Assessing the Effectiveness of Modernizing Russian Border Crossing Points

Aleksandr Georgievich Pak and Anastasia Georgievna Levchenko
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Aleksandr Georgievich Pak: Russian Foreign Trade Academy, Moscow, Russia
Anastasia Georgievna Levchenko: Russian Foreign Trade Academy, Moscow, Russia

Russian Foreign Economic Journal, 2026, issue 02, 29-45

Abstract: The article assesses the effectiveness of modernizing the Russian Federation’s checkpoints (CPs) under sanctions and a fundamental reorientation of foreign trade flows to the East and South since 2022. Key challenges were identified, including: overload of CP capacities, technological backwardness of infrastructure, staff shortages, financial constraints, and the need to develop new administrative and logistical procedures (customs, sanitary-quarantine, veterinary control) adapted to work with new trading partners (PRC, Central Asian countries, India) and goods of parallel import. Despite the presence of advanced forecasting systems (e.g., the Risk Management System – RMS) and pre-notification systems in customs authorities, which in theory should mitigate peak loads, key checkpoints in practice have faced chronic overload. This indicates that the existing tools were not fully adapted to the surge in workload and the shift in its geographical structure, necessitating their modernization. The major limitation for a systemic assessment of the effectiveness of the large-scale modernization measures undertaken (NSR/INSTC “North–South” infrastructure, digitalization with e-CMR/navigation seals, risk-based control) is recognized as the lack of detailed empirical data at the checkpoint level. In response, a multi-level system of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) has been developed, based on downtime, throughput capacity, transaction costs, automation, and security. The key conclusion is the critical importance of creating a national KPI monitoring system. Practical recommendations include its implementation, enhanced coordination within the EAEU, development of human resources, prioritization of end-to-end digital solutions, and diversification of funding sources to reduce logistics costs and enhance the resilience of foreign economic activity.

Keywords: border crossing points (BCPs); infrastructure modernization; sanctions pressure; trade flows reorientation; efficiency assessment; Eurasian Economic Union; EAEU (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:alq:rufejo:rfej_2026_02_29-45

DOI: 10.64545/2072-8042-2026-2-29-45

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