Kiev reports 40-km line of vehicles at Polish border

MOSCOW. Nov 15 (Interfax) - The lines of vehicles headed to the blocked checkpoints on the Ukrainian-Polish border are up to 40 kilometers long, Ukrainian Deputy Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development Sergei Derkach said at a virtual meeting with carriers on Tuesday.

"A colleague from the [Polish] Infrastructure Ministry attended the meeting [at the border on November 13]. I asked her how long the line was there, as, to my knowledge, it was about 35 kilometers long. She told me it was about 40 kilometers," Ukrainian media quoted Derkach as saying.

In his words, the local authorities set up a number of dry toilets for drivers but do not provide them with food or water. The shops the drivers could use are far away, and the police have blocked the route to one shop for fear of clashes between protesters and Ukrainian drivers, he said.

"We raised this issue with the governor again yesterday. He promised to ensure the provision of hygiene products, including water, and food to our drivers," Derkach said.

It looks like the only way to stop the blockade is to revoke the strike permit, he said.

"The only way to stop the blockade is, actually, a decision of the Polish government to revoke the strike permit. All that needs to be done is to clear the road of Polish protesters and to resume the traffic," Derkach said at the meeting.

In his words, the decision is being discussed with the Polish side.

Derkach added that the protesters finally presented him with a list of demands at the meeting at the border.

It was reported earlier with the reference to the Ukrainian Reconstruction Ministry that about 20,000 vehicles were stranded at the Ukrainian-Polish border at the beginning of the week.

Polish carriers planned a one-day strike at three checkpoints on the Ukrainian-Polish border for November 3. However, the date of starting the truck blockade was moved to November 6. Truck traffic is obstructed in the direction of three checkpoints on the Ukrainian-Polish border, namely, Yagodin-Dorohusk, Krakovets-Korchova, and Rava Ruska - Hrebenne.