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Infrastructure Ministry: Grain dumped by Polish farmers was transiting to Germany

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Infrastructure Ministry: Grain dumped by Polish farmers was transiting to Germany
Grain dumped on the railway track at the Medyka-Shehyni border crossing by Polish farmers on Feb. 20, 2024. (Ukrainian Railways/Telegram)

The Ukrainian grain dumped by Polish farmers from a train at the Medyka-Shehyni crossing was headed for Germany, Ukraine's Infrastructure Ministry said on Feb. 20, adding that it could not end up in Polish markets.

The situation at the border continues to escalate after Polish farmers blocked six border crossings earlier in February. Media published a video on Feb. 20 showing the protesters spilling grain from a freight car at Medyka-Shehyni.

According to the Infrastructure Ministry, the protesters spilled about four metric tons of grain from two grain freight cars waiting to be reloaded onto the narrow gauge. These agricultural products were in transit to Germany.

All Ukrainian freight cars are checked at the border by Polish regulatory authorities and sealed. This makes it impossible for Ukrainian grain to enter the Polish market, the ministry stressed.

"Nobody benefits from spoiled grain. Such 'actions' are a loss for everyone, except for the Russians, who are interested in destroying our countries and dividing civilized countries," Ukraine's Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said.

"We strongly condemn the spilling of Ukrainian grain by protesters in Medyka. The police should react decisively and punish those who break the law," Vasyl Zvarych, Ukraine's Ambassador to Poland, commented on the incident.

"It is also a lack of respect for the work of Ukrainian farmers during Russian aggression."

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Martin Fornusek

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Martin Fornusek is a reporter for the Kyiv Independent, specializing in international and regional politics, history, and disinformation. Based in Lviv, Martin often reports on international politics, with a focus on analyzing developments related to Ukraine and Russia. His career in journalism began in 2021 after graduating from Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, earning a Master's degree in Conflict and Democracy Studies. Martin has been invited to speak on Times Radio, France 24, Czech Television, and Radio Free Europe. He speaks English, Czech, and Ukrainian.

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