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Poland Thwarts 300 Violent Border Breaches as Migrant Crisis With Belarus Escalates

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Vlad Litnarovych
Vlad Litnarovych
Author
Poland Thwarts 300 Violent Border Breaches as Migrant Crisis With Belarus Escalates
Soldiers of the Polish Border Guard are seen as they stay guard before the Prime Minister’s visit on the Polish-Belarusian border in Ozierany Male, Poland on March 22, 2025. (Source: Getty Images)

Poland’s Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz has warned of a sharp escalation in migrant activity along the Polish-Belarusian border, accusing Belarus—and by extension, Russia—of orchestrating aggressive attempts to breach Poland’s border defenses, Polish media outlet Polsat News reported on April 5.

“Migrants are throwing rocks, branches, and even using angle grinders to try to cut through the barrier,” Kosiniak-Kamysz stated following a night that saw hundreds of attempts to illegally cross into Polish territory.

He added that the surge in violent crossings is not a spontaneous migration wave, but a deliberate hybrid operation designed to destabilize Poland and the broader European Union.

“This is not an attempt to seek asylum. This is clearly an attack on Poland. I hope everyone understands that now,” the minister said. “Assisting in such illegal crossings is not humanitarian aid—it’s complicity in breaking the law.”

According to Kosiniak-Kamysz, roughly 300 attempts were recorded overnight on April 5, most involving large, coordinated groups. All were reportedly thwarted by Polish forces.

The minister emphasized that Poland’s border response is swift and effective. “We’ve changed the philosophy of military operations at the border. Today, the barrier is more secure than ever, and we have a new, more efficient defense system. It’s now 98% effective—the highest in our history.”

Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed that the migration pressure is part of a larger Belarusian and Russian operation. “This isn’t a natural migration route. It’s staged and coordinated. It’s a geopolitical weapon.”

The government has also introduced a new policy of not accepting asylum requests from those who cross the border illegally. “This is our land, our law. We protect our citizens, and we will detain anyone who endangers our security,” the minister stated.

He urged potential migrants not to fall into what he called “a trap set by the Belarusian and Russian regimes.”

“Those thinking they can enter Europe illegally with Belarus’s help will not find success here. Asylum requests submitted after illegal entry will no longer be accepted in Poland. We want to warn them before they risk their lives or freedom,” he said.

Poland began building a 5.5-meter-tall steel wall on its 186-kilometer border with Belarus in early 2022, in response to a previous migrant surge. The wall is reinforced with barbed wire and an electronic surveillance system, including motion sensors and cameras.

The electronic barrier now covers 206 kilometers, and the system enables border guards to instantly detect any approach or attempted breach.

Earlier, Latvia was set to close border checkpoints to pedestrians and cyclists along its frontiers with Russia and Belarus, a move aimed at preventing a potential migrant crisis.

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