Polish Farmers Block Key Ukraine Border Crossing

Polish farmers initiated a protest this morning near the “Medyka-Shehyni” border crossing, significantly disrupting the flow of goods between Poland and Ukraine.

According to local media RMF24, the farmers are blocking the border by allowing only one truck per hour to enter Ukraine, while trucks from Ukraine to Poland are fully halted. Personal vehicles, buses, humanitarian aid, and military convoys are allowed to pass freely.

The protest, organized by farmers from the Podkarpackie region, began at 8:00 a.m. local time and has resulted in the partial blockade of National Road 28, a key access route to the border crossing. Protestors have stopped trucks traveling from Ukraine to Poland while allowing only one truck per hour to enter Ukraine. Personal vehicles, buses, humanitarian aid, and military convoys are unaffected by the blockade.

The farmers' first demand is the retention of the 2023 agricultural tax rates for 2024. Co-organizer Roman Kondrów, representing the Podkarpackie group “Oszukana Wieś” (Betrayed Countryside), expressed dissatisfaction over the government’s withdrawal of a proposed tax reform due to budgetary constraints.

The second concern involves opposition to the EU potentially signing a free trade agreement with Mercosur countries (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay). The farmers argue that such a deal could harm local agricultural markets. “We want to put pressure on decision-makers to prevent this agreement from being finalized,” Kondrów stated.

Bartosz Gubernat, a spokesperson for the Podkarpackie Voivodeship, acknowledged the farmers’ grievances. Regarding the tax issue, he noted that while legislative efforts were made to maintain 2023 tax rates, the initiative was ultimately abandoned due to limited state funds.

Farmers affected by adverse weather conditions, such as hail or flooding, were offered targeted compensation equivalent to the third and fourth installments of the agricultural tax, he added.

On the trade agreement issue, Gubernat emphasized that Poland’s government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, has clearly stated its opposition to the Mercosur deal.

Local police are monitoring the protest and maintaining alternative routes for travelers. Authorities have ensured the accessibility of nearby National Roads 77 and 28 to mitigate congestion. However, protest organizers have warned that if their demands remain unaddressed, the demonstrations could continue around the clock until the end of the year.

The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine also confirmed the demonstration’s impact. According to spokesperson Andrii Demchenko, the protest, which began around 10:00 a.m., is expected to last 48 hours, though further extensions have not been ruled out.