Polish strikers may block two more checkpoints - Vice President of International Road Carriers Association

Volodymyr Balin, Vice President of the Association of International Motor Carriers, told Suspilne. 

It should be noted that as of Monday morning, November 27, protests are taking place at four checkpoints: "Shehyni-Medyca, Krakivets-Korchova, Rava-Ruska-Hrebenne, and Yahodyn-Dorohusk. However, according to unofficial information, they may soon close two more checkpoints - Ustyluh-Zosyn and Nyzhankovychi-Malhowice.

"We have received unofficial information that the strikers want to extend their protest and truck blocking to the Ustyluh-Zosyn and Nyzhankovychi-Malhowice checkpoints. For us, this is a bit strange information, because only empty vehicles move there. At Ustyluh-Zosyn, it is only in the direction from Ukraine to Poland. It is not entirely clear why this is done. Perhaps to increase pressure on the Polish authorities," Balin said.

He also added that starting today, there will be round-the-clock blockades at the Shehyni-Medyca checkpoint, although previously the strikers limited traffic to the checkpoint only during the day.

Strikes on the border between Poland and Ukraine

Strikes have erupted on the Poland-Ukraine border due to increased competition following the opening of international transportation between Ukraine and EU nations. To address this, the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development initiated talks with Poland and the European Commission.

Responding to the potential border blockage, the State Border Guard Service provided comments, and Ukraine formally communicated its concerns to Poland regarding the planned strike by Polish carriers at the Ukrainian-Polish border.

On November 6, Polish carriers initiated a strike at the border. The Ministry of Infrastructure noted that no official demands had been submitted by the Polish carriers to Kyiv.

By the evening of November 7, Polish carriers had fully halted the movement of cargo vehicles at two border checkpoints with Ukraine.

Subsequently, it was revealed that trucks are facing up to a 90-hour wait to enter Ukraine.

On November 9, a meeting of government officials and carriers blocking the border with Ukraine took place in Poland, but it concluded without any resolution. Simultaneously, the lines of trucks are growing longer. Consequently, Ukraine has suggested to the Polish authorities the initiation of lanes for empty trucks and is currently awaiting their response.

On November 15, trilateral talks with Poland and the European Commission on unblocking the crossing points took place, but they did not yield any results. Instead, the European Commission may initiate measures against Poland if the authorities do not resolve the issue of carriers blocking checkpoints on the border with Ukraine.

Polish carriers have promised to tighten the blockade on the border with Ukraine. In addition, customs officers have begun to record an increase in truck queues in the Slovak direction.

Ukraine and Poland are preparing claims for damages caused by the blockade of border crossing points due to the rally of Polish carriers. In addition, it has been reported that Polish carriers are not allowing humanitarian aid and dangerous goods to pass through.

Andriy Novak, the head of the New Country Foundation, PhD in Economics, said that due to problems with fuel supplies from Poland, which occupies a third of the Ukrainian market, the price of liquefied gas has increased by 30%.