Polish carriers have canceled the blockade at the “Drohobych” border crossing, restoring normal traffic conditions
As a result of prolonged protest actions by Polish transporters, the movement of trucks through the Ukrainian-Polish border crossing "Drohobych" has finally been restored. According to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and the State Customs Service, both sides are now able to cross the border freely without significant restrictions. Sources report that Polish protest participants, who previously deliberately blocked traffic, officially ceased their actions at 22:30 Kyiv time, allowing a return to normal freight processing and vehicle crossings. According to representatives of the Polish Border Guard, the protesters have finished their actions, and currently traffic in both directions — toward Ukraine and Poland — is operating without notable delays. Meanwhile, domestic political and logistics circles have already begun discussing the consequences of the blockade, which lasted several days and caused a significant imbalance in the transportation system. It is to be recalled that mass protests by Polish freight drivers began on May 12 at 16:00. The protest was sparked by general dissatisfaction with working conditions, income levels, and the attitude toward their activities from the Ukrainian side. Specifically, transporters focused on issues such as tariff reductions, lack of proper conditions, and complications with document processing, all of which caused significant difficulties in planning and executing international shipments. Deputies of the Polish transport community were also unhappy with the actions of their Ukrainian colleagues, whom they accused of crowding them out of the market and lowering payment rates for freight. As a result, many Polish trucks are mass refusing to cross the border at the "Yagodyn" customs point, choosing other crossing points instead. Consequently, on the night of May 12-13, customs at Yagodyn processed only 8 trucks — a number significantly lower than usual, which typically exceeds this figure. Government bodies are calling for active negotiations and the search for a compromise between the parties. Kyiv insists on the need for effective decisions by Warsaw to resolve the conflict and lift the blockade, which is negatively affecting international trade and cooperation between the two countries. Having reached a compromise, Polish fuel and gas carriers were permitted to cross the border along with other trucks at a ratio of one vehicle per hour. However, even then, many vehicles remain in queues for over a day — especially large trucks, which are waiting in line on both sides of the border crossing. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian side calls for constructive negotiations and a swift return to cooperation, emphasizing that the current situation results from prolonged misunderstandings and deficiencies on both sides. Ukrainian authorities stress the importance of stable border operations for uninterrupted trade, noting that any restrictions or blockages harm the economy and complicate the lives of ordinary citizens and businesses in both countries. In conclusion, the tension phase at the Ukrainian-Polish border appears to have ended for now, but its consequences will last for some time and will require additional efforts from government authorities to prevent similar conflicts in the future. Only through mutual understanding and open dialogue can a stable and effective border crossing system be established for all participants in international transportation.