Poland's Border Guard has asked the defence ministry to send another 1,000 troops to the border with Belarus, the deputy interior minister said on Monday, amid an increase in attempts to illegally cross the frontier.
The head of the Border Guard, Tomasz Praga, said this year 19,000 people had tried to cross the Polish-Belarusian border illegally, up from 16,000 last year, with a record number of attempts made in July this year - nearly 4,000.
"At the section of the Polish-Belarusian border we have an another wave of illegal migrants and an another stage of the hybrid war," he added.
"We need plenty more forces at the border. The general (Praga) asked to move another 1,000 soldiers to the Polish-Belarusian border," Deputy Interior Minister Maciej Wąsik said.
"Nothings happens without the knowledge and approval of Minsk"
The Border Guard Chief also reminded that each 6-7 trains from Moscow are bringing migrants to Minsk, Brest, and Grodno. "These trains, in their nomenclature, are called tourist trains," he explained.
Tomasz Praga pointed out that border guards all over the world should protect the borders, adding that the Belarusian guards "have turned into a regular criminal group organizing illegal immigration". "Obviously making huge profit on it."
"Nothings happens without the knowledge and approval of Minsk," he stressed.
Poland has built a face on the border with Belarus, equipped with electronic protection.
In recent weeks, soldiers from the Wagner mercenary group have appeared near the border, which, according to Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, is aimed at destabilising the situation on NATO's eastern flank.
Poland and Lithuania discuss security plans
Poland's Ministry of the Interior and Administration said in a statement on Monday that the ministry chief had spoken with his Lithuanian counterpart Agnė Bilotaitė on Friday (August 4).
"During the call, the ministers also reached a consensus on response plans for dealing with ongoing threats from the Belarusian side, as well as possible future provocations in the border area," the ministry said.
"They also discussed ideas for a mechanism that would be put in place should all border crossings to Belarus have to be shut down, resulting in the isolation of the Lukashenko regime."
"The two parties emphasised the strong, positive cooperation in the area of security between Poland and Lithuania," the statement added.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, Reuters, PAP
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: Straż Graniczna/ Twitter