Protesters against new duties on imported vehicles blocking traffic at border checkpoints in Western Ukraine

The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGSU) says the de-facto owners of cars with foreign registration plates, also known as "Euroblachers" (from Polish "blacha" meaning a "registration plate") continue blocking traffic near 11 border checkpoints along Ukraine's western border.

In particular, as of the morning of November 26, traffic was hampered or completely blocked in the direction of the checkpoints Ustyluh, Rava-Ruska, Yahodyn, Malyi Bereznyi, Shehyni, Krakovets, Solotvyno, Uhryniv, Hrushiv, Smilnytsia, and Domanove.

The situation is most acute on the border with Poland, authorities said.

Read alsoPoroshenko enacts laws legalizing cars imported in breach of customs and tax laws

This is due to the Euroblachers' actions, who are partially or completely blocking traffic on the roads leading to the checkpoints.

The rallies are a reaction to the new legislation on legalization of cars with European license plates imported in breach of customs and tax law, also introducing new duties for imported cars and fines for custom clearance violations.

"In order to prevent any provocations directly on the state border, the SBGSU has strengthened security measures, while additional forces are ready for action. To this end, situational groups have been created. The relevant bodies constantly exchange information. Related parties have been informed about the difficulty of movement to notify travelers in advance," it said.

National police officers are on duty in the places of activists' rallies, the dialogue police are working at the scenes as well.

It should be noted that the ministry initiated the creation of an ad hoc group to regulate the legislative norms and unblock the traffic at checkpoints.

The first meeting of the group is scheduled for today, November 26.

As UNIAN reported earlier, on November 25, the laws of Ukraine on introducing amendments to the Tax and Customs Codes regarding the reduction of excise tax on passenger cars and increased control over the movement and use of cars with foreign registration plates came into force.