The Polish Border Guard reported that on the 12th, a group of about 30 migrants at the Poland-Belarus border threw stones and branches at border guards, attempting to destroy the border fence and illegally enter Poland. Moreover, a Belarusian officer in uniform was involved in the attack on Polish border guards. The Polish Ministry of Defense believes this severely threatens the security of Poland and the EU.
According to Polish radio station RMF, Polish Border Guard spokesperson Michalska stated: "We clearly saw the presence of a Belarusian officer from the monitors. This is no longer just a migrant issue but a direct threat to Poland's sovereignty." One guard sustained minor injuries, and the authorities used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd.
Polish Defense Minister Kosiński-Kamiesz said: "This is a deliberate provocation by the Belarusian regime. They not only use migrants as weapons but also directly send officers to participate in attacks on our border." He has informed NATO and the EU of this matter and called on the international community to condemn Belarus's actions.
Polish Prime Minister Tusk announced: "The Polish border is the EU border." The government will deploy more troops and accelerate the construction of permanent fencing.
Since 2021, Belarus has been accused of deliberately pushing migrants from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia towards the borders of Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia as retaliation against EU sanctions, triggering what is called "hybrid warfare." The Polish government estimates that attempts at illegal crossings have increased by 30% compared to the same period last year.
Poland has been constructing a 5.5-meter high fence and surveillance system since 2022, but conflicts have been frequent. This incident is one of the most serious this year, highlighting that Belarusian provocations have escalated from migration manipulation to military intervention, testing Poland's and NATO's resolve.