The Polish Border Guard has confirmed that the road crossings at Połowce and Sławatycze on the Belarusian frontier remain closed to all passenger and freight traffic, an extraordinary measure first introduced in mid-September and extended on 16 October. The closure, published on the official granica.gov.pl portal, cites “ongoing threats to public order” without elaborating. With two of the six Belarusian crossings shut, traffic is being rerouted to Kuźnica and Koroszczyn/Kukuryki, exacerbating queues that already exceed eight hours for trucks. Customs brokers say spot-price surcharges for same-day clearance have doubled in a week, squeezing SMEs that import timber and agricultural products from Belarus. Government sources indicate the decision is linked to repeated attempts by state-sponsored migrants to breach the border fence and to the discovery of GPS jammers near Połowce earlier this month. Warsaw is also awaiting the outcome of EU discussions on a coordinated sanctions package, which could include additional transit restrictions. Travellers with urgent needs—such as medical appointments in Poland—must apply for humanitarian corridors through the Polish consulate in Grodno, but approvals are capped at 50 persons per day. Logistics planners are advised to shift loads via Lithuania or consider short-sea ferry routes from Klaipėda to Gdańsk where feasible. The suspension highlights how geopolitical tensions can abruptly reshape regional mobility. Companies with Belarus-linked operations should revisit contingency plans, contractual force-majeure clauses and driver safety protocols.
Source: granica.gov.pl
