Poles block three checkpoints on the Ukrainian border, thousands of trucks in queues: where is the most difficult situation?

Despite the unblocking of the Medyka-Shehyni checkpoint, thousands of trucks remain in queues at the Polish-Ukrainian border. The most difficult situation is at the entrances to the largest checkpoint, Yagodyn. Overall, the blockade continues at three of the four checkpoints.

Yahodyn-Dorohusk, Rava-Ruska-Hrebenne and Krakovets-Korchova remain blocked. Andriy Demchenko, spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS), said this during a telethon.

"There are about 3, 400 trucks in queues at the three remaining blocked areas. The biggest one is opposite Yahodyn. It's a shame that the smallest number of trucks cross the largest infrastructure checkpoint, Yahodyn. Yesterday (December 24 - Ed.) it was 150 in both directions," said Demchenko.

He reminded that since December 24, traffic through the Shehyni checkpoint has been unblocked. The protesting farmers have ended their protest, and now trucks can go to the checkpoint. However, queues remain there as well.

"Over the past day, we have seen an increase in the number of trucks crossing the border. Of course, there is still a queue in this direction, as the blocking measures have led to a large number of vehicles in Poland waiting to cross the border towards Ukraine. As of this morning (December 25 - Ed.), there were about 700 trucks heading towards Ukraine from the Shehyni checkpoint in Poland," said the SBGS representative.

It should be noted that the blockade at Shehyni has not been completely lifted. The strike will continue from January 2-3.

The blockade will not be lifted even during the holidays

Polish carriers will not stop the blockade of the other three checkpoints for the holidays, Edyta Ozygala, the organizer of the strike in Dorohusk, said after a meeting with Polish Minister of Infrastructure Dariusz Klimczak. According to her, the protesters will spend the holidays blockading the border and have already scheduled a schedule of duties.

"Until we reach a real consensus, we will stay here," Ozyhala said. For his part, Minister Klymchak noted that to solve the problem at the border, it is necessary to "revise the trade agreement between Ukraine and the EU."

"We have a firm conclusion that we have to correct and change the current trade agreement between the EU and Ukraine. The Ukrainian side has finally agreed to negotiate on this topic. There was no such agreement before," Klimchak said.

The Polish minister noted that he had received information about the readiness to set up a working group with Ukraine to analyze the agreement the night before. Therefore, he wants this working group to start working as soon as possible. As a reminder, the main requirements include the return of permits for Ukrainian carriers, which were canceled by the agreement with the European Union by June 30, 2024.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, due to the Polish blockade, exports from Ukraine fell by 40% in November, while imports decreased by about a fifth. However, the operation of the Ukrainian sea corridor helped to partially compensate for the multibillion-dollar economic losses caused by the border blockade.

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