Farmers in Poland have started another protest, which they had announced in advance. As of 10.00 a.m., they blocked the Medyka-Shehyni checkpoint on the border with Ukraine.
"Polish farmers began blocking the movement of vehicles in front of the Medyka checkpoint, opposite the Ukrainian Shehyni checkpoint. At about 10.10 a.m., Ukrainian border guards were informed by their Polish colleagues," said Col Andriy Demchenko, spokesman for the State Border Service, Ukrayinska Pravda reports.
According to the website, about 100 people and about 50 vehicles are blocking the traffic.
"Due to these actions, there is currently no traffic of trucks, cars and buses leaving the Republic of Poland and entering the Republic of Poland. We hope that the situation will change as soon as possible and certain categories of transport will be allowed to pass," the State Border Service added.
According to Demchenko, in other areas where traffic was also planned to be blocked on 9 February, such as the Yahodyn and Rava-Ruska checkpoints, traffic is currently moving, but the Polish side has not yet received information about the start of the blockade.
Later, the State Border Service reported that after 11.00 a.m. (Kyiv time), about 200 people and 35 units of agricultural machinery blocked traffic near the Hrebenne checkpoint. The protesters are set to let two trucks through each checkpoint.
After 11.30 a.m. (Kyiv time), a protest also began near the Dorohusk checkpoint. The protesters intend to allow one truck to cross every hour in both directions. Bus traffic will remain unaffected.
The reason for the blockade was the European Commission's decision to extend the full opening of the EU market to Ukrainian products, including agricultural products, for another year.