Polish soldier at the Belarus-Poland border in the forest near Białowieża, Poland, June 4, 2024. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel
According to the media RMF24
Poland plans to extend the temporary ban on staying in the area near the border with Belarus for another three months. The draft decree from the Ministry of Internal Affairs was published by RMF24. The current regulation remains in effect until March 4, 2026.
The new document provides for extending the ban beginning March 5 for 90 days.
The restricted zone covers a stretch of the border more than 78 km long.
The ministry’s explanation notes that the expansion of the buffer zone is driven by persistent migration pressure on the Polish-Belarusian border. It also states that recently there has been a significant rise in the number of cases of meteorological balloons launched from Belarus with attached packages of tobacco products.
Poland has recorded incidents with balloons approaching its border with Belarus. Late on January 31, border guards noted objects in close proximity to the border. As a result, temporary restrictions on using part of the airspace for civil aviation were introduced in the Podlaskie Voivodeship.
On January 28, Polish forces also reported objects moving into the country’s airspace from Belarus.
Security prospects and NATO position
Earlier, Brigadier General of the Bundeswehr Thomas Lovin stated that by the end of 2027 NATO plans to create an unmanned robotic defense zone on the border with Russia and Belarus, and to amass considerably more weapons there.
Late on February 1, the Belarusian side again attempted to conduct reconnaissance and test the response of the Polish air defense systems.
“to conduct reconnaissance and test the response of the Polish air defense systems”
– Belarusian side
Objects resembling balloons continued to appear in the country’s airspace.
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