Kiev reports another incident at Polish border as protesting farmers block railroad, spill grain over track

KIEV. Feb 20 (Interfax) - Polish farmers blocked a railroad and spilled grain from a hopper near the Medika checkpoint on Tuesday morning, Ukrainian media said.

The protesters were chanting, "Enough of illegal supplies from Ukraine."

"This is a reaction to the influx of grain from Ukraine. People are desperate and emotional. No one controls this, neither the Polish nor Ukrainian authorities. We are bankrupt, as everything imported from Ukraine is uncontrolled," media cited Polish farmer protest co-organizer Roman Kondrow as saying.

Media said that the protesters were blocking the railroad for 15 minutes before returning to the road to block the traffic of trucks.

Police arrived at the scene, and the railroad was unblocked, media said.

The farmers announced on the website of the Polish media outlet NSZZ RI Solidarnosc that the protest would last at least until March 10. "We announce on February 20, as part of the 30-day general farmer strike, that every protest will focus on the complete blocking of every checkpoint at the Polish-Ukrainian border," the announcement said.

A Ukrainian carrier confirmed the information to media later. The statement appeared on the official social network account of the cargo division of Ukrainian Railways, Ukrainian media reported.

The statement said that the Polish farmers protesting near the Medika-Shegini checkpoint opened a container with agricultural goods on February 20, and the products spilled over the track.

Media said, citing carriers, that Polish farmers were trying to block Ukrainian Railways' trains. Polish police hindered actions of the protesters at the Dorohusk station near the Ukrainian border.

"Rail traffic to and from Poland is now normal. Passenger and cargo trains are passing without impediments," the carriers said.