On Saturday, 23 November 2024, protests by Polish farmers resumed in two different locations at the borders with Ukraine and Belarus. Participation at the Medyka crossing, in the south of the country, was limited to a small group of around thirty individuals—enough, however, to halt the transit of industrial vehicles, causing delays and long queues. The blockade is operating around the clock, allowing only military vehicles, emergency services, humanitarian aid, buses, and cars to pass through. Trucks coming from Ukraine are not permitted, while outbound heavy vehicles from Poland are allowed at a rate of only one per hour.
Unlike earlier this year, truck drivers are not taking part in the protest, and there is no dispute between Polish and Ukrainian carriers, both of whom are adversely affected by the ongoing blockades. The Ukrainian embassy in Poland has weighed in on the matter, issuing a statement on its official website on the occasion of Holodomor Remembrance Day, commemorating the severe famine that occurred in Ukraine during the 1930s.
"Today, we honour the memory of millions of innocent victims of the Holodomor, one of the most terrible tragedies in the history of humanity," the embassy wrote. "This tragedy teaches us that restricting access to food and violating principles of solidarity can have catastrophic consequences. Unfortunately, Ukraine, which once endured the terrible tragedy of famine caused by artificial restrictions on food access, and which today suffers the bloody aggression of the Russian Federation, must fight to preserve its solidarity with our Western partners."
The statement added that "the blockade of the Ukrainian border by Polish farmers over demands unrelated to Ukraine, on this sombre day, seems a particularly painful paradox. Such actions not only harm the economic interests of both countries but also serve those who seek to sow discord between Ukrainians and Poles. Now it is extremely important that our neighbours in Poland, who well understand the weight of historical traumas, show solidarity and jointly seek solutions that satisfy the interests of both sides without devaluing the memory of past tragedies."
The Ukrainian Union of Entrepreneurs, SUP, has also expressed dismay over the farmers' actions. The protest, after all, is directed at the European Union and aims to oppose issues unrelated to Ukraine. According to SUP, Polish and Ukrainian carriers have now resolved their disputes, and the battle over grain is a thing of the past. However, delays at the border could lead to renewed discontent among transport companies, suffering from delays and loss of revenue. For this reason, Ukrainian associations have called on the Polish government to restore transit at Medyka.
Farmers are also protesting further north in the city of Biała Podlaska, not far from the Belarusian border. On the morning of Saturday, 23 November, tractors blocked main routes, and as organisers stated, the demonstration was purely symbolic. According to the police in Biała Podlaska, the protest took place without incident, slightly slowed traffic in the city, and briefly halted rail traffic after tractors entered nearby tracks. However, farmers have made it clear that they are ready to implement heavier and more widespread blockades across the country should their demands not be met. The situation is very tense, and in light of recent unrest in France, there are fears of further escalation, with potentially severe repercussions for the transport industry.
Marco Martinelli
