“That is how wars begin.” The border between Poland and Belarus is stressed once more

On June 6, the loss of life of a Polish soldier wounded by migrants was reported on the border with Belarus. Earlier this week, the media reported the arrest of Polish troopers who fired warning pictures at individuals attempting to interrupt by the border fence. Together with the migration disaster, and this stage is estimated to be the worst since 2021, together with cyber assaults on crucial infrastructure in Poland. All this occurs on the eve of and in the course of the elections to the European Parliament, going down in EU nations from June 6 to 9. Why is Poland uncomfortable once more?

“The last word in hybrid warfare“

Final Thursday, a soldier from Poland died after being stabbed on the border with Belarus. The assault on a soldier from the first Armored Brigade occurred on the morning of Might 28 close to the village of Dubiche-Tserkevne in Podlaskie Voivodeship. One of many migrants who tried to interrupt by the border fence was injured by a soldier with a knife. The sufferer was first taken to a hospital in Hajnowka, then transported to the Navy Medical Institute in Warsaw. “Regardless of the help offered on the scene of the bandit assault on the border with Belarus, and the efforts of docs, he couldn’t be saved,” mentioned the Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Armed Forces.

See additionally: Did the Russians come? Poland fights spies and strengthens borders

“Within the morning, a gaggle of migrants tried to cross the Polish-Belarusian border illegally, throwing sticks and stones at troopers and border guards. They have been stopped,” he mentioned in an announcement with a press secretary. district prosecutor’s workplace in Warsaw Petra Antoni Skiby. In response to the report, “A soldier with the rank of personal within the 1st Armored Group was stabbed within the chest whereas blocking a gap within the fence made by migrants with a protecting defend and his physique. “

“That is the height of hybrid warfare. mentioned the Polish Minister of Nationwide Protection Vladislav Kosinyak-Kamysh.

Burn on the border

The Polish web site Onet was the primary to report that three troopers serving on the border between Poland and Belarus have been detained by the army gendarmerie. The hearth service personnel opened a warning fireplace on the migrants. Prosecutors accused the 2 troopers of exceeding their authority and endangering the lives of others. The third detainee has witness standing. The incident occurred initially of March and April on part of the border close to the identical village Dubiche-Tserkevne.

Polish publicists and specialists warn that within the context of a hybrid battle, through which the federal government claims that Poland exists, expenses introduced in opposition to the army to adversely have an effect on their colleagues. “Troopers ought to by no means doubt whether or not they are going to be heroes or criminals after getting back from a mission,” writing Deputy head of the publication Rzeczpospolita Thomas Petryga.

prime minister Donald Tusk The Minister of Nationwide Protection ordered the preparation of amendments to the regulation relating to the usage of weapons by army personnel. “The purpose is that the regulation clearly helps the soldier when he makes use of weapons for self-defense, protection of the Polish territory or the border, there should be a way of authorized safety he,” mentioned the top of presidency.

Assembly with Prime Minister Donald Tusk (second from proper in foreground) about issues on Poland’s japanese border

On the similar time, there are voices that troopers serving on the border should be educated sufficient to eradicate circumstances of abuse of authority. Deputy Minister of Nationwide Protection of Poland Pavel Zalevsky saying that such actions of Polish troopers may turn out to be the battle casualty – motive for battle. “These bullets have been fired at unlawful migrants, however after they crossed the opposite facet, think about now that the bullet would hit, for instance, the border guard of Belarus, Belarus doesn’t nothing however encouraging us battle began,” mentioned Zalewski.

The Deputy Minister of Protection additionally confirmed that the troopers have been below plenty of strain. “They knew it was not their job to let unlawful migrants go by, however this isn’t a mission on the entrance. In response to Zalewski, “it’s too early to definitively assess these occasions.” He complained that “a marketing campaign continues in opposition to all establishments, primarily based on the truth that they’re working badly. working with dangerous religion, the army gendarmerie additionally behaves wrongly and many others.

“Digital Chilly Struggle“

Similtaneously the scenario on the japanese border is worsening, Poland is topic to day by day cyber assaults, which, in keeping with the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Digitalization Krzysztof GawkowskiRussia and Belarus stand.

“We’re coping with assaults, and there are greater than a thousand of those a day already. the vice chairman mentioned not too long ago

One of the well-known cyber assaults in latest days was the hacking of the web site of the Polish Information Company (RAR). Faux information a few transfer appeared on the information company’s web site. “The Polish Information Company had a hack. The account of one of many staff was hacked, so the attackers acquired entry to the primary web site. This additionally reveals that you would be able to have one of the best techniques to have, to allocate giant sums to them… however the weak factors are the place the individuals are”, mentioned Minister Gafkovski. In his opinion, Poland is in a state of “digital chilly battle” with Russia.

See additionally Poland’s state company twice reported a motion within the nation

In response to the Polish facet, this is likely one of the parts of the hybrid battle that the Russian Federation and Belarus are preventing in opposition to the EU member states on the japanese border of the European Union. We’re particularly speaking about Poland and the Baltic nations. Polish media is asking politicians for a extra constant coverage within the present circumstances. “It will be a lot simpler to cope with this disaster if there was one coverage adopted by all of the political forces as a substitute of throwing more and more absurd accusations about who his successor could be. it a lot simpler to elucidate what occurred on the border if not for extreme pathological polarization? If the newest incident is just not a wake-up name, what is going to get up Polish politicians? – writing Republic.

Life within the buffer zone

Minister of Overseas Affairs of Poland Radoslaw Sikorski on public tv TVP Data warning that the newest escalation within the scenario on the border may solely be the start of a bigger marketing campaign in opposition to Poland. “Giant organized teams of hooligans, educated to assault a soldier or a border guard officer, are heading for the Polish border,” mentioned the top of the diplomatic division. Sikorski notes that the scenario on the border has modified for the reason that new authorities got here to energy: “Now we have not but handled such circumstances when nearly 100% of those that tried to cross the Polish border on the to Russia, after which into Belarus till they attempt to break by the border.

Radoslaw Sikorski (left) and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov at a time when Russia and Poland nonetheless maintained high-level ties (picture from 2009)

In the meantime, Prime Minister Tusk plans to go to army items in japanese Poland. He introduced {that a} authorities assembly could be held on Monday, June 10, which might be devoted to the scenario on the border with Belarus. Earlier than the assembly there will probably be a gathering with President Andrzej Duda inside the Nationwide Safety Council. Tusk additionally requested the leaders of the border voivodeships to current a plan of actions that, of their opinion, should be taken on the border. Final Wednesday, the Prime Minister introduced the renewal of the so-called buffer zone, roughly 200 meters extensive, on the border with Belarus. He justified his resolution with the worsening scenario within the border Podlaskie Voivodeship.

a Polish journalist Paulina Segenwho lives within the commune (district) Dubice-Cerkiewne on the border with Belarus, notes in an announcement for Radio Liberty that residents of Podlaskie Voivodeship criticize the federal government’s resolution.

– Regardless of the prime minister’s statements that the width of the buffer zone is 200 meters, a draft decision with an appendix has appeared on the federal government’s web site. They mentioned that this buffer zone could be the identical because the one which existed below the earlier Legislation and Justice (PiS) authorities. Then many courts acknowledged that this decision was in opposition to the structure. Nonetheless, the federal government now desires to introduce a buffer zone, and the width in most locations will probably be 3-5 km, it can cowl a number of dozen settlements. This brought about sturdy resistance from native residents. Native authorities made their statements. I talked to many individuals about this subject. The reality is that folks nonetheless have recollections of the primary, as we name it, PiS period. This was initially of 2021-2022. These recollections are very dangerous. Alternatively, making such a call to not talk with individuals earlier than the vacation season begins in a vacationer space is only a stab within the again. many individuals make a residing from tourism.

See additionally Poland’s funding of about $ 2.5 billion in strengthening borders with the Russian Federation and Belarus

On the similar time, Paulina Szegen notes that the residents of border settlements don’t really feel extra threatened than the residents of Warsaw or Lodz, regardless of the border disaster:

– Individuals who dwell in border communities have turn out to be accustomed to this disaster, nonetheless unusual it could be. The reality is that we’ve been residing in these circumstances for greater than three years. Let’s examine what occurs right here. Nothing a lot has modified. As a result of provocations may occur, somebody may assault a Polish soldier – this was one of many emergency conditions from the very starting. It is a unhappy occasion, however we must always not neglect that a number of dozen individuals have already died on the border.

After criticism from native residents, the federal government despatched the draft decision for assessment, and authorities officers went to Podlaskie Voivodeship to seek the advice of with native entrepreneurs.