Poland must protect its borders for the good of its citizens 

In recent months, there has been a rapid increase in the number of illegal migrants from Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and other countries attempting to cross Belarus’ border with the European Union. Lithuania was the first country affected by this migration surge. Following the adoption by Lithuania of regulations enabling its services to send migrants back to Belarus, the migration pressure has shifted to Belarus’ borders with Poland and Latvia.

“What we are dealing with at the Polish-Belarusian border is a hybrid attack. This is an attack as part of which our eastern neighbour is attempting to destabilise the political situation in our country. Immigrants, primarily from Iraq, are encouraged to come over and are then transported to the Polish-Belarusian border”, said PM Morawiecki. “They are behind Belarus’ border, and as such, it is Belarus that is responsible for them, per the international law”, he added.

In his speech, Prime Minister Morawiecki emphasized that Poland will stop any such provocations. He also noted that the government will do what it takes to keep Poland safe.

Safety is our priority, says Prime Minister Morawiecki 

Polish uniformed services work hard to provide security at the borders, diligently guarding our country’s territory. Additional Border Guard officers and Polish Army troops have been assigned to carry out border duties. 

“Safety is our priority. This is to ensure that Poles can live, work and study in peace”, said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. “I would like to thank all Border Guard officers, as well as soldiers, with as many as 1,500 of them supporting us in this endeavour. In a few days, nearly 2,000 soldiers will be assisting in patrolling this border”, he added. 

The measures used to protect the Polish border include watchtowers equipped with long-range thermal imaging cameras, surveillance vehicles, portable thermal imaging cameras, portable perimeter alarm sets and night vision goggles. A fence will also be erected soon to further improve border security. 

“The work to construct the security fence will commence in the coming days and last for a few weeks – perhaps even several weeks. We will first secure the section that is the easiest to cross illegally but the hardest to monitor – that is about 180-190 kilometres. We will also secure the section along the Bug River”, the Prime Minister emphasized.

Poland leaves no friend behind

A massive evacuation effort is underway at Kabul airport to allow diplomatic staff and foreign nationals from all over the world to leave Afghanistan. Poland is also taking part in it.

“We are conducting a proper, organised evacuation from Afghanistan. We are doing our best to provide refuge in Poland to everyone who cooperated with us”, said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

All Polish citizens who had been in Afghanistan and reported that they wish to leave have been evacuated. Currently, the government is trying to help all of Poland’s friends, who actively helped in the functioning of the Polish mission and the Polish military contingent institutions in Afghanistan throughout the many years of their operations in the region. 

Prime Ministers of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland issue joint statement on hybrid attack by Belarus

“I am in touch with the Prime Ministers of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. We want to stop the destabilisation at the borders”, said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. 

Poland and the Baltic states – Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – accuse Belarus of organising the illegal transfer of immigrants into the EU via its territory as part of a so-called hybrid war. In their joint statement, the Prime Ministers of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have stated that the ongoing crisis at the Belarusian border has been planned and orchestrated by Alexander Lukashenko’s regime. They have also called on the Belarusian authorities to cease actions leading to the further escalation of tensions.