Polish farmers hold another Ukraine border blockade amid heightened tensions
Editor's note: The article was updated after the protests concluded.
Polish protesters briefly blocked truck traffic at the Polish side of the Medyka-Shehyni border checkpoint with Ukraine, the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service announced on Sept. 6.
The news comes amid heightened tensions between the two countries as Poland's new president, Karol Nawrocki, has taken a harder stance toward Kyiv than his predecessor, Andrzej Duda.
The protest began at 12:50 p.m. Kyiv time and was expected to last at least six hours.
Polish protesters have stopped blocking trucks at the Medyka crossing by 3:30 p.m. Kyiv time, Ukrainian Border Guard spokesperson Andrii Demchenko told Ukrainska Pravda.
Separately, the Border Guard service said that trucks were allowed to pass in both directions every 15 minutes by 3:30 p.m., and the demonstration fully ended by 5 p.m.
The rally took place roughly 1 kilometer from the Polish side of the checkpoint, with 681 trucks queuing up to enter Poland, the Border Guard said earlier. Passenger cars and buses were allowed to pass without restrictions.
The event was launched by Polish farmers in response to low grain prices, difficulties in selling their produce, and the EU's trade agreement with the South American group Mercosur. The participants presented the protest as an urgent appeal to the Polish government and Brussels to intervene.
Polish farmers and truckers have repeatedly blocked traffic at the Poland-Ukraine border since 2023, protesting the influx of Ukrainian goods and labor force after Brussels eased trade rules with Kyiv in response to Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
The protests have strained Ukraine's relations with Poland, which has otherwise been a crucial ally during the war.
