According to Border defender data, since the beginning of the year more than 17,000 cases of attempts to illegally cross the border on the Polish-Belarusian section have been recorded. In fresh times, nearly 220 specified events occurred. The spokesperson for the Border Guard, Colonel Andrzej Jużwiak, confirmed that the situation at the border is increasingly tense and that the services are prepared for any eventuality.
One of the most serious incidents was the attack on Polish uniforms in the vicinity of the SG facility in Czeremsze. A group of foreigners attempted to cross the border illegally, and while trying to halt the group, stones and bottles flew from Belarus, including the Molotov cocktail, which exploded right next to Polish patrols and migrants who had already crossed the border.
The Ministry of Interior and Administration announces a decisive consequence to expanding aggression. The head of the Ministry of abroad Affairs, Tomasz Siemoniak, has already discussed the case with the Deputy Commandant of the SG and another ministers, stressing that the substance is simply a precedence and will be clarified to the end. Siemoniak on the X platform announced that "any attack of migrants illegally crossing the border (in cooperation with Belarusian services) against Polish officers and soldiers will be met with a decisive consequence utilizing all available means".
A spokesperson for the Ministry of abroad Affairs, Jacek Dobrzyński, recalled that soldiers, border guards and police officers have the right to usage all measures of direct coercion provided for by law, including the usage of sharp weapons, if their wellness or life is at risk. The head of the MON, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, reiterated that the law had been changed so that soldiers would have clear rules on the usage of weapons and full legal protection.
The Polish side is attempting to establish contact with Belarus about the incident, but unsuccessfully. The head of the Podlaskie SG tried respective times to contact his counterparts on the Belarusian side just after the incident. A letter was besides sent to the Belarusian side, which so far remains unanswered.
According to data from the Polish Press Agency, since the beginning of the year the Border defender has detained over 12 1000 people who have attempted to cross the border illegally. The services estimation that around 70% of these people are Iraqi, Afghanistan and Syrian citizens.
The situation on the Polish-Belarusian border is increasingly tense and requires a strong consequence from the Polish authorities. The government must take effective action to guarantee the safety of the border and citizens.
