KYIV, Nov 19 (Reuters) - The border between Poland and Ukraine has been gridlocked for over 10 days, leaving approximately 3,000 Ukrainian trucks stranded on the Polish side, as reported by Ukrainian authorities. The blockade initiated by Polish truckers has brought traffic to a standstill at three border crossings, effectively halting the movement of goods and causing significant disruptions.

The protest, which began earlier this month, was sparked by frustration among Polish truckers over what they perceive as government inaction in addressing their loss of business to foreign competitors since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Despite ongoing negotiations between Kyiv and Warsaw, an agreement to cease the protest and reopen the border crossings remains elusive.

The dire situation at the border has led to thousands of drivers enduring challenging conditions with limited access to essential supplies such as food, water, and fuel. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov highlighted the severity of the situation, stating that the backlog of trucks extends over 30 kms (18.6 miles) towards the Yahodyn crossing, over 10 kms towards Rava-Ruska, and over 16 kms towards the Krakivets crossing.

The significance of the blockade cannot be understated; the Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry reveals that prior to the conflict, an average of 40,000-50,000 trucks crossed the border with Poland each month via eight existing crossings. This number doubled after the war commenced, with the majority of goods transported by Ukraine's own transport fleet. However, the current standoff has severely limited the flow of vehicles, with only a handful managing to pass through the blocked checkpoints each hour, according to Ukrainian border guards.

The repercussions of the blockade are being felt throughout Ukraine's economy. Ukrainian grain brokers have reported a 2.7% decrease in the shipment of food by road during the first thirteen days of November, primarily due to the difficulties encountered at the Polish border caused by the drivers' strike. Spike Brokers, an organization that monitors export statistics, revealed that vehicle movements through customs checkpoints have dropped to 4,000 tons of cargo per day, a significant decline from the peak of 7,500 tons per day recorded just a month ago.

The situation continues to unfold, with both Ukrainian and Polish officials working to find a resolution to the ongoing blockade. As tensions persist, the importance of reaching a swift agreement to overcome the impasse at the border and resume normal trade operations between the two countries remains paramount.

(Reporting by [Author Name])