Polish Border Guards have reported a significant increase in attempts to illegally cross the border from Belarus, with over 70 such attempts recorded on Monday. The situation has been exacerbated by violent attacks on border patrol officers and their equipment. According to the Border Guard’s communication, stones and branches were hurled at the patrols, resulting in damage to a service vehicle, which had its windows shattered.
The incidents occurred near various border stations, including those in Białowieża, Narewka, Dubicze Cerkiewne, Czeremcha, and Krynki. A group of several migrants was seen attempting to cross the border river Świsłocz. The spokeswoman for the Podlaskie Border Guard unit, Major Katarzyna Zdanowicz, confirmed these developments and highlighted the involvement of all security forces in the area, including the Border Guard, the Polish Army, and the police.
This surge in illegal border crossings and violence is part of a larger pattern observed since the beginning of the year. The Podlaskie Border Guard unit alone has documented nearly 21,000 attempts to cross the Polish-Belarusian border illegally in 2024. The latest wave of aggression poses a significant challenge to the security forces tasked with protecting the border.
Deputy Foreign Minister Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski addressed the ongoing migrant crisis during an interview on Tuesday. He noted a possible shift in the situation, potentially influenced by recent discussions between Polish President Andrzej Duda and Chinese officials in Beijing. Bartoszewski emphasized that Poland has urged China to persuade Belarus to halt the dispatch of trained individuals who are believed to be targeting the Polish border.
However, Bartoszewski warned against interpreting these developments as a thaw in relations between Warsaw and Minsk. He reminded the public that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has imprisoned around 1,500 opposition members, releasing only a few recently while claiming a change in stance. Additionally, joint anti-terrorism drills conducted by Chinese and Belarusian forces near the Polish border have raised further concerns. Bartoszewski pointed out that while there are no Polish terrorists attempting to cross into Belarus, the opposite is true, with the Belarusian regime reportedly facilitating the entry of foreign individuals into Poland.
This escalation underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics at play and the ongoing tensions between Poland and Belarus. The increased aggression at the border highlights the urgent need for international cooperation and dialogue to address the root causes of the migrant crisis and ensure the safety of border security personnel.
