One of the violent incidents unfolded last Thursday near the town of Michałowo along the Polish-Belarusian border, when a group of migrants reportedly attacked Polish soldiers by hurling stones at them. According to Major Błażej Łukaszewski, spokesperson for the Podlasie Military Task Force, two individuals illegally crossed into Poland during the confrontation, and one soldier sustained injuries requiring hospital treatment.
Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz addressed the matter during a visit to Płock: “Poland was attacked, not the migrant. A Polish soldier was attacked. I stand with the Polish armed forces, with our soldiers, and with a safe Poland.”
The minister emphasised that anyone who breaches the border unlawfully and resorts to violence must be prepared to face consequences.
“Breaking the law, crossing the border illegally, and endangering the lives and health of our troops cannot go unpunished. I expect the prosecution and all relevant services to take swift and decisive action to protect our soldiers, the very people who have been safeguarding the Polish border for over three years. They deserve our full support.”
Kosiniak-Kamysz also recalled that only a year ago, a Polish soldier lost his life in the line of duty. In his view, Thursday’s attack fits a broader pattern of escalating aggression.
“These are not isolated acts. Our soldiers are defending Poland against criminals acting at the behest of the Belarusian regime. That is the reality we face.”
He went on to suggest that Belarusian frustration over Poland’s increasingly fortified border is fuelling such confrontations.
“What we’re seeing is growing hostility – a calculated effort to provoke our troops and challenge Polish sovereignty. The level of violence at the frontier has noticeably increased,” he warned.
Kosiniak-Kamysz noted that the border controls introduced on the German and Lithuanian frontiers are yielding results, citing a growing number of successful interceptions. He defended the government’s decision to implement these measures and stressed that military assistance would remain in place as long as necessary.
“As long as there’s a need for the army at the borders, we’ll keep our soldiers there, for as long and in whatever number is required,” he concluded.
Another serious incident at the Polish-Belarusian border unfolded late Tuesday evening near the village of Czeremcha, where Polish Border Guard officers spotted a group of migrants attempting to cross into Poland from Belarus.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Andrzej Juźwiak, spokesperson for the Chief Commander of the Border Guard, the situation quickly escalated when stones and bottles – including a Molotov cocktail – were hurled from the Belarusian side. The explosive device detonated dangerously close to both Polish patrols and the migrants apprehended shortly after crossing the border.
Fortunately, no one was injured in the attack. Juźwiak also highlighted a sharp rise in illegal border crossing attempts in recent weeks, revealing that nearly 220 such incidents occurred within a single day, and over 17,000 since the start of the year.
Responding to the violence, Interior Ministry spokesperson Jacek Dobrzyński confirmed that Minister Tomasz Siemoniak held urgent discussions on Wednesday with senior border force officials and other ministers, stressing that the matter is being treated as a top priority.
Minister Siemoniak later addressed the incident on social media, declaring: “Any attack by migrants illegally crossing the border – especially when aided by Belarusian services – against Polish officers or soldiers will be met with a firm and forceful response. We will not tolerate violence against those who defend the Republic of Poland.”
Source: PAP
Photo: X/@Straz_Graniczna
Tomasz Modrzejewski
