Polish farmers have caused a stir by spilling Ukrainian grain from railway trucks at the border, an incident that has drawn criticism from the Ukrainian ambassador to Poland, Wasyl Zvarych.
He condemned the actions of protesters after a video of the incident went viral on social media.
Zvarych is now calling upon the police to address the situation, which has sparked controversy and highlighted the tensions over agricultural policies and the impacts of imported goods on local farming communities.
The incident took place in Medyka, where demonstrators, discontent with the current state of agricultural policies, targeted several railway trucks loaded with grain and corn waiting for transit through Poland. Videos circulating on social media show groups of farmers congregating around the Ukrainian train wagons and releasing the contents through the open hatches, leading to significant losses of grain.
The police noted that until Tuesday, the protesting farmers had been allowing one truck to pass in each direction. However, with the escalation of the protest, they have now ceased allowing any trucks through, predicting an increase in the backlog of vehicles awaiting passage.
The farmers’ demands include the simplification and reduction of the requirements under the European Union’s Green Deal, a limitation on the influx of agricultural and food products from Ukraine, and measures to improve the profitability of agricultural production in Poland.
