Migrants attempted to breach the barrier at the border with Belarus
The opposition to a border solution, including elements within the Belarusian regime, opposed the planned dam on the Polish-Belarusian frontier. Public figures repeated contentious claims about alleged mass graves at the border. In reality, events at the border demonstrated why border protection was necessary: a group of migrants attempted to cross illegally from Belarus into Poland and directed aggression toward border guard officers.
Migrants pressed toward the barrier near Bialystok
Border Guard spokesperson Lieutenant Anna Michalska noted rising aggression among foreign nationals. A tense incident occurred Thursday evening near Bialystok.
A group of about ten migrants approached the barrier. Their approach was detected by electronic firewall devices. The patrols were dispatched promptly. In released footage, the Border Guard shows officers lifting a ladder from beneath the barrier as a precaution. In response, migrants hurled stones and branches at the officers.
– said the SG spokeswoman.
Belarusian assistance to migrants
The Border Guard emphasizes that while the determination of some foreigners is growing, their aim is less about seeking protection in Poland and more about moving through Poland toward Western Europe as quickly as possible. Belarusian services are reported to provide ongoing help, equipping migrants who cross the border illegally to facilitate their passage.
Since the start of the year, authorities have logged more than 9,000 attempts to cross the border illegally from Belarus into Poland. In March and April, there were around 2,500 such attempts; by May, the total exceeded 900. Estimates indicate that detainees at the Belarus-Poland border this year originate from more than 40 countries.
107 individuals attempted illegal entry into Poland
Among the most recent group, 107 people tried to enter Poland illegally. This included nationals from India and Egypt. Thirty-three of these individuals, upon spotting Polish patrols, returned to the Belarusian side.
Near Narewka in Podlaskie, another incident involved a person identified as a Ukrainian national transporting five Somalis, a Syrian, and a Yemeni national. The Border Guard reported on social media that several of the foreigners held Russian visas.
An electronic firewall, a network of cameras and sensors, covers a corridor about 206 kilometers from the Polish-Belarusian border. It complements a 5.5-meter-high steel dam completed last year, located 186 kilometers from the frontier. Nearly finished, the last 150 meters of the electronic dam are being prepared for operation in two sections near Narewka and Bialystok. Ongoing field conditions, including flooding, hamper work in those areas, with installation expected when water levels recede.