Over the past 24 hours, border authorities reported a notable surge in attempts to illegally cross from Belarus into Poland. In total, 95 people were documented as attempting the journey on Sunday, according to a Border Guard report released on Monday. The group included migrants from several regions, with individuals identified as coming from Morocco and Sri Lanka among others.
Among those seeking to enter Poland, 19 individuals chose to abandon the attempt and retreated back toward Belarus as soon as they observed Polish patrols along the frontier. This responsiveness to enhanced border presence underscores the ongoing vigilance of Polish authorities at critical crossing points and the determination of migrants who attempt to find daylight in a heavily monitored border zone. The report highlighting these immediate responses was disseminated by SG via Twitter, reflecting how information about border dynamics is increasingly shared in real time through social media channels.
In addition to these episodes, there were other arrests connected to the border operations. Five Ukrainians were detained for aiding and abetting the illegal crossing. In the Białowieża operational area, a Ukrainian national was linked to the transport of six Afghans. Separately, four Ukrainians faced detention near the Bobrowniki border post for helping to move three Ethiopians and two Somalis toward the border line. These incidents illustrate a broader pattern where individuals from neighbouring regions contribute to cross-border movements, sometimes by assisting groups or coordinating transport despite the legal prohibitions in force.
Build-up reports from Border Guard records indicate that, since the start of 2023, approximately 300 people have been detained for assisting others and for illegal border crossings. Looking at the current year, authorities have logged around 8,500 attempts to illegally cross the border from Belarus into Poland. These figures reflect ongoing pressure at the frontier and the persistent challenges border agencies face as migrants seek routes through areas where cooperation and enforcement intersect.
On the infrastructure side, an electronic firewall has been established about 206 kilometers from the Belarusian border. This system, composed of cameras and sensors, serves as a digital layer of monitoring that complements a physical barrier described as a 5.5-meter-high steel dam installed last year 186 kilometers from the border. Construction progress remains uneven in the field because water levels have risen, particularly in the areas near Narewka and Białowieża, where several sections of the barrier are prone to flooding. Engineers note that installation can resume effectively once flood conditions subside and the land dries sufficiently for safe work—an operational reality that can influence the timetable for completing the barrier network.
In the Podlaskie region, all border crossings with Belarus remain closed pending further notice. Only two railway crossings, Kuźnica and Siemianówka, remain open to traffic. The border zone rules are governed by a 2021 regulation issued by the voivode that prohibits staying within the entire border strip along the external EU border with Belarus. A separate February decree from the voivodeship, addressing order in the border area adjacent to the state border, remains in force as well. For the border road, a defined area is established inland from the border extending 15 meters (about 50 feet). This strip is intended to manage security and movement near the frontier and varies in application depending on local conditions and state directives.
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Reports continue to describe the ongoing border challenges. Data released by SG detail episodes involving the capture of illegal entrants, including individuals from Eritrea and Ghana. The daily tallies reveal that, on one recent day, 104 migrants attempted the Belarus-to-Poland crossing, with authorities stopping citizens from Syria, Afghanistan, and Somalia among others. These snapshots from SG and related sources illustrate the persistent human and logistical dimensions of the border situation, echoing across regional security and humanitarian considerations.
pn/PAP/Twitter
Source: wPolityce