war against Ukraine
Poland strengthens border guards with Belarus
Polish border guards secure a closed border crossing on the Polish-Belarusian border. photo
© Wojtek Jargilo/PAP/dpa
Poland is sending 500 additional officers to the border with Belarus. The reason for this is Polish findings that up to 8,000 Wagner mercenaries could find accommodation in the neighboring country.
Because of the planned transfer of Russian Wagner mercenaries to the neighboring country Belarus moves hundreds of police officers to Poland’s eastern border. The 500 officers, including members of the anti-terrorist unit, should reinforce the 5,000 border guards and 2,000 soldiers currently stationed at the border, Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski said on Twitter. Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who is responsible for security, recently announced that the number of uniformed forces would be increased and border fortifications strengthened.
According to Kaczynski, Poland has information that up to 8,000 Wagner fighters could find accommodation in Belarus. EU and NATO member Poland shares a 418-kilometer border with Belarus.
The head of the mercenary force, Yevgeny Prigozhin, had meanwhile occupied the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don last weekend and then had his fighters march towards Moscow. He surprisingly gave up around 200 kilometers from the Russian capital. Lukashenko mediated in the conflict. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin assured Prigozhin and his mercenaries of impunity. According to Lukashenko, Prigozhin has now arrived in Belarus. Lukashenko has also offered the fighters of the mercenary force a place in his country.