“I am grateful to all Border Guard officers and soldiers of the Polish Army for guarding and defending our border. We are strengthening the border with special security installations,” said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. He further added, “We cannot be subject to blackmail. This is an organised assault on the Polish border. We will not yield, and we will strengthen our protective installations. We have provided additional equipment and resources for this purpose. This is about the security of Poland and the European Union.”

Increasing number of illegal border crossings

In recent months, the number of illegal migrants from Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and other countries on the borders of Belarus with the European Union has dramatically increased. A significant increase occurred in July when 242 attempts were made to enter Poland through the eastern border. 
Since 1 August 2021, the Border Guard has recorded 7,641 attempted illegal crossings of the Polish-Belarusian border. In August alone, there were over 3.5 thousand such attempts. Only in September, 4,131 attempts were thwarted, including arrests on the territory of Poland.
“This is a massive action, which was well orchestrated in Minsk and Moscow. It is clear that this action is being controlled by Moscow. The determination is great. In addition, I am concerned by the fact that Belarus has specifically introduced visa-free travel for countries with a high potential for illegal emigration. These include several countries from the Middle East and Africa,” said the head of government Mateusz Morawiecki.

Death of three migrants

A tragic discovery was made by the Border Guard during the weekend. Three people who had illegally crossed the border died of hypothermia and exhaustion. The exact identity of these people is not yet known. Efforts are underway to identify the deceased.

Support for people crossing borders

The government is helping and saving the lives of all those who have crossed the Polish border. Eight such people, who were trapped in the floodplain of the Supraśl River, have been rescued. “This is why we have imposed a state of emergency, to increase the tightness of the border. At the same time, we are sensitive to human harm and help where we can, including in hospitals,” confirmed Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. He added: “We have recordings from our cameras, and we are absolutely sure that illegal migrants are brought to the Polish-Belarusian border. They are placed and instructed there.”