Over the past day, border guards reported that 107 foreigners attempted to travel from Belarus to Poland. Among them were individuals from Ethiopia and Morocco, and several managed to cross the Volkushanka border river at points monitored by Polish authorities. In addition, a group identified as eight foreigners from Congo, India, and Mauritania, who had illegally crossed the same border river, were detained within the area guarded by the Płaska border unit.
Near Białowieża, authorities intercepted a courier moving people who had entered Poland illegally from Belarus. In this incident, six Afghan nationals were found inside the Ukrainian vehicle used for the crossing.
Sharp Rise in Attempts Since Start of Year
Border Guard statistics show that in 2023 a total of 327 individuals and organizers were detained for aiding illegal border crossing at the Belarus border, with additional data released on Friday. Since the beginning of the year, the border guards have logged nearly 10,000 attempts to cross from Belarus into Poland. In March and April the number of attempts hovered around 2,500, while May saw more than 2,100 incidents. Migrants arriving at the border originated from more than 40 countries.
To bolster border security, an electronic system featuring cameras and sensors has been installed about 206 kilometers from the Polish Belarusian border. This electronic barrier works in tandem with a 5.5 meter high steel dam completed last year about 186 kilometers from the border. Construction work continues on the final sections, including approximately 150 meters of infrastructure near Narewka and Białowieża. The ongoing flood conditions in these locations have delayed installation, with work resuming when water levels drop.
Border Crossings in Podlaskie Remain Closed
All border crossings with Belarus in the Podlaskie region remain closed until further notice. Only the railway crossings at Kuźnica and Siemianówka remain open for traffic.
Current restrictions in the border strip are in place under a voivodeship ordinance issued in September 2021, which prohibits staying within the 15 meter inland zone from the state border and from the edge of border waters along the Belarus border, marking the external boundary of the European Union. A separate February ordinance from the voivode sets rules for maintaining order in the border area near the state boundary within the voivodeship and continues to be enforced.
READ ALSO: In recent days there has been a notable uptick in attempts to breach the Polish Belarusian border according to official reports. The border ministry and security agencies have highlighted increased pressure on this border as a coordinated action. Public statements emphasize that no Polish aid demand has been reported by Italian authorities so far. There have also been mentions of patrols facing pressure from Belarusian and Russian officers on the front line near the border.
rm/PAP
Source: wPolityce