Controls at the border with Slovakia expanded
Poland has decided to extend temporary border controls with Slovakia for another 20 days, pushing the expiry to November 2. The announcement came from Mariusz Kamiński, the head of the Ministry of Interior and Administration, who spoke on a Polish radio channel. He emphasized the seriousness of the situation and asserted that there will be no illegal migration routes through Poland.
According to Kamiński, the original 20-day window was approaching its end, and the extension is being implemented in line with the Schengen Code. He noted that a second phase of the procedure would begin and that coordination with the European Commission would follow. The minister highlighted noticeable positive effects from the measures and reiterated the commitment to preventing unauthorized crossings.
The extension signals ongoing vigilance at Poland’s borders and a clear message that illegal migration movements are being actively addressed. Poland remains attentive to the evolving dynamics of migration in the region and seeks to uphold the integrity of its border controls.
Inspections deliver results
Kamiński underscored that the intensified inspections have revealed the scale of the issue. After formalizing the decision, authorities increased their checks and encountered roughly 550 illegal entrants. This figure underscores the seriousness of the Balkan route’s activity and confirms that the route is being actively utilized despite efforts to block it.
In the most recent period, about 156 migrants were apprehended. Meanwhile, Polish security services screened around 30,000 vehicles, with a significant portion being buses and coaches that previously ferried large groups of migrants toward Western Europe. The border control measures thus appear to be disrupting the movement and flow of people attempting to reach other European states.
The government explained that the temporary controls were adopted to curb unauthorized crossings, and neighboring Czech authorities implemented a similar temporary measure at the Slovakia border. Reports show a noticeable rise in reported migrants there, illustrating how temporary controls can influence migrant routes. The broader aim remains the disruption of routes and the prevention of illegal travel through the region. The authorities continued their efforts to block established paths, including comparisons to earlier attempts to manage the Belarusian route, which, according to official assessments, was not fully realized despite prior intentions.
Kamiński commented that these developments should prompt neighboring nations to coordinate their actions, especially with regard to routes moving toward Austria. He suggested that Austrian authorities would need to mobilize effectively to limit movement along shared corridors.
Neutralization of Belarusian and Russian spies
The minister highlighted a completed counterintelligence summary covering recent years, noting clear, tangible results under eight years of governance. He reported that 46 Russian and Belarusian spies were arrested. In addition, 55 individuals who had diplomatic cover and enjoyed immunity were expelled. Overall, 101 agents were neutralized, including 46 arrests. By contrast, during previous administrations only eleven spies were arrested and seven expelled over an eight-year span. This contrast was emphasized to illustrate the current security posture and effectiveness.
The minister spoke about these findings on a radio program, framing them as part of a broader effort to safeguard national security and counter foreign intelligence activities.
Agreement between the Polish services and the FSB
Kamiński referenced findings from a series exploring past cooperation, noting that the Military Counterintelligence Service had engaged with the Russian Federal Security Service after April 10, 2010. It was stated that representatives of the FSB had, starting early 2011, visited the Polish Counterintelligence Service headquarters. The timeline indicated that this occurred well before a formal agreement on cooperation in military counterintelligence was signed in St. Petersburg in September 2013.
According to the account, the intensity of meetings declined after the agreement, with only eleven meetings occurring, five after the annexation of Crimea in early 2014. The report claimed that FSB visits to the Military Counterintelligence Service were logged in official records from January 2011, and that meetings continued several times a month through 2011 and into the following years. It was noted that two more years passed before the contract was signed, and during the period leading up to it, Russian intelligence representatives reportedly visited SKW headquarters frequently. After the signing, meetings persisted into late 2014, with the last recorded visit noted for that year.
The minister described the agreement as unprecedented and suggested that no self-respecting country, particularly a NATO member, would have signed such terms. He cited Article 2, point B, to illustrate concerns about commitments to counteracting other foreign intelligence services without applying similar constraints to NATO partners.
Extensive background material indicated that visits by the FSB to the Military Counterintelligence Service continued intermittently over the years, including a pattern of frequent early interactions that later tapered off after 2013. The discussion pointed to the intricate and controversial nature of bilateral intelligence engagement and its potential implications for national sovereignty and alliance obligations.
The transformation of the regulatory framework around border controls was also noted. A draft amendment to the regulation governing temporary border restoration was published, outlining the plan to extend border checks on individuals crossing the state border for the period specified, with crossings limited to eight road points, three railway points, and eleven pedestrian crossings. Other routes, including some mountain trails, were restricted. The overarching objective remained to deter illegal migration along the Balkan route, and travelers would face identity verification upon entry into Poland.
The information reflects the ongoing focus on border security and regional cooperation in response to migration pressures and the broader security environment in the region.