Poland to Increase Number of Troops on Border with Belarus to 10,000

The Ministry of Defence of Poland plans to increase the number of troops on the border with Belarus by several thousand in order to deter the aggressor from attacking the country.

"About 10,000 soldiers will be on the border: 4,000 will directly support the Border Service, and 6,000 will be in reserve," Polish Radio quotes  Mariusz Błaszczak, Minister of Defence.

He says that the ministry is redeploying troops "closer to the border with Belarus to deter the aggressor so that he does not dare to attack" Poland.

He added that "the violation of Polish space by Belarusian helicopters cannot be underestimated due to the approach" of Minsk.

"This was another provocation. Everything that happens in Belarus is coordinated with the actions of Russia," Błaszczak clarified. 

Earlier, it was reported that Poland would send two thousand military personnel to the border with Belarus to prevent illegal border crossings – twice as many as requested by the Border Guard Service.

On Monday, Deputy Minister of the Interior, Mateusz Wąsik, mentioned that the Border Guard Service is demanding an additional reinforcement of one thousand military personnel.

He noted that currently, all attempts of illegal migration to Poland are organised by the Belarusian authorities.