Nearly 3,000 trucks wait in queues at Polish-Ukrainian border

There are currently approximately 2,900 trucks waiting in queues in three directions at the border with Ukraine due to a blockade by Polish hauliers. 

Source: Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for Ukraine's State Border Guard Service (SBGS), during the national joint 24/7 newscast, as reported by Ukrinform 

Quote: "Unfortunately, the blockade continues in three directions. Let me remind you that these are the Yahodyn-Dorohusk, Krakivets-Korczowa and Rava-Ruska-Hrebenne border crossings. As of this morning, the information we have from our Polish counterparts indicates that approximately 2,900 trucks are waiting in queues on the Polish territory heading towards Ukraine. The largest queue is near Krakivets with 1,200 [trucks], then near Yahodyn with 1,100 trucks, and Rava-Ruska with about 600 trucks," Demchenko reported.

A spokesperson for the SBGS says that these data are incomplete, as other trucks may be at a certain distance from the border. Additionally, an increase in queues has been observed at other border crossings due to the blockade of these routes.

In particular, approximately 1,300 trucks are waiting at the Shehyni border crossing and another 300 trucks at the Uhryniv, Ustyluh and Smilnytsia border crossings.

Demchenko also emphasised that protesters are allowing several trucks per hour to pass, both in the direction of leaving Poland and entering Poland. However, this does not address all the issues regarding traffic intensity.

Demchenko added that for the outbound direction from Ukraine, there is an electronic queue, and physically, the trucks are not located right by the border. 

"They are in places that are convenient for them, including car parks and petrol stations. However, when it comes to the territory of Poland, that's where the trucks are physically present, waiting for the possibility to continue moving towards Ukraine," he explained.

Background: Representatives of Polish road hauliers blocking the border with Ukraine said the latest talks with Ukrainian officials have failed to end the dispute.

On 6 November, dozens of Polish hauliers began blocking the three border crossings with Ukraine.

According to the Polish Ministry of Infrastructure, the protesters have six requirements:

• reinstate the use of EU entry permits for Ukrainian lorries;
• strengthen the requirements for transport within the framework of the EICMT (certificates of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport);
• prohibit the registration in Poland of companies owned by companies located outside the EU;
• access to the Ukrainian Shliakh ("Way") system [a digital system that allows male drivers or volunteers to legally cross the border under martial law– ed.];
• separate queues for lorries from the EU in the Ukrainian eCherha system [free service available in an open mode for hauliers registered in the Shliakh system – ed.];
• separate queues for empty cars.

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