"And meanwhile in the chief's castle": who is behind the blockade of the border by Polish hauliers

Polish hauliers have been protesting since 6 November. Freight traffic on the border with Ukraine has been blocked at the Krakivets-Korczewa, Jahodyn-Dorohusk and Rawa-Russkaya-Grebennoe checkpoints. The reasons and puppeteers of the border blockade are described in the article of Socialportal.

In Poland, there are queues of 40 kilometres at the border. Ukrainian drivers have been at the border for many days in conditions of civilisation limited to the cabins of their cars.

Fuel and food are running out, and the weather is getting colder. Shops are far away, and to the nearest one Polish police have blocked the passage, fearing clashes between locals and drivers.

on 11 November, a 54-year-old Ukrainian driver died in the cab of a truck waiting to cross the border.

As of the morning of 20 November, almost three thousand trucks were blocked at three border crossing points. The strike participants do not allow lorries with humanitarian aid and fuel to enter Ukraine.

Obviously, the statements about the passage of humanitarian aid and dangerous goods are also untrue. We have recorded numerous facts when tankers with fuel and humanitarian aid are standing in queues, - said the Deputy Minister of development of communities, territories and infrastructure of Ukraine Serhiy Derkach.

"Great adventures come from small reasons"

At first glance, the reason for the border blockade is as simple as anything ingenious. Polish carriers cannot withstand competition with Ukrainian carriers after the introduction of the "transport visa-free zone" between Ukraine and the EU.

It would be logical to assume that if there is unfair competition of Ukrainian carriers, Polish services should counteract it. And it would seem that the issue has been resolved.

"But there is one but" (actually - several)

The blockade of the border causes economic damage to Poland itself. The demands put forward are somewhat absurd and practically unsolvable.

And the initiators of the blockade are not mass representatives of Polish hauliers (despite the rather powerful effect).

Taking this into account, a legitimate vague doubt arises: whether the reasons for the blockade of the border are so obvious, and who are really the puppeteers of this action.

So, let's try to analyse both the known facts and the speculations, but quite logical.

"Be realistic - demand the impossible"

The protesters have the following main demands:

• to cancel Ukraine's "transport visa-free zone": i.e., to return permits for transporting goods in Poland and the EU for lorries from Ukraine;
• exclude Polish lorries from the Ukrainian eCherga system;
• ban registration of non-EU transport companies in Poland.

What "transport visa-free travel" means

on 14 June 2022, Ukraine agreed a special agreement on liberalisation of road transport with a delegation from the European Commission. on 16 March 2023, Ukraine and the EU extended the "transport visa-free zone" for another year.

"I believe it, for it is absurd"

The absurdity of the demand is that the Polish protesters are not addressing their government, but want Ukraine to address the EU regarding the permits," said Serhiy Derkach, deputy minister of Ukraine's Ministry of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure.

Regarding the demand to exclude Polish lorries from the Ukrainian eCherga system. It is known that Polish companies usually hire Ukrainian drivers for transport with Ukraine. In this case, a Ukrainian driver-citizen having crossed the border into Ukraine will not be able to return back to Poland.

In my opinion, these demands cannot be fulfilled by at least 70 per cent, and certainly not at the moment. Most of these issues are decided by the European Commission," said Lukasz Mazur from the Helm Association of Social Initiatives.

"Oh these fairy tales, oh these storytellers..."

The protests were initiated by the "Committee for the Protection of Carriers and Employers in the Transport Sector" (KOPiPT), which was established only two months ago. It includes several owners of Polish companies that took part in the previous "farmer" border blockade. The organisation was established in September 2023.

One of the leaders of the Confederation Party is an active participant of the protest. This is a radical party that advocates rapprochement with Russia and against cooperation with the US, wants the collapse of the EU and recognises Crimea as Russian.

It is clear that Polish carriers are interested in removing Ukrainian competitors from the country. Playing on such sentiments, the leaders of the "Confederation" increase their political dividends and undermine the influence of the ruling Law and Justice party.

What about the authorities or "and who are you with, masters of the arts"?

The Polish government is keeping its distance from the protest. Of course, some politicians from the ruling Law and Justice party have publicly expressed support for the protesters, but that's what politicians are for.

It is probably difficult to expect the Polish authorities to actively intervene in the situation now, as long as there is a change of power in Poland.

In its turn, the European Commission may apply sanctions against Poland if the authorities do not solve the problem of blocking the border.

Where do the legs grow from? From there...

Quite rightly, the Centre for Countering Disinformation believes that there is a significant probability that Russian special services were involved in the action, provoking a split between Ukrainians and Poles.

The "agrarian and grain" blockade failed, they are trying the transport blockade.

Who is the master in the house?

The previous "agrarian and grain" blockade of the border had quite significant support of the Polish people, but it was solved quite easily.

The present action has no support either from the Polish authorities or from the Polish people. The protesters are led by anti-Western radicals who are making deliberately absurd demands.

Therefore, there is every reason to hope for the success of negotiations with the support of the European Commission and the Polish authorities.

But how quickly the situation is resolved depends entirely on the Polish authorities.