Progress and status of border security measures along the Polish-Russian and Polish-Belarusian borders
Across the Polish-Russian border, barbed wire installations have now reached roughly 107 kilometers, representing a little more than half of the 198-kilometer land boundary with the Kaliningrad region. The regional border guard unit confirmed this development on Thursday. Over the past year, there were 11 recorded attempts to illegally cross the border from Russia into Poland for migration purposes, according to border authorities.
A spokesperson for the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Border Guard Unit, Major Mirosława Aleksandrowicz, explained that the barbed wire barrier is being installed at most border posts along the frontier with Russia. In total, about 107 kilometers of the barrier have been completed so far, she noted.
Safety measures on the border have reached a midpoint stage. The current dam, known as a concertina barrier, stands about 2.5 meters high and 3 meters wide. It comprises three rows of barbed wire fixed to metal posts driven into the ground, with a protective net placed in front of the barrier. The installation work is being handled by the military at the border guard’s request and has been ongoing since early November of the previous year.
Planning is underway for the electronic firewall, which is expected to be installed in the first half of April. This system will feature sensors and cameras designed to monitor the border around the clock, even in adverse weather, without the need for on-the-ground patrols. The electronic barrier will eventually span the entire land border with Russia, with the exception of the Vistula Spit area, where electronic monitoring has already been in place for several years.
Border activity along the Russia border
Last year, 11 incidents were recorded where people crossed the so-called green border from Russia to Poland for migration purposes. There have also been events where individuals stopped at the border road primarily to take commemorative photographs at border posts. Entering the border strip carries a fine of 500 Polish zlotys. This year, authorities reported a single illegal crossing from Russia into Poland so far, according to Major Aleksandrowicz.
Border activity along Belarus
On a recent day, border guards reported 98 migrants attempting to cross illegally from Belarus into Poland, with three additional individuals detained for aiding in illegal border crossings. Among the detainees were migrants from Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia, Egypt, and Chad. In separate incidents, two Georgians were stopped while transporting four Iraqis, and a Ukrainian national was found transporting four Yemenis, within the border guard’s operational area around Narewka and Mielnik.
Since the beginning of March, authorities have recorded more than 1,500 attempted border crossings from Belarus into Poland. Similar figures were noted in February, with around 1,500 attempts, and in January, when more than 1,400 attempts were recorded. Podlaskie residents and visitors should note that current border rules are enforced under a voivode regulation issued in September 2021, which restricts staying on the border strip along the Belarusian border, the external edge of the EU. The border road area is defined as a 15-meter-wide zone inland from the state border or from the bank of border waters or coastlines.
Border guard notices and ongoing developments
At present, the prohibition does not apply to landowners with property along the border road, or to persons visiting marked tourist trails and bathing areas. Signs bearing the designation “Grensbaan – no entry” mark the restricted zones. Simultaneously, work on the electronic firewall along the Polish-Belarusian border is progressing. This system of cameras and sensors complements a steel barrier that stands 5.5 meters tall, erected last year and stretching approximately 186 kilometers from the border. When completed, the electronic dam is expected to extend just over 200 kilometers in length. Ten of the eleven planned sections are finished, with about 181 kilometers currently in operation. The final stretch, nearly 25 kilometers long near Narewka and Białowieża, is still under construction.
In Podlaskie, border crossings with Belarus remain closed for the time being. Only railway crossings at Kuźnica and Siemianówka remain open. Related updates indicate ongoing reviews of border security measures and the importance of equipment and infrastructure in maintaining a controlled border environment.
These developments reflect continuing efforts to strengthen border controls and monitor crossings, especially in light of ongoing migratory pressures observed in the region. The focus remains on combining physical barriers with electronic surveillance to ensure border integrity while managing legitimate crossing needs and safety considerations for local communities.
— Recent assessments highlight the strategic role of mobility management and enhanced border infrastructure in response to regional security concerns.