Ukraine wants to move customs inspection of grain trucks deep into two countries

Ukraine is negotiating with Poland and Slovakia on moving customs inspection of trucks carrying agricultural products deep into their territories. This should reduce risks for Ukrainian carriers due to Russian attacks on border infrastructure. This is reported by Financial Times citing sources.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that Russia is deliberately attacking border infrastructure, trying to disrupt logistics and supply. Joint customs control is already operating at the border with Moldova. Ukraine seeks to agree on a similar mechanism with Poland as soon as possible. The European Commission also supports the initiative.

The need for changes is intensified by large queues at the border. In particular, on October 21, more than 1,200 trucks were expected at one of the border crossings in Volyn region.

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According to Minister of Agrarian Policy Taras Vysotskyi, in September Ukraine exported 2.4 million tonnes of agricultural products – only 46% of its real export potential. Truck traffic is also affected by power supply disruptions.

Note that in 2026 Russia intensified attacks on border crossings: seven of the 11 strikes on them since the start of the full-scale invasion occurred this year.

On September 9, two people died as a result of an attack on the "Starokozache" border crossing on the border with Moldova. On September 24, Poland temporarily evacuated people from the "Zosin" and "Dorohusk" border crossings due to a Russian attack on Ukraine. And on October 16, a Russian drone hit a customs terminal in Kovel, Volyn region: about ten trucks caught fire, and one person was injured.

After the blockade of sea ports, land routes have become one of the key export routes for Ukrainian grain. In August, 501.8 thousand tonnes of grain were exported through western land crossings, compared with 208.8 thousand tonnes in July, according to Spike Brokers.

Ukraine is also considering exporting agricultural products through Polish ports Gdańsk, Gdynia, Szczecin and Świnoujście. Moving customs checks to neighboring countries should help preserve logistics under Russian attacks and reduce risks for carriers.