An embargo on Russian coal in the European Union will ruin Polish farmers and millions of people in the country, writes Agnieszka Zielinska, a columnist for the Money.pl portal.

As noted in the article, the situation in Poland is deteriorating due to rising prices for fertilizers, gas and electricity. Coal has risen in price by one hundred percent in a year. People buy it for the future, fearing a shortage.

According to the journalist, the sanctions on the import of this energy carrier from Russia, planned for August, will deal a blow to enterprises and the poorest segments of the population. Small farmers and rural residents, including pensioners and citizens with the lowest incomes, will suffer from the decision of Brussels and Warsaw.

"It's not just about houses. In the agricultural sector, many greenhouses and chicken coops are still heated with coal. <…> It was cheaper and more affordable than gas. Now many farmers have big problems because they have no alternative. Switching to gas, which constantly rises in price, it is very risky for them," said Viktor Shmulevich, president of the National Council of Agricultural Chambers.

Russia supplied fuel to Poland, which was cheaper than local fuel and had a higher heat transfer. Zelinska recalled that in a few months it will end, and this will lead to an increase in energy poverty in the republic. According to the Institute for Structural Studies, the problem already affects about 4.6 million Poles, who live mainly in small towns and villages, the columnist concluded.