Polish truck carriers who are protesting what they call unregulated transport competition from Ukraine have delayed the start of their blockades at border crossings between Ukraine and Poland until Nov. 6.
The protesting Polish truckers plan for the blockade to last three months, which would see it continuing until the beginning of 2024.
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The partial blocks of ground shipping by Ukrainian trucks will take place at three border checkpoints between Ukraine and Poland, affecting both directions at the Dorohusk and Hrebenne-Rawa Ruska checkpoints, and outbound traffic from Ukraine at the Korczowa checkpoint.
This is fewer than what was reported in an earlier Kyiv Post report.
The blockade only applies to truck crossings, according to a Reuters report, and one truck would be allowed to cross per hour, exempting shipments of equipment for the Ukrainian military and vehicles transporting livestock.
According to Jacek Sokol, a co-organizer of the blockade, the lack of regulation after Russia’s full-scale invasion has created massive competition from Ukraine, severely undermining the Polish carriers’ domestic market shares.
“Ukrainian transport companies are... entering without restrictions and carrying out transport operations they have no right to perform,” said Sokol.
“Now these companies are doing whatever they want. There is a complete, uncontrolled influx, just like with grain.”
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Sokol added that prior to the full-scale invasion, permits were required for specific shipments to enter or transit through Poland, but not for domestic shipments, but this is no longer the case.
Most of the trucks crossing the border carry Ukrainian goods, according to the Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry, and the number has doubled since February 2022.
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