Logistics in difficult conditions: what challenges Ukraine faces at the European borders

In November 2023, Ukraine found itself in a difficult situation and lost key transportation routes. Seaports operated only with grain cargo, and strikes on the Ukrainian-Polish border completely paralyzed transportation. In this article, we will look at difficult situations with international transportation using real-life examples and tell you how we managed to solve them.

Over the past four years, we have faced many unforeseen circumstances: strikes, a pandemic and complex challenges affecting logistics operations. However, our approach remains unchanged — to continue working in the face of constant instability.

Queues at the Ukrainian-Polish border

The first cargo was containers. We had prepared the trucks for this transportation in advance, but faced unforeseen circumstances — a queue at the Poland-Ukraine border. The fourth day of downtime forced us to look for alternative delivery options.

Our team studied the new circumstances and developed an effective route to redirect the cargo to Slovakia. This solution proved to be effective and our cargo successfully crossed the border in just three days.

Delays at the border with Slovakia

When we sent the next shipment to Slovakia, we encountered a long queue at the border, 100 kilometers long. Other companies also chose this route, which seriously slowed down the delivery process.

The need to quickly adapt to the new circumstances became apparent when the media reported on a possible strike on the Slovak-Ukrainian border. Deciding not to take any risks with the third shipment, we started looking for an alternative route.

We developed a new route through Hungary and successfully delivered the cargo to the customer, avoiding a strike that later broke out in Slovakia. This underscores the importance of being prepared for sudden changes and adapting quickly.

Blocking European land borders

Sending the fourth consignment of cargo in the face of two-week-long strikes on Ukraine’s borders with Poland and Slovakia was a challenge. We were able to deliver the cargo to the customer, but the blockade of European land borders had a significant impact on the transportation time.

We are actively developing alternative routes in the event of continued or renewed strikes. Our main goal is to ensure fast delivery of your goods in the face of constant change.

We are confident that we can find the best solution in any situation. The blockade of borders and attempts to complicate logistics for some countries automatically open up new opportunities for others, helping to improve transportation conditions and economic development.