Consequences of the Russian invasion: Poland is arming its army at high speed

Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine has increased the urgency of one of the most important projects in Poland: the army is to be upgraded – with more recruits and soldiers.

A group of cadets march in parade formation across the schoolyard. In addition, Lady Gaga bangs out of the speakers. The beat fits the drill tempo. Then the visitors are allowed to go, in civilian clothes, but already with a weapon in their hands.

It’s a Saturday afternoon in Radom, a good 100 kilometers south of Warsaw. The Polish army has invited to a military fair in the school auditorium. Armored personnel carriers and anti-aircraft guns from Polish production have parked in the playground.

“Russia is a danger”

Right in the middle is 16-year-old Konrad. “Somewhere in the back of your mind you always have the idea of ​​getting involved in defence,” he says. You have to, because of the situation in the world. “Russia is a danger, and soldiers are simply necessary to defend the country.”

And Poland’s army is looking for new recruits. The country is arming itself – also with new recruits. Since 2015, since the PiS party has ruled, the number of soldiers has increased by almost three quarters, to 164,000 now. In the medium term it should be 300,000. There is no compulsory military service, but the army is an attractive employer, says Lieutenant Colonel Damian Dudek at the military fair in Radom.

“We invite everyone who is changing jobs, looking for a job or wants to connect their future with the military.” Anyone interested can submit an application here on site to do voluntary basic military service in one of the units. “I don’t hide the fact that the salary is now very attractive. At the moment it’s 4,960 zloty gross for a start,” says the lieutenant colonel.

“Wanting means being able”

Converted that is a good 1000 euros starting salary, which is safe. With high inflation rates and a foreseeable economic crisis, that’s not bad. In any case, the signs in the Polish Ministry of Defense are not pointing towards austerity. Three percent of the gross domestic product currently goes to defense.

It is foreseeable that it will be five percent – Poland would thus invest more in relation to its own economic output than any other NATO country. And Mariusz Blaszczak, the defense minister, has been on a buying spree for months, mostly outside of Europe.

At the beginning of December he was in the port of Gdynia and received the first batch of “K2” main battle tanks and “K9” howitzers from South Korea – only a few months after the order. “We want peace. That’s why we’re preparing for war,” he said at the time. “We are proving that we are consistently developing and strengthening the Polish army. And I want to say to all those who have doubts: wanting means being able.”

Long list of orders

The “want” list also includes “FA50” fighter jets and rocket launchers from South Korea, as well as “Abrams” main battle tanks and “F-35” fighter jets from the USA. There are also weapon systems from our own production such as the “Krab” self-propelled howitzer. The arms deliveries are so important for Poland that even the President came to the port to receive them.

Andrzej Duda made it clear that from his point of view armor is not about wanting or not wanting. “You don’t have to explain to anyone how important this process and this speed of delivery are in the current situation – given the war in Ukraine.” Since February 24, 2022, it has been clear that only “the heroism of a soldier in effective and modern equipment is capable of stopping Russian imperial ambitions, Russian brutality.”

Opposition complains about lack of transparency

Should the Ukraine lose the war, Poland and the Baltic States would be Moscow’s next targets – that has become a Polish reason of state. That is why the country supports Ukraine almost without reservation: old T72 tanks, new Leopard tanks, soon MiG-29 fighter jets. The fact that just to close these gaps you have to upgrade is also politically unchallenged.

At most, there is criticism of the mostly completely non-transparent purchasing decisions. Tomasz Siemoniak is deputy leader of the opposition party PO and was defense minister himself until 2015. “Members of the Defense Committee learn about ‘Abrams’ or ‘K2’ tanks from the media,” he says. That is opaque.

You don’t know what that costs. It’s hard to even comment on that. “Certainly, the gaps after deliveries to Ukraine must be closed. But whether so much, for so much money, that’s another question.” Elections will be held in Poland in the fall. And whoever wins already knows that the next government will inherit what will soon be the most powerful conventional army in Europe – and a pile of very expensive bills.