Polish President Convenes National Security Council Over Escalation at Belarus Border

Polish President Andrzej Duda has decided to convene a meeting of the National Security Council in response to recent events at the border with Belarus, where there has been an increase in pressure from illegal migrants and attacks on border guards. He announced this during a briefing in Normandy, where he arrived to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings, as reported by PAP.

Andrzej Duda stated that the meeting would take place next week, likely on Monday, 10 June, as Poland is currently in the midst of the campaign for the European Parliament elections. The Polish president also expressed grave concern over the situation at the Polish-Belarusian border.

Duda mentioned that he was shocked by the military police's detention of three soldiers who fired warning shots at migrants trying to cross the border from Belarus in late March and early April. He expressed his confusion as to why this information was only now being disclosed. The Polish leader added that he is not only concerned about these events, but also about the ongoing attacks on Polish border guards protecting the border with Belarus.

"In light of recent and ongoing events, I have decided to convene the National Security Council," Andrzej Duda stated.

It was reported today, 6 June, that a border guard died from a knife wound sustained near the village of Dubicze Cerkiewne when illegal migrants attempted to break through from Belarus. A migrant, trying to breach the border, struck the Polish soldier through a barbed wire fence.

"With deep sorrow, we say farewell to our soldier Mateusz, who, despite doctors' efforts, died due to a criminal attack while defending the Polish border," stated Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.

On 28 May, a group of illegal migrants near the border post in the village of Dubicze Cerkiewne threw branches and stones at Polish patrols before attempting to breach the border. During this incident, one of the migrants inflicted a knife wound on a Polish soldier.

The Gaze also reported that following this, the Polish government reinstated a buffer zone along the border with Belarus. According to Prime Minister Donald Tusk, it will be 200 meters wide and extend along the entire border. The Prime Minister also announced the mobilization of "all available resources" to protect the border.