Polish carriers are preparing for a new protest action on the Ukrainian-Polish border. According to the Committee for the Protection of Carriers and Employers in the Transport Sector of Poland, the Dorohusk-Yagodyn checkpoint is planned to be closed. The date of the protest has not yet been announced.
The initiators of the action explain their actions as "disappointment with the inaction of the Polish government" and call for "restoring balance in the transport market." The main reason for the dissatisfaction remains the cancellation of permits for Ukrainian carriers, which was implemented as part of the liberalization of transportation after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
"We want to restore a level playing field. Currently, Polish companies are losing competitiveness due to the uneven distribution of orders, which are increasingly going to Ukrainian firms," the Committee states.
This is not the first wave of protests by Polish carriers. In 2023–2024, a number of checkpoints were effectively blocked for several months, which led to a significant slowdown in freight traffic, delays in the delivery of goods, and tensions in relations between Kyiv and Warsaw.
The Ukrainian side has repeatedly called for a balanced approach and stressed the importance of ensuring humanitarian and strategic transit, especially in times of war. The European Commission also does not support restrictions on border crossing by Ukrainian carriers, citing existing agreements on transport liberalization.
Despite this, Polish transport organizations continue to demand the return of permits or the introduction of new regulatory mechanisms that would limit the presence of Ukrainian companies on the Polish market.
It is currently unknown how long the next escalation at the border will last - everything will depend on the reaction of the Polish authorities and the level of support for the protest among carriers.
