Donetsk, Jul 1 – DAN. DPR authorities are working out alternative plans for DPR residents to cross the contact line, said DPR Foreign Minister Natalia Nikonorova.

Checkpoints at the contact line closed in March after the coronavirus pandemic came into light. Later a humanitarian corridor was opened at the Elenovka-Novotroitsk checkpoint, but it was closed soon after the epidemic situation in Ukraine worsened.

"Realizing the urgent need for restoring rights of the residents who found themselves in difficult circumstances DPR authorities are working out alternative plans for DPR residents to cross the contact line safely in terms of epidemic, as Kiev has not coordinated such mechanisms," the statement reads.

The DPR currently keeps lists of residents who have requested travel clearance siting urgent need.

"After all the applications and related documents are reviewed the anti-epidemic HQ decides on whether to put an applicant on the list. The crossing of the contact line into the DPR will be allowed for people on the list soon, after the decision on opening the humanitarian corridor is adopted."

There are currently four checkpoints for pedestrian and motor traffic between Ukraine and the Donetsk People’s Republic: Elenovka-Novotroitsk (southwest of Donetsk, southern direction), Mayorsk-Mayorskoye (outside Gorlovka, northern direction), Oktyabr-Gnutovo (DPR south, southern direction) and Aleksandrovka-Maryinka (west of Donetsk, western direction), though they remain closed in connection with COVID-19 spread.*ot