of this Protocol, the list of international crossing points has been supplemented with the road crossing point “Yampil–Cosăuți” for passenger and freight road traffic, operating on a 24-hour basis after the necessary infrastructure is created.

This decision is directly linked to the prospect of constructing the strategic Yampil–Cosăuți bridge across the Dniester, which is regarded as one of the key infrastructure projects in the Ukrainian-Moldovan border area. The project envisages a bridge approximately 1.5 km long, intended to provide a direct connection between Ukraine and Moldova bypassing Transnistria, while also improving access toward Romania.

Although the implementation of the project, launched in 2022, was suspended, both sides have confirmed their intention to complete it by 2027. The estimated cost of construction is around USD 200 million. Moldova also plans to modernize the road section linking the bridge to the Chișinău–Soroca highway, which is expected to ensure the effective operation of the new transport corridor. Financing is still being sought, but the project is already considered critically important for both countries.

Comment by the Institute of Danube Research 

The inclusion of “Yampil–Cosăuți” in the official intergovernmental list should be viewed not merely as a technical or procedural decision, but as part of a broader strategy aimed at reconfiguring regional mobility and strengthening the transport security of Ukraine and Moldova. Under current conditions, new border crossings and alternative routes are of particular importance, as they reduce infrastructure vulnerability, diversify connectivity channels, and create preconditions for deeper economic integration with the European space.

For Ukraine, this project is important in the context of developing reserve logistics routes in the south-western and central directions. For Moldova, it offers an opportunity to strengthen transport connectivity with its eastern neighbor and expand its own transit role. At the same time, the real strategic value of this decision will depend on the ability of both parties to move from regulatory formalization to practical implementation: completing the design phase, mobilizing financial resources, synchronizing road infrastructure on both sides of the border, and ensuring the timely construction of the bridge itself.

In a broader regional dimension, “Yampil–Cosăuți” may become an important element of a new network of land and cross-border routes between Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania, complementing existing transport axes and strengthening the resilience of the entire Eastern European border area.