Despite tensions, people commute between Russian Kaliningrad and Lithuania

At Panemunė, one of two operating border checkpoints between Lithuania and Russia, around 150 people cross the border daily, either commuting to work or visiting family members, border guards say.

“Most of those crossing are Lithuanian citizens, including individuals with dual citizenship – both Lithuanian and Russian. Then come citizens of the Russian Federation, followed by residents of the Republic of Latvia, and occasionally a few from Estonia,” said Laimonas Pocius, deputy head of the Pagėgiai border guards.

Only pedestrians are allowed to cross at the Panemunė checkpoint, as vehicle traffic was suspended in April 2022 at Russia’s initiative, citing repairs to the bridge separating the two countries. The town of Panemunė is now littered with left-behind vehicles bearing Lithuanian and Latvian number plates.

Pedestrians cross by foot and then take taxis, buses, or rent cars on the other side.

Valentin, who lives in Kaliningrad, said he was travelling through Lithuania on his way to Spain. “I’m an engineer. I’m heading to work in Spain now – I work for three months, then spend a month at home,” he told LRT TV.

Meanwhile, a woman from Tallinn said she was travelling to Kaliningrad to visit relatives. “I’m going to see my brother – he’s in very poor health,” she said.

Anti-tank obstacles placed on the bridge between Lithuania and Russia's Kaliningrad. | R. Rumšienė / LRT

According to border guards, they already recognise most of the regular travellers by face – people go to work in the morning and return home in the evening.

“They know the rules very well, and they’re aware that most goods fall under sanctions. They know what can and cannot be carried, and what documents are required for crossing the border,” said Pocius.

Officers of the Pagėgiai border guards, who oversee the bridge crossing, said they recorded five illegal border crossings this year.

“There were a few cases where people crossed the border by accident, and several cases involving individuals entering from the Russian Federation with specific intentions. They were detained and handed back. One of them was a Cuban citizen,” Pocius said, without elaborating.

According to the border guards, the number of people crossing the border has remained stable over the past couple of years. The other operating checkpoint on the Lithuanian-Russian border is Kybartai, which allows the movement of both people and vehicles.