Traffic is once again flowing through the Medyka–Shehyni road crossing after Polish farmers and freight operators ended their protest at 09:30 on 29 November. The blockade, which began on 6 November, had completely halted the entry of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) from Poland into Ukraine, choking a route that normally handles about 1,000 trucks a day. Polish Border Guard officers confirmed that registration and inspection procedures returned to normal within hours of the pickets being dismantled, and additional staff were deployed to clear the backlog as quickly as possible .
Background: Polish hauliers and farmers have been protesting since early November against what they describe as unfair competition from Ukrainian carriers following the EU’s suspension of permit requirements. Demonstrations have affected four main road crossings—Korczowa–Krakivets, Dorohusk–Yahodyn, Rava-Ruska–Hrebenne and Medyka–Shehyni—creating queues that at times stretched 40 km. Medyka-Shehyni was the last of the four to be blocked and the first to be fully re-opened.
![Poland re-opens Medyka–Shehyni crossing, ending three-week truck blockade]()
Implications for business: The Medyka route is the shortest link between Kraków, Rzeszów and Lviv, serving automotive, FMCG and humanitarian supply chains. Logistics providers report that detours via Slovakia added 200–300 km per trip and raised freight costs by up to 25 %. Re-opening the crossing should reduce transit times by roughly 18 hours and ease pressure on alternative corridors.
What’s next: The Polish Infrastructure Ministry has invited transport unions and Ukrainian officials to Warsaw on 4 December for talks on re-introducing a quota system for Ukrainian trucks. Shippers should monitor the outcome closely, as unions have warned they could reinstate blockades if negotiations fail.
Practical advice:
• Update delivery schedules for shipments destined for south-eastern Poland or western Ukraine to factor in quicker border clearance.
• Carriers should still book time-slots in the e-Queue system; priority is being given to perishable and ADR cargo.
• Multinationals with “just-in-time” components should confirm that suppliers switch back from Slovak or Hungarian routes to Medyka-Shehyni to avoid unnecessary mileage.
Background: Polish hauliers and farmers have been protesting since early November against what they describe as unfair competition from Ukrainian carriers following the EU’s suspension of permit requirements. Demonstrations have affected four main road crossings—Korczowa–Krakivets, Dorohusk–Yahodyn, Rava-Ruska–Hrebenne and Medyka–Shehyni—creating queues that at times stretched 40 km. Medyka-Shehyni was the last of the four to be blocked and the first to be fully re-opened.
Implications for business: The Medyka route is the shortest link between Kraków, Rzeszów and Lviv, serving automotive, FMCG and humanitarian supply chains. Logistics providers report that detours via Slovakia added 200–300 km per trip and raised freight costs by up to 25 %. Re-opening the crossing should reduce transit times by roughly 18 hours and ease pressure on alternative corridors.
What’s next: The Polish Infrastructure Ministry has invited transport unions and Ukrainian officials to Warsaw on 4 December for talks on re-introducing a quota system for Ukrainian trucks. Shippers should monitor the outcome closely, as unions have warned they could reinstate blockades if negotiations fail.
Practical advice:
• Update delivery schedules for shipments destined for south-eastern Poland or western Ukraine to factor in quicker border clearance.
• Carriers should still book time-slots in the e-Queue system; priority is being given to perishable and ADR cargo.
• Multinationals with “just-in-time” components should confirm that suppliers switch back from Slovak or Hungarian routes to Medyka-Shehyni to avoid unnecessary mileage.
