Poland reinforces blockade at Shehyni checkpoint, State Border Guard Service clarifies decision
Photo: Polish carriers are tightening the blocking of the Shehyni checkpoint from November 27 (Getty Images)
Polish carriers persist in blocking four checkpoints along the Ukraine border. Notably, the Shehyni checkpoint, which has been blocked since November 23, is set to be closed around the clock from November 27 onwards, although today's closure is until 20:00, reports Andrii Demchenko, the spokesman of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine during the telethon.
According to Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, as of this morning, Polish border guards reported approximately 3,500 trucks queuing on the Polish side of the Yagodyn-Dorogusk, Krakovets-Korcheva, Rava-Ruska-Hrebenne, and Medyka-Shehyni routes, facing Ukraine.
"Mostly - opposite the Shehyni checkpoint, as well as opposite the Rava-Ruska checkpoint. At the same time, I would like to add that, for example, at the Shehyni checkpoint, the participants of the action blocked traffic from November 23 and until today during the day from 9:00 a.m. to 20:00 (Polish time). And from tomorrow, the blocking should stand around the clock," he said.
Why did Polish carriers choose these four checkpoints?
Demchenko clarified that these four directions allow the passage of trucks weighing more than 7.5 tons. Other border checkpoints with Poland can only accommodate trucks weighing up to 7.5 tons.
"The Polish carriers blocking traffic for trucks strategically chose these directions because they recognized that such actions would effectively lead to a maximum blockade of truck traffic," explained the representative of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
The situation on the border with Poland
Since November 6, Polish carriers have initiated a strike, announcing its continuation until early January 2024. In the initial hours, they effectively obstructed three checkpoints on the Ukraine border: Yagodyn-Dorogusk, Krakovets-Korcheva, Rava-Ruska-Hrebenne permitting no more than one truck in either direction per hour. Subsequently, on November 23, they extended the blockade to the Medyka-Shehyni checkpoint. Unconfirmed reports suggest plans to expand the blockade to the Nizhankovychi-Malhovitse checkpoint. Ukraine is currently grappling with fuel supply issues due to the blockade by Polish carriers.
