Ukraine Seeks to Move Grain Truck Customs Checks to Poland and Slovakia

Ukraine is currently engaged in negotiations with Poland and Slovakia to relocate customs checks for grain-carrying trucks from the immediate border area deep into the territory of these neighboring countries. According to The Financial Times, citing informed sources, Kyiv aims to protect transport and drivers from targeted Russian drone attacks that have increasingly hit border queues.

Over recent weeks, long lines of trucks loaded with Ukrainian agricultural products at EU borders have regularly become targets for strikes. Since August, Ukraine has recorded numerous attacks on border checkpoints along its borders with Romania, Moldova, and Poland. Specifically, Ukrainian customs reported that on Wednesday alone, over 1,200 trucks were waiting to enter at a single checkpoint in the Volyn region.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry confirmed to the publication that joint control points are already operational on the border with Moldova, and Kyiv now wants to expand this initiative to other neighbors, notably Poland. Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi explained this move by pointing to the new security reality, where Russia deliberately strikes border areas to disrupt logistics and cargo movement. He added that Kyiv aims to finalize the agreement with Poland as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Poland is prepared to consider conducting checks on its side of the border, TVP World reported citing the Polish Interior Ministry. The key condition is the joint operation of Ukrainian and Polish services, as EU law does not permit third countries to independently carry out controls within the Schengen zone, though Warsaw has not yet made a final decision. Under a similar existing arrangement with Moldova, Ukrainian border guards already check outbound transport on Moldovan territory at specific crossing points.

At the same time, ongoing attacks on ports and vessels have severely impacted national exports. According to Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Taras Vysotskyi, attacks have reduced agricultural exports by approximately half. In September, Ukraine exported 2.4 million tons of agricultural products, achieving only 46% of its potential volume, while alternative export routes remain heavily congested and pushed to their limits.