Ukrainian man rescued after bear encounter while attempting illegal crossing into Romania

A Ukrainian man attempting to cross the border into Romania through the Maramureș mountains encountered a mother bear. Fearing an attack, he climbed a tree and requested assistance. Border police from the Mukachevo detachment arrived, the bear left the area, and the man was safely lowered and taken to the border post, where a contravention report was filed for the illegal crossing.

Romanian authorities note that since the war began, thousands of Ukrainians have tried to enter the country via the rugged northern frontier. Police data show more than 5,400 illegal crossings detected in the first seven months of 2025, and about 30,000 Ukrainian nationals have been identified at the north‑border region overall.