Kyiv parcel blasts sharpen Polish border vigilance

Polish border services have intensified their vigilance over packages arriving from Eastern countries. This heightened alert follows recent explosions at parcel sorting facilities in Kyiv, raising concerns about potential sabotage. The move comes amid accusations from the head of Ukraine's postal service, Ukrposhta, who claimed Polish customs officials have been deliberately blocking the company's trucks for two months. He alleged that these "meticulous inspections" forced Ukrposhta to reroute shipments through Hungary and Slovakia, bypassing Poland and causing significant delays.

However, Poland's Ministry of Finance has refuted these claims. Officials stated that Ukrposhta's shipments are not being singled out and that all entities are subject to the same inspection protocols. According to the ministry, customs officers operate based on risk analysis and experience, ensuring that declared goods match their contents. "We have the right to random checks; we conduct risk analysis, and our selections are based on our knowledge and experience. We must check if the transported goods actually correspond to what was declared," said Justyna Pasieczyńska, spokesperson for the regional tax administration.

The situation escalated after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on June 20 that he was returning the Order of the White Eagle, an award previously bestowed upon him by Poland. This action was a protest against the naming of a Ukrainian military unit after the controversial "UPA heroes." Zelenskyy sent the order back via a private courier, Nova Post. The head of Ukrposhta, Ihor Smilianskyi, suggested that Zelenskyy's decision to use a private courier might have been influenced by the alleged delays at the Polish border.

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We have the right to random checks; we conduct risk analysis, and our selections are based on our knowledge and experience. We must check if the transported goods actually correspond to what was declared.