Romanian farmers again block two checkpoints on Ukrainian border

On Monday morning of January 15, Romanian farmers blocked the movement of trucks through two border checkpoints on the Ukrainian border. 

According to the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service, around noon, the farmers resumed blocking the movement of trucks toward the "Siret" checkpoint, located opposite the Ukrainian "Porubne." Blocking also began at the Romanian "Vikovu-de-Sus" checkpoint, opposite the Ukrainian "Krasnoilsk," Rubryka reports.

Other types of transportation and pedestrians at both checkpoints are processed according to the established procedure for entry and exit from Ukraine.

Romanian Border Blockade

As reported, on January 13, Romanian farmers blocked the movement of trucks through the "Siret" checkpoint. This was the first truck traffic blockade from the Romanian side.

The participants positioned themselves at a certain distance from the border on the road leading to the checkpoint. According to available information, there was no significant line of freight vehicles on the territory of Romania toward Ukraine.

The Romanian publication Adevarul reports that farmers' and carriers' strikes in Romania have been ongoing since January 10. They spontaneously block roads across the country and border checkpoints with Moldova, Bulgaria, and now also with Ukraine. Protests have been ongoing for the fifth day in other parts of the country.

After unsuccessful four-hour-long negotiations with their country's Ministry of Finance, Romanian farmers and carriers continued their protests. Farmers complained about fuel prices, expressed dissatisfaction with taxation, demanded improvements in agricultural financing, and called for a halt to grain imports from Ukraine.