Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak has announced that Poland is beefing up fortifications on its borders with Russia and Belarus
Błaszczak took to Twitter to announce the larger fortifications and posted photographs of concrete barriers and barricades that have been placed on certain roads.
“This is an element of our defense strategy and a deterrent,” he wrote.
The Polish military has said that existing border crossings remain open. It has also announced that it is carrying out engineering projects in designated areas on the borders with Russia and Belarus to enhance national security.
Last year saw the construction of a steel barrier that is 5.5 meters high along the 186 kilometers of Poland’s border with Belarus. A complimentary electronic barrier with cameras and sensors is also under construction.
Poland is not only concerned about a potential military invasion from the direction of Russia or Belarus. It has also been dealing with an ongoing migration crisis, which, according to the Polish government, is being orchestrated by Belarusian intelligence services to retaliate against Poland since the Belarusian government views the country as a rival.
In February of this year, there were 1,047 illegal crossing attempts at the border with Belarus. On Wednesday, 31 people attempted to force their way through the border. Poland has seen a sharp reduction in border crossings since it beefed up border security and erected fencing and surveillance.
