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Poland Resumes Cold War-Era Anti-Personnel Mine Production to Defend Against Russian Threats
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Poland has made the decision to begin producing anti-personnel mines for the first time since the Cold War. These mines are intended to be deployed along the country's eastern border with Belarus and Russia, and may potentially be exported to Ukraine, according to the country's Deputy Defense Minister Pawel Zalewski in an interview with Reuters on December 17.
Pawel Zalewski emphasized Poland’s urgency, stating that the country is “interested in large quantities as soon as possible.”
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The mines will be integral to the "East Shield" program, which is focused on bolstering the country’s defenses against potential threats from Belarus and the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. When asked if mine production could begin next year, once Poland’s withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention is complete, Zalewski responded, “I would very much like that... We have such needs.”
Poland began the process of leaving the Ottawa Convention in August and had previously signaled that it might start producing anti-personnel mines if necessary, but Zalewski’s comments are the first official confirmation of this plan.
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Belma, the state-owned company that currently provides several types of mines to the Polish military, has outlined plans to supply millions of mines as part of the East Shield program, which is aimed at securing Poland’s 800-kilometer eastern border, according to Reuters. CEO Jaroslaw Zakrzewski stated that Poland could require between 5 to 6 million mines of all types, with production capacity to produce up to 1.2 million mines next year. At present, Belma produces about 100,000 mines annually.
While Poland’s immediate needs will be prioritized, the possibility of supplying excess production to allies has been raised.
“Our starting point is our own needs. But for us, Ukraine is absolutely a priority because the European and Polish security line is on the Russia-Ukraine front,” Zalewski noted.
Zakrzewski also confirmed that Poland could export mines to Ukraine and mentioned that other NATO countries on Russia’s border, including the Baltic states, have expressed interest in purchasing anti-personnel mines.
Earlier, Polish border guards uncovered a tunnel, spanning several dozen meters, that facilitated the illegal entry of over 180 migrants from Belarus into Poland.
According to a report from the Polish Border Guard, the tunnel, located beneath the Polish-Belarusian border, was discovered on December 11 near Narewka in the Podlaskie Voivodeship.
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