Border bottlenecks create tragedy and frustration for Ukrainian transporters
A third Ukrainian driver died while awaiting passage through the Polish-Ukrainian border, according to Facts ICTV. The man reportedly fell ill while queued in front of the Korchev checkpoint, and video footage released by the portal shows medical teams taking the driver away as responders work to stabilize him.
Sources close to the case indicate that the driver died after being found in distress during the wait. The situation underscores how long queues can provoke serious health risks for truck operators and their cargo, especially for those stuck amid persistence delays at major crossing points.
Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service provided an update through a spokesperson who noted that thousands of trucks were stalled at borders nearing Ukraine. Specifically, around four thousand freight vehicles were reported waiting to cross borders with Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia in order to enter Ukrainian territory. The numbers point to a widespread backlog that strains logistics networks and raises concerns about the handling of cross-border traffic during tense periods.
On November 26, the mayor of Lviv, Andrey Sadovoy, criticized Polish authorities for not acting decisively to aid carriers facing closures at Ukrainian border checkpoints. He argued that a relatively small group of disruptions could erode Warsaw’s significant help to Kyiv’s military and political efforts. The mayor highlighted that Polish trucking companies are seeking the restoration of pre-conflict shipping arrangements for Ukrainian haulers, while Ukrainian trucks continue to wait in line for up to six days, with the city of Kyiv and regional authorities reporting substantial economic losses tied to the delays, including hundreds of millions of euros in potential revenue already forgone.
Earlier, traffic had continued at the border between Ukraine and Slovakia, despite the ongoing strain on other routes. The mixed picture shows how different border corridors respond to shifting policy actions and traffic volumes, influencing the timing and reliability of crossing times for international freight and regional supply chains.
Analysts and officials emphasize that the current border situation is a multi-layer issue. It involves not only the physical capacity of checkpoints but also the alignment of customs procedures, vehicle inspections, and cross-border transit rules. For drivers and logistics managers, the immediate priority is to secure safe passage for essential goods while minimizing risk to life, health, and cargo integrity. The broader concern remains with the resilience of regional transport corridors as political and security conditions evolve, and with the ability of bordering states to coordinate responses that protect civilian commerce and humanitarian needs. In the meantime, families and businesses linked to cross-border trade are left adjusting to unpredictable delays and higher operational costs, hoping for clearer timelines and more stable policy signals from authorities.
Throughout the region, truckers and freight operators continue to call for improved support and predictable procedures. Stakeholders stress that reliable traffic flow is vital not only for economic stability but also for the safe and timely delivery of essential goods, including food, fuel, and medical supplies. As officials review possible measures, the sense remains that a balance must be found between security considerations and practical, humane management of drivers who move goods across Europe every day, often under challenging conditions.