Polish farmers stand on a strike post by the road as they start to block truck transport in Medyka - another border crossing between Poland and Ukraine, on November 23, 2023. The farmers joined the transport sector in the strike against poor management of agricultural imports of Ukrainian produce as well as demand renegotiation of transport deals between Ukraine and the European Union. Medyka is the fourth strike site. Protesters already blocked 3 other crossings for truck transport, allowing only 4 trucks per an hour excluding humanitarian and military aid and sensitive chemical and food goods. According to the drivers, the queue to the Medyka crossing was nearly 7 days even before the strike started today. (Photo by Dominika Zarzycka/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
This was announced by the spokesperson of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, Andriy Demchenko, during a TV marathon broadcast.
“We reported yesterday that we had information from Polish colleagues that the blocking of traffic at three checkpoints – ‘Yahodyn,’ ‘Rava-Ruska,’ and ‘Shehyni’ – would begin at 10:00 today. Of course, all these actions take place on Polish territory at the checkpoints at various distances from the border”, he said.
Demchenko emphasized that the blocking has already begun at the “Shehyni” checkpoint (on the Polish side, this is the “Medyka” checkpoint). He emphasized that while they had previously aimed to block only trucks, they are now blocking the passage for all types of transport.
The spokesperson for the SBGS hopes that soon passenger cars will also be allowed to pass through the checkpoint. Demchenko added that at the other two checkpoints – “Rava-Ruska” and “Yahodyn” – border guards have not yet received information from Polish colleagues about the start of blocking actions.
However, it is not ruled out that at 10:00 Polish time (11:00 Kyiv time), blocking may also begin there.
According to him, the border blockade may continue until the beginning of March, as these were the terms announced to them by representatives from the farming sector.
In the coming days, two more directions – Uhryniv and Ustyluh – may also be blocked.
It is worth noting that Polish farmers have announced a new nationwide strike. It will begin on February 9 and last until March 10. Protesters plan to block all border crossings between Poland and Ukraine, as well as roads and highways throughout the country.
As is known, the European Commission has proposed to extend the abolition of import duties for agricultural goods from Ukraine for 2024, but with restrictions. This initiative will maintain duty-free access for Ukrainian entrepreneurs to European markets, contributing to economic stability and expanding opportunities for Ukrainian businesses.
Photo: Getty Images
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