On November 25, 2022, in Płociczno - Tartak, the head of the Ministry of National Defense observed the main phase of the Tumak-22 exercise. It is the most significant training undertaking carried out by the 16th Mechanized Division in 2022 and a summary of the training of all units within the division structures. It gathers over 2,000 soldiers from all types of units - land, air and special forces, soldiers of Armed Forces Support Inspectorate, territorial defense troops and the NATO Battalion Battle Group - using nearly 1,000 units of combat equipment and logistical support vehicles.

- This is another edition of the exercise organized by the 16^th Mechanized Division’s command. The division is responsible for providing security in the north-eastern part of our country. The exercise is a great opportunity for the Polish Armed Forces and, taking part in this training as well, the NATO Battalion Battle Group, to jointly perfect their coordination and cooperation. We saw that the soldiers work incredibly well together. They are prepared to take responsibility for the security of our homeland and the entire NATO’s eastern flank. This exercise gathered soldiers from various units: mainly troops of the 16th Mechanized Division, that is the 20^th, 15^th and logistics brigades, but also soldiers of the Territorial Defense Forces and the 25th Air Cavalry Brigade.

- said Deputy Prime Minister.

The scenario of the exercise assumes the implementation of tasks not only in the area of the Land Forces Training Center in Orzysz but also in the earmarked terrains of Warmian-Masurian and Podlaskie voivodships. Soldiers' actions during the exercise include responding to mass events (Mascal) and crossing a water obstacle combined with landing.

- We coordinate various military units so that the soldiers know perfectly well how to cooperate with each other. We are well aware of our soldiers’ high skills. But in order for these skills to be maintained, it is necessary to organize such exercises as TUMAK, in and outside the military training grounds premises. The exercise objectives resulted from the current soldiers’ tasks and were formulated on the basis of both: our own experiences, and observations of the battlefields in Ukraine. We see the methods used by Russia, but we also see which methods of Ukrainian defense are most effective. We must be ready to use these experiences to deter the aggressor.

- said the head of the Ministry of National Defense.

The meeting of the head of the Ministry of National Defense with the soldiers of the 16th Mechanized Division participating in the Tumak-21 exercise was also an opportunity to thank them for their daily service.

- I thank all the soldiers taking part in the exercise and all the Polish soldiers who serve our homeland on a daily basis. We know perfectly well that the tasks regard what we have seen here today, but also securing the border - both the border with Belarus and the Kaliningrad Oblast. We react before, not after. We are immune to all the threats posed by Russian policy.

- said Deputy Prime Minister.

During the meeting with the Polish Armed Forces’ commanders, Deputy Prime Minister also referred to the issue of security in the region and military support for Ukraine.

- The deployment of German Patriot launchers in Ukraine is beneficial for the security of the south-eastern part of our country. It is because eastern Ukraine’s safety also means the safety of eastern Poland. (...) It's all about the time of reaction. Patriots deployed in eastern Poland would be able to shoot down missiles that crossed the Polish border, and tragic event, which happened on November 15, took place just a few kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The missile flew through Polish territory in a few seconds.

- said Deputy Prime Minister M. Błaszczak.

- This is not nearly enough time to effectively strike it down. Whilst shooting such a missile over Ukrainian territory would mean Poland's entry into the war, which we have no intention of, deploying the Patriots in Ukraine increases the security of both western Ukraine and eastern Poland.

– emphasized the head of the Ministry of National Defense.

- Another reason is the threat of a blackout in Ukraine. The intensive rocket fire aimed at power plants and other critical infrastructure devices causes a lack of access to electricity. As a consequence, because of the upcoming winter, it will cause another wave of refugees, and from the point of view of both the security of Ukraine and Poland, and therefore the whole of Europe, it is better that this does not happen.

– he said.

Deputy Prime Minister also referred to the argument that the German Patriots are too technologically advanced systems to be transferred to Ukraine.

- First of all, the German Patriots are an old version, from the 1980s, so no one can say that they are technologically advanced. Polish Patriots are really technologically advanced since this is their latest version. (…) The equipment, which is much more technologically advanced than the German Patriots, has already been transferred to Ukraine - I am speaking of the Himars sets.

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The 16th Mechanized Division is responsible for, among others, the so-called Suwałki pass, which is also protected as part of NATO's eastern flank by Allied troops. The 15^th Mechanized Brigade, belonging to the 16th Division, exercises with American, British, Romanian and Croatian forces, forming a NATO battle group, subordinated to the NATO Multinational Division North East Headquarters in Elbląg

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Poland participates in the NATO eFP initiative - enhanced Forward Presence and plays a unique role in the eFP initiative. It is one of the host countries, but also a country that delegates its forces to one of the groups, and creates a multinational division headquarters in Elbląg that coordinates the activities of all eFP groups. The main strength of the EFP are four NATO multinational battalion battlegroups deployed in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Each group was formed by a framework nation, which are the United States, Germany, Canada and the United Kingdom.