This article was originally published in English
Poland began to build border fortifications in order to make it as difficult as possible for a potential aggressor to penetrate its territory.
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Poland has begun building a line of defensive fortifications on its border with Russia as part of the “Eastern Shield” program. This was announced by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
The “Eastern Shield” (Tarcza Wschód) is a program prepared by the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff of the Polish Army, which provides for the construction of various types of fortifications, terrain obstacles and military infrastructure on Poland's borders with Russia and Belarus, with a total length of approximately 800 kilometers. The project was presented last May.
The Polish Prime Minister announces the start of work on Platform X. “Construction of the Eastern Shield has begun!” The first works on the border with Russia,” he writes.
Ditches, anti-tank hedges and minefields
A resolution on the creation of the “Eastern Shield National Deterrence and Defense Program”, for which 10 billion PLN (approximately 2.29 billion euros) was allocated between 2024 and 2028, was adopted by the Council of Ministers on June 10 during a retreat in Bialystok.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, “the government intends to build a comprehensive defense infrastructure on NATO's eastern flank to counter threats from Belarus and Russia.”
The “Eastern Shield” program provides, among other things, for the construction of fortifications and natural obstacles in key border areas. In particular, it is planned to dig ditches, lay minefields and install anti-tank hedges in the border area.
The construction of appropriate intelligence and threat detection systems, forward bases, logistics centers, warehouses or the deployment of drone defense systems are also considered.
The aim is, on the one hand, to make it as easy as possible for the Polish army to defend the border and, on the other hand, to make it more difficult for a potential aggressor to penetrate Polish territory.
The construction of fortifications along Poland's eastern and northern borders will cover key regions: Pomerania, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, Podlaskie and Subcarpathian regions.
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