Poland Recorded 210 Attempts of Illegal Border Crossing by African Migrants from Belarus in Three Days

Illegal migrants from African countries continue to force their way across the Belarusian-Polish border, the Podlasie Border Guard Department of Poland has reported. Over the past three days, the Polish side has recorded 210 attempts to illegally cross the border from Belarus, and migrants have twice attacked patrols with stones and tree branches.

In particular, the Polish Border Guard reported that last Friday, more than 40 attempts to illegally enter Poland were recorded, on Saturday - almost 90, and on Sunday - more than 80.

Most of the attempts were recorded near the settlements of Białowoża, Narewka, Dubicze Cerkiewne, Krynki and some others. In addition, illegal migrants also tried to get to Poland through the border rivers Svisloch and Vovkushanka. 

During this period, four organisers and facilitators of illegal border crossings were detained. According to the Podlasie Division of the Polish Border Guard, a total of 22,500 attempts to illegally cross the border from Belarus to Poland have been recorded in Podlasie since the beginning of the year. Since the beginning of August, more than 1,300 such attempts have been recorded. In July, there were more than 1,300, and in June - more than 3,700.

On 1 August, Poland launched a military operation on the border with Belarus, Safe Podlasie, involving about 17,000 troops to counter the influx of illegal migrants from Africa through Belarus.