Polish farmers have ended their blockade of one of the border crossings between Ukraine and Poland, allowing the movement of lorries to be fully restored, announced the Ukrainian border service. The protest action in front of the Medyka-Shehyni crossing was ended at 9.30am Kyiv time on Sunday, according to the Polish border guard.
While truck traffic has been restored at this particular crossing, truckers continue to blockade three other crossings over the Christmas period. The drivers have been protesting since November, demanding the reinstatement of a permit system for Ukrainian companies operating in the European Union, as well as government subsidies for corn and no increases in taxes.
Ukraine’s deputy prime minister, Oleksandr Kubrakov, expressed hope for an agreement to end the truck blockades with the new Polish government. Meanwhile, about 3,900 trucks were reported to be waiting on the Polish side for permission to enter Ukraine.
In a separate development, the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson faced Russian bombardment resulting in the death of four people and the injury of nine others over a 24-hour period. The governor of the region, Oleksandr Prokudin, stated that Russian forces fired 71 shells at Kherson, hitting residential areas, medical and educational institutions, and critical infrastructure facilities.
The city of Kherson was recaptured by Ukraine after months of Russian occupation in November last year. It has become a regular target for Moscow’s forces based on the opposite bank of the Dnipro River.
In addition to the ongoing conflict, Ukraine’s air force reported intercepting all but one of 15 drones launched by Russia overnight.
The truck blockades and the ongoing conflict with Russia continue to pose significant challenges for Ukraine. The situation remains tense as the government seeks solutions to these complex issues.