Polish protesters temporarily block passenger train from Ukraine, police intervened — UZ
Polish protesters blocked the movement of a passenger train from Ukraine on Feb. 18, Ukraine’s national train company, Ukrzaliznytsia, reported on Telegram on Feb. 19.
After the intervention of Polish police and railway workers, the passage was unblocked.
Read also: Polish grain protests: unclear if other countries are participating — State Customs Service
"Polish protesters blocked the movement of passenger train No. 119 Kyiv–Chełm,” the statement said.
“There were 260 passengers on the train, the vast majority of whom were women and children. Many passengers had further transfers and flights."
Ukrzaliznytsia expressed gratitude to its Polish colleagues for their cooperation and prompt resolution of the issue.
"We consider such actions by the protesters to be outrageous given the history of partnership and economic relations between our countries,” the railway workers said.
“Such actions have a negative impact on ensuring the defense capability of Ukraine and the security of the EU borders from the Russian aggressor."
Read also: Polish protesters block trucks with humanitarian aid along with other Ukrainian freight vehicles
Railway communication with Poland is now reportedly back to regular operation, with passenger and freight trains currently running without complications.
Oleksandr Kubrakov, Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction of Ukraine and Minister of Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Development, earlier held urgent talks with Jacek Siewiera, head of Poland's National Security Bureau, regarding reports of Polish farmers blocking buses at the border.
Polish farmers resumed protests near the Korczowa-Krakowiec checkpoint on Feb. 13. This is the sixth checkpoint on the border blocked by protesters.
They had previously blocked five checkpoints on the border with Ukraine, hundreds of trucks arestanding in queues. The strike may last until March 10.
The Polish farmers also announced a complete blockade of the Ukrainian border. From Feb. 20, traffic will be blocked at all checkpoints, as well as transportation links and entrances to transshipment railway stations and seaports will be blocked.
The protesting farmers who are blocking the largest checkpoints on the border with Ukraine have put forward many demands, among which two main ones are: the complete refusal of duty-free trade with Ukraine and the complete closure of the Ukrainian-Polish border for trucks.
During the protest, some participants began to tear locks off Ukrainian trucks and spill grain from them. The incident caused a scandal.
The Ukrainian Ambassador urged strong response to Polish farmers’ “shameful and offensive” grain spillage, saying that Ukrainian diplomats had appealed to the Polish police, who had launched an investigation of the incident on Feb. 12. Polish Agriculture Minister Czeslaw Siekierski issued an apology.
For their part, Ukrainian carriers began to block the border on Feb. 15 in response to the actions of Polish farmers. The Ukrainians blocked the entry of trucks from Poland through the Yahodyn-Dorohusk checkpoint.
Negotiations between Kyiv and Warsaw on regulating the imports of Ukrainian agricultural products are in final stages, Sekerski said during a meeting with Polish farmers who are blockading the Ukrainian border on Feb. 15.
Media reported on Feb. 17 that farmers from four EU countries would join the protests on the Polish-Ukrainian border.
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