POLAND FORTIFIES BORDERS WITH RUSSIA AND BELARUS USING MINES AND ANTI-TANK BARRIERS

Warsaw is accelerating its "Eastern Shield" project, a defensive line designed to protect against potential threats from Russia and Belarus. Within three years, a comprehensive defensive barrier will stretch all the way to the Baltic Sea.

Poland is significantly reinforcing its borders to deter threats stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Warsaw authorities have announced the addition of minefields to the "Eastern Shield" project, a defensive barrier whose construction began last November and continues seven days a week.

This formidable barrier extends over 20 kilometers along Poland's border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, reaching the Baltic Sea. According to Karol Frankowski, spokesperson for the Polish army, this new corridor is a clear demonstration of strength. "We are protecting our border. We've seen what happened to Ukraine with the invasion. We must be ready for a potential attack," he stated.

A New Eurasian Divide

Marek Świerczyński, head of the Security and International Affairs Desk at Polityka Insight, praised the project's progress, noting, "It seems a new division in Eurasia is forming before our very eyes."

Poland is among the NATO countries that have most significantly boosted their military capabilities. It shares a northern border with Russia (specifically the Kaliningrad Oblast) and an eastern border with Belarus. A narrow land corridor between these countries leads to Lithuania and the Baltic States, an area often considered NATO's most vulnerable in the event of a conflict.

Project Timeline and Funding

According to Polish Secretary of State Cezary Tomczyk, work on the Eastern Shield, as well as fortifications along the Belarusian border, will be completed within three years. The project has secured billions of euros in funding, including support from the European Union. In March, the Polish Ministry of Defense announced that the European Investment Bank had approved, in principle, one billion euros in financing to support the initiative.

The project also involves constructing a network of anti-tank barriers, fortified shelters, and bunkers, creating a robust defensive line.