Polish farmers have completely blockaded the major Medyka-Shehyni border crossing with Ukraine, barring all passenger buses from entering or exiting, according to Ukraine’s Border Guard Service.
“Restrictions on bus movement began today around 11:10 am. The organizers are blocking traffic on the road in front of the Medyka crossing point, adjacent to the Ukrainian Shehyni crossing point,” the statement said.
According to the Ukrainian border guards, the Polish protesters plan to allow one bus every two hours, both entering Ukraine and exiting.
On 20 March, Polish farmers launched a nationwide protest involving around 70,000 people at nearly 600 locations. Over 50 tractors blocked an entrance to Warsaw, with signs reading “Green Deal = death of Polish farming” and “We are farmers, not beggars.” Some Polish schools also canceled classes.
Massive farmer protest started in Poland as convoys head to Warsaw.
Demands include abandoning EU Green Deal & blocking Ukraine agricultural imports. Over 580 protests registered with ~70,000 participants across🇵🇱, Polish police reported.
📹Tygodnik Solidarność pic.twitter.com/pSbMVMzQWz
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) March 20, 2024
The farmers demand a ban on agricultural imports from outside the EU, including Ukraine, as well as changes to the European Green Deal. They have also recently blockaded borders with Germany and Slovakia. Although the European Commission has addressed some climate/environmental demands, farmers vow to continue until all conditions are met.
Read more:
- Polish farmers to expand Ukraine border blockade
- Polish farmers block Ukraine border, spill grain, as Ukrainian truckers protest against blockade
- Zelenskyy calls for dialogue with Poland over border blockade
- Ukraine seeks to end Poland border blockade with 5-point plan
