Polish farmers realized that Russian special services use protest

Polish farmers have realized that Russian special services are using the protest (photo: Getty Images)

Polish farmers have realized that their protest is being used by Russian special services to stoke interethnic hostility between Ukrainians and Poles, states Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine Taras Kachka.

“It’s good that the farmers have realized that their protests are being used by radical politicians and Russian special services trying to create the impression of interethnic hostility between Ukrainians and Poles,” said a representative of the Ministry of Economy.

He also noted that protest leaders have recognized that they are being used and added that the Polish government is already investigating these incidents. The official pointed out that thanks to negotiations between Ukrainian diplomats and the Polish government, the farmers’ demands are becoming more rational.

Kachka explained that the Polish government was able to convince the farmers that in products like wheat, they are not competing with Ukrainian but Russian products. And not in Poland but in the region.

He also noted that the border blockade harms Poland more than Ukraine.

Currently, in Poland, farmers continue to block the movement of freight vehicles at the border crossings of Uhryniv, Yahodyn, Ustyluh, Rava-Ruska, Krakovets, and Shehyni. On Friday, March 1, protesters completely blocked the movement of trucks at the Shehyni border crossing.

On March 1, Polish farmers completely blocked the Shehyni checkpoint and partially blocked Yahodyn. Along the Shehyni checkpoint route at 13:00, Polish farmers refused to let any truck pass, whether towards Ukraine or Poland, after which the trucks did not move.

According to the representative of the Ministry of Economy, the number of freight vehicles crossing the border at the Yahodyn checkpoint is also decreasing.

Additionally, it is reported that the situation at the Polish-Ukrainian border has worsened again since February 2024, as farmers have started to block the border crossings. They are demanding a complete halt to the export of Ukrainian agricultural products.

Ukrainian drivers stuck at the border are complaining about the conditions of queuing. The Polish police are closely monitoring their actions.

Protesters have blocked border crossings both for exiting and entering Ukraine, leading to almost a complete halt in truck traffic. Drivers have to stand at the border for over 10 days, watching the miles-long lines of trucks.