A total of 5,799,360 citizens of Ukraine entered the EU countries during the first three months after the entry into force of the visa-free regime, from July 11 to September 11, 2017, the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine has reported, citing the figures of the Ukrainian State Border Service.

Out of these, 1,413,178 persons travelled with biometric passports, including 235,795 persons without visas (i.e. 87% of people with biometric passports travelled with visas, and 17% fully benefited from all the opportunities of visa-free travel).

According to the same statistics, the number of trips made by Ukrainians to the EU countries during the three summer months of 2017 increased by 10% compared to the same three months of 2016.

According to the report, only 61 Ukrainian nationals have been refused entry to the EU during the visa-free travel period – that is, 0.026% of the total number of visa-free travelers. The main reasons for entry denial included exceeding the duration of stay in the EU during previous trips and lack of documents confirming the purpose and conditions of stay in the EU.

"The launch of the visa-free regime is the one of the steps that are bringing Ukraine and the EU closer together. In July, the ratification of the Association Agreement was completed; on September 1, it entered into force; and lately procedures were completed for granting Ukraine new trade opportunities," reads the report.