WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The Defense Minister of Poland has announced a significant move: the deployment of 10,000 soldiers along the country’s border with Belarus.
This strategic decision comes as Poland expresses growing concerns over both the presence of Russian-affiliated mercenaries in Belarus and the increasing number of migrants attempting to cross the border without proper authorization.
In a separate development, the Polish military has launched a search operation near the border with Belarus to locate a missing missile fuse.
However, the military has reassured the public that there is no reason to be alarmed, as the detonator of the missile has inherent protective mechanisms.
The military clarified that the fuse went missing during “intensive activities using specialized equipment to ensure security.”
The military’s statement provided more details: “Following the conclusion of combat flights on Tuesday, it was discovered that one of the helicopters involved in border area patrols was equipped with a missile missing a fuse.
The flight was conducted along the border strip and did not traverse populated areas.” The military urged local residents to promptly inform the police if they come across the missing component.
In a state radio interview, Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak revealed the overarching plan to station 10,000 soldiers in the border region.
This announcement followed an earlier statement by another official, indicating that Poland would dispatch an additional 2,000 troops to the border within the next two weeks, effectively doubling the military presence in the area.
The primary purpose of these deployed soldiers is to bolster the efforts of the police and Border Guard officers.
Over the past two years, Poland has grappled with the challenge of managing migrants attempting to enter the country illegally from Belarus. Polish authorities, along with other NATO member states positioned along the alliance’s eastern flank, have accused Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko—a close ally of Russia—of deliberately exploiting this migration route as a form of “hybrid warfare” to create instability within Western nations.
Poland’s apprehension extends to the presence of Wagner Group fighters, who were dispatched to Belarus following a brief uprising in Russia last June.
Tensions escalated even further recently when two Belarusian military helicopters briefly violated Polish airspace—an act viewed by Warsaw as a deliberate provocation.
In anticipation of the parliamentary elections scheduled for October 15, Poland’s ruling conservative party, Law and Justice, aims to demonstrate a heightened commitment to national security as it seeks an unprecedented third term.
An official from NATO commented earlier this week, as Belarus commenced military training exercises near its border with Poland, that the Western military alliance remains watchful of the situation in Belarus but currently does not perceive any immediate threat.
NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu underscored, “In response to Russia’s aggressive actions, NATO has substantially fortified its defensive presence in the alliance’s eastern sector.
We continue to take all necessary measures to deter potential threats and safeguard every inch of allied territory.” Lungescu also added, “While we do not perceive any direct or imminent military threat from Wagner mercenaries towards our allies, we remain vigilant.”