Since the beginning of the year, more than 22,500 people have passed the biometric control when crossing the Ukrainian border, of which almost 15,500 are citizens of the Russian Federation, the assistant to the head of the State Border Service of Ukraine Oleh Slobodian has said.

"More than 22,500 people have passed biometric control since the beginning of the year. This is the citizens of 70 countries that, according to the decision of the NSDC [National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine], must undergo biometric control. Out of 22,500 almost 15,500 are citizens of the Russian Federation," he said on 112.Ukraine TV on Saturday, January 6.

Slobodian said that the database of biometric control has just begun to be filled. Therefore, it is premature to link the fact that citizens of other countries are not allowed to Ukraine with its functioning.

According to the State Border Guard Service, the biometric control system works efficiently, "no serious problems have been noted."