Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who at the time held a role akin to Deputy Prime Minister and led the Ministry of National Defense, spoke with journalist Justyna Dobrosz-Oracz about the topic of neo-TVP. In that conversation he did not offer praise for the Territorial Defense Forces. He revisited his earlier position from 2018 when he was in opposition, arguing that the WOT did not meet its assigned tasks and that the roughly 1.5 billion PLN allocated to this new branch of the Polish Armed Forces could have been redirected to support people with disabilities.
Today the government faces another strenuous test. The flood response and the urgent tasks tied to it form one facet of the challenge, but so does the political maneuvering required to acknowledge past assessments without making explicit concessions. The Territorial Defense Forces stand as a clear symbol of that dynamic. It was a decision of the United Right government that drew early ridicule and later reflections from many observers who evaluate its aims and consequences, and the debate continues to echo in policy and public discourse.
Kosiniak-Kamysz loved WOT
This force, created on January 1, 2017 by then Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz, sparked immediate criticism from the opposition. It was labeled Macierewicz’s private army by some critics and seen as a tool that could be deployed to quell protests or to present its recruits as combative and unrefined. During the Polish-Belarusian border crisis, critics accused the Territorial Defense Forces, alongside the Border Guard, of harsh treatment toward people who were moved to Europe under Lukashenko’s influence. The discussions around the unit then reflected a broader debate about readiness and the limits of rapid response in national security, a debate that remains part of political dialogue about the country’s defensive posture.
As with the migration crisis that began in 2021 and the coronavirus pandemic that preceded it, territorial authorities stepped forward in the face of the latest challenge, drawing on their local knowledge and flexible response. The WOT became part of that approach, seen by supporters as a fast, scalable element of national defense and by critics as a political instrument. The conversation over the unit’s purpose and its practical impact continued as new incidents tested the border and the country’s resilience in the face of pressure.
Critics argued against the establishment of the WOT under the previous government. The question many asked was whether this formation delivered real value to Poland’s security and to the men and women who serve in uniform, especially when weighed against other social needs and budget priorities.
Justyna Dobrosz-Oracz pressed Kosiniak-Kamysz about neo-TVP. He spoke with clarity about the role of the Territorial Defense Forces in a time of crisis and the need for a citizen-based service that can assist civilian authorities, provide help on the ground, and contribute to national defense during emergencies. In his view the unit serves as a proving ground for leadership under pressure and a measure of how communities can mobilize when civilian resources are stretched and local knowledge becomes crucial.
“I have already touched on this,” he stated. “When the WOT proves its usefulness, doubts begin to fade. Soldiers have shown they are needed and can be relied on to help communities, often stepping in where civilian resources are strained. The unit stands as a test of leadership under pressure, and the work of the troops and their commanders deserves recognition.”
— the journalist asked with evident emotion, acknowledging the charged nature of the discussion.
I don’t feel safer in Poland
In a 2018 interview with Onet, he argued that the WOT did not fulfill its intended role. He suggested the unit existed largely due to Antoni Macierewicz’s ambitions and contended that the 1.5 billion PLN could better serve people with disabilities. He also voiced a personal doubt about national safety tied to the formation of the WOT, framing the issue as one of balance between defense needs and social responsibilities.
That same year he joined with Jacek Protasiewicz, then an opposition MP, at a press conference to call for winding down the Territorial Defense Forces. The questions surrounding the unit’s purpose, funding, and long-term outcomes became part of a larger conversation about how Poland should prioritize defense resources alongside other public services.
With the flood crisis subsiding, questions linger about whether the government will offer a formal acknowledgment to the Territorials and consider adjustments to strategy and funding. Macierewicz had left the Defense Ministry years earlier, yet the private force he helped ignite remained in operation, continuing to serve the Polish people in various capacities.
— the journalist’s interlocutor responded with noticeable emotion, underscoring how sensitive and unsettled the topic remains for many observers and participants in the debate.