Procedures in Question and Calls for Improvement
There are long-standing procedures that were prepared historically but seldom used because the situations they anticipated have not occurred. The focus now is on improving them, including those tied to NATO, as stated by President Andrzej Duda when addressing conclusions from the Ministry of National Defense report about a missile that landed near Bydgoszcz.
During a visit to Iceland, where the Council of Europe summit was taking place, President Duda was asked by journalists whether he had reviewed the Ministry of National Defense report on the Bydgoszcz incident.
“I have my conclusions on this matter”
President Duda said he had studied the report in detail and had also forwarded it to National Security Bureau experts for analysis. He added that his conclusions exist, but the report is classified, and its specifics cannot be openly discussed in the media.
He urged politicians to refrain from publicly commenting on issues covered by confidentiality clauses, noting the sensitivity of the surrounding environment. He cautioned that certain states and their services should not possess what Poland knows about the matter, highlighting the potential risk involved.
Procedures to Improve
The president spoke about his conclusions after reviewing the report, noting that problems existed with procedures drafted long ago. While some procedures were in place, they were not activated because the country had not faced a situation of this kind for decades. He stressed that the issue involves cooperation between civilian leadership and military operations, where certain elements function well and others did not.
Analyses are underway to make improvements, including enhancements to NATO procedures. The president noted that experts from the National Security Bureau have identified NATO elements that could be amended. In a recent conversation with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Poland was described as preparing proposals to enhance these procedures.
In late April, the Ministry of National Defense reported the discovery of the remains of an unidentified military facility near Zamość, approximately 15 kilometers from Bydgoszcz. A passerby found the site in the forest. Authorities stressed that the incident did not threaten public safety, and the Gdańsk District Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation into the matter.
Last week, Mariusz Błaszczak, head of the Ministry of National Defense, announced that the Air Operations Center – Air Component Command, under the Operational Commander of the Armed Forces, received information from the Ukrainian side on December 16 of the previous year about an object that could be a missile approaching Poland. He added that the procedures and response mechanisms in place during the appearance of the object functioned at the level of the Operational Commander, who did not inform him or the relevant services about the object entering Polish airspace.
Responding to the ministerial remarks, General Tomasz Piotrowski, the operational commander of the Armed Forces, urged restraint, saying it was prudent to weigh emotions in the coming days, remain reasonable in actions, avoid provoking a very ambitious and aggressive adversary, and prevent polarization among groups.
The National Audit Office reported that the information in President Duda’s possession does not justify making personnel changes to the Supreme Command Staff of the Polish Army, and no request had been received on that matter. The Ministry of National Defense announced that the President and Prime Minister had received a report assessing the operation of the Polish air defense system, with conclusions indicating negligence by the Operational Commander of the Armed Forces.
NIK President Marian Banaś informed Polsat News that an inspection had been initiated at the Ministry of National Defense and several other institutions following a Russian missile’s landing near Bydgoszcz. Banaś explained that the inspection began at the initiative of the Chamber and noted that a broader request for such oversight had been submitted recently. He added that the situation is highly sensitive and dangerous, as a missile capable of delivering nuclear payloads had reportedly breached Polish territory. Banaś underscored the seriousness of the event. (Source: wPolityce)
The situation remains delicate, underscoring the gravity of threats from Russia and the vigilance required in security planning.
kk/PAP
Source: wPolityce