Poles eased the total blockade of the Ukrainian border, but staged a provocation with a passenger bus

Poles eased the total blockade of the Ukrainian border, but staged a provocation with a passenger bus

After 17:00, Polish protesters eased the blockade of the Ukrainian border. In particular, they promised to let cars and passenger buses through the Hrebenne-Rava-Ruska checkpoint, and to leave restrictions only for cars at the Zosyn-Ustyluh checkpoint. This, however, did not stop the strikers from stopping a passenger bus near the Hrebenne-Rava-Ruska emergency situation and detaining the passenger.

"After 17:00, the movement of cars and buses through the Hrebenne-Rava-Ruska checkpoint resumed. The protesters also expressed their readiness to let 1 truck through every hour in both directions. They are also ready to let a small amount of traffic through the Zosyn-Ustyluh checkpoint. In particular, they plan to let 5 cars in both directions every 30 minutes, 1 truck to enter Poland and 3 trucks to enter Ukraine every hour. Buses in both directions will be allowed to pass as usual," the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine said.

Also, as the spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service (SBGS), Andriy Demchenko, clarified during the telethon, the blockade for buses and cars was later lifted at the Uhryniv checkpoint. "What we saw today was a blockade for other categories of transport, including cars and buses. It happened on three out of six directions. At the moment, traffic for these categories of transport is unblocked... With the only amendment (to the Ustyluh checkpoint - Ed.) that they are ready to let 5 cars pass every 30 minutes in both directions," Demchenko explained.

At the same time, according to the Ministry of Infrastructure, an outrageous incident occurred at the border. Protesters stopped a passenger bus. Moreover, one of the passengers was detained by unknown persons.

Ukraine has officially demanded a response from the Polish government. "The situation is already starting to get out of control and beyond the bounds of a civilised protest. There are women and children on the bus who cannot be held hostage to any protest... I am sure that the Polish government definitely does not support such actions. Their immediate reaction is important," said Oleksandr Kubrakov, Minister of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development.

Earlier in the day, farmers completely blocked traffic, including buses and cars with passengers, through the Ustyluh, Uhryniv and Rava-Ruska checkpoints on the border with Ukraine. At the Shehyni and Yahodyn checkpoints, truck traffic was completely blocked, and no trucks were allowed through, not even those carrying military and humanitarian aid.

At the Krakivets checkpoint, traffic was blocked for trucks only in the direction of Ukraine, while other categories of traffic were free in both directions, Demchenko said.

According to him, on February 20, six out of nine checkpoints were blocked on the border between Ukraine and Poland. However, these include all major routes for freight transport.

The Poles themselves are not going to disperse. “Our plans are to stand until a result is achieved. We invited our authorities from Warsaw. We are standing here so that agricultural goods do not enter the EU. We will not give up, and if it is necessary to further expand the strike, we will not allow minibuses,” one told Ukrainian journalists from the protesters.

Also earlier on February 20, strikers blocked the railway and also spilled grain from a freight car. The police arrived at the scene, and half an hour later the farmers unblocked the railway. As the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine clarified, protesters poured about 4 tons of grain from two grain wagons. At the time of the incident, the cars were waiting to be loaded onto narrow tracks. Spoiled agricultural products were in transit to Germany.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine stated that the blockade of Ukraine’s borders is inadmissible. “The blocking of the Polish-Ukrainian border, no matter what slogans it is accompanied by, has no justification,” wrote Foreign Ministry speaker Oleh Nikolenko.

He recalled that land borders remain important in the face of Russian aggression. “We also consider the aggressive attitude of protesters towards Ukrainians and Ukrainian cargo crossing the Polish-Ukrainian border unacceptable. Anti-Ukrainian slogans heard at the border confirm the politically motivated nature of the action. Its goal is to provoke a further aggravation of bilateral relations,” the statement says. .

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry calls on the Polish authorities to provide a legal assessment of the actions of the protesters, as well as to ensure the unblocking of the border and take measures against the anti-Ukrainian rhetoric of humiliation based on baseless arguments.

Problems at the border with Poland are already causing queues at checkpoints between Ukraine and other neighbouring EU countries. According to Volodymyr Balin, vice president of the Association of International Road Carriers (AsIRC), there are about 4,000 trucks in queues on the Polish side. "On the Ukrainian side, many trucks have gone through Slovakia and Hungary, and there is a significant traffic jam there as well," Balin said.

According to Balin, only the Polish government and the European Commission can stop the blockade. According to the expert, it should also be borne in mind that politicians in Poland are preparing for local elections, and farmers make up almost half of the electorate.

I’m not sure that the main problem is the import of agricultural products. This is somewhat different: these are new conditions for the cultivation and sale of agricultural products by Polish companies on the European market. I think there is something to talk about there (Poland from the EU - Ed.)... Today I suggest that all exporters and importers take a detour... I think that at least until March 20 we will have problems at the border... If we talk about losses, in November Ukraine lost 1 billion euros. The National Bank calculated that Poland lost no less. Who benefits from this? I think to another country that is committing aggression on the territory of Ukraine,” Balin said.

At the same time, on February 20, Polish Minister of Agriculture Czeslaw Sekerskyi warned farmers striking on the border with Ukraine that the complete closure of the border they planned for February 20 could turn against them. In particular, the result of this could be a stop in Polish exports of goods to Ukraine and, accordingly, the loss of many jobs.

However, Sekerskyi also stated that “the regulation of trade in agricultural products with Ukraine is one of the priorities of the ministry.” And the ban on importing a number of products into Poland remains in force. We are talking about grains, rapeseed and sunflower seeds, wheat flour, bran, and cakes.

At the same time, Ukrainian carriers are already holding retaliatory protests on the border with Poland. For example, since 15 February, Volyn carriers have been protesting at the largest checkpoint, Yahodyn-Dorohusk. And on 20 February, the same action by Lviv carriers was announced at three checkpoints - Rava-Ruska, Krakivets and Shehyni.

There is no blocking, there is a peaceful action. Public control is being exercised, the competent authorities are involved, and vehicles are being stopped. And if the documents show that the car was not in the queue on the Polish side, it was on the Ukrainian side for the appropriate time. That is, equal conditions for everyone. If we all go, we all go, if we all stand, we all stand," Balin explained.

In addition, Polish carriers may resume their own strike on 1 March. For now, their protests are on hold, as the Polish and Ukrainian sides have agreed on a pilot project to abolish the eCheck system at two checkpoints for empty trucks - Nyzhankovychi - Malhowice and Uhryniv - Dolhobychuv. However, according to Serhiy Derkach, Deputy Minister of Development of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure, Poland is now demanding that the cancellation of eCheck be extended to the Rava-Ruska-Hrebenne checkpoint.

"We have received a letter from our Polish colleagues from the Ministry of Infrastructure, who suggested that we cancel the eCheckpoint at Rava-Ruska-Hrebenne as well. We read it and realise that our last communication at the border probably did not reach the goal. After all, we explained that the electronic queue system is very important for the country, we showed the result, it really works. And they seemed to agree," Derkach said.