Polish authorities stated on Wednesday that they do not rule out the possibility of installing anti-personnel mines along their borders with Russia and Belarus, areas that frequently become focal points of migration crises. This statement comes after the confirmation of Poland and its Baltic neighbors’ withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, an international treaty that bans the use of such explosives.
Deputy Defense Minister Pawel Bejda justified the measure by describing the border situation as “serious.” In an interview with the RMF24 radio station, he stated, “We have no choice” and warned that Belarus is following in Russia’s footsteps. He also criticized Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, asserting that he acts under the orders of his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.
Bejda further accused Belarus of facilitating Russian attacks on Ukraine, pointing out that the country has been used as a launching platform for offensives originating from Russian territory. Regarding anti-personnel mines, he confirmed that while Poland currently does not possess these devices, it does have the capability to produce them. He also explained that the withdrawal from the treaty was due to the “unstable” situation in the region.
The Polish government also plans to acquire large quantities of anti-personnel mines. Bejda stated that, with the support of both public and private industries, the country could manufacture “hundreds of thousands” and, in the future, even “talk about a million” units.
In recent years, Poland’s border with its eastern neighbors has become one of the main routes for irregular migration, increasing tensions in the region. Warsaw accuses Moscow and Minsk of encouraging these crossings as retaliation for the sanctions imposed by the European Union following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak announced a military reinforcement in the Podlaskie province, in the northeast of the country, where 260 illegal crossing attempts have been recorded in recent days. According to Siemoniak, migration pressure has risen significantly over the past two weeks, with dozens of people attempting to cross the border, some even attacking border guards.
“We are prepared,” he assured. “We will not allow this border to become porous.” He also detailed that the area is equipped with a reinforced physical barrier, two security rings that prevent tampering, and an almost completed electronic fence.
