Unclear Communication After Border Incident Involving Soldiers And Activists

Opposition critics questioned the Ministry of National Defense after an announcement about questioning 17 individuals in connection with a controversial assault on Polish border troops by a group of left-leaning activists. The key points in this case were outlined by the portal wPolityce.pl and Telewizja wPolce. A public figure, Marcin Warchoł, referenced the development on X, noting that seventeen individuals had been questioned, including 16 soldiers and their commander, and mentioning an individual named Julki who was accused of disrespectful actions toward uniforms.

Over the recent weekend near Mielnik, reports describe an incident in which a crowd of youths attacked Polish soldiers. The emerging timeline indicates that a soldier was spat upon and beer was poured on him. Early reporting suggested that police investigations were underway, and updates from wPolityce.pl and Telewizja wPolce indicated that a formal crime report had been filed with prosecutors in relation to the incident.

Online footage has circulated showing a group of young people confronting Polish soldiers with insults and pushing, followed by the soldiers moving to a vehicle and leaving the scene. The Podlaskie Voivodeship police spokesperson, sub-inspector Tomasz Krupa, told Telewizja wPolska reporter Stanisław Pyrzanowski that all the soldiers involved had been questioned.

Initial information emerged within minutes of the event, with police arrival reports indicating that the scene was vacant when authorities arrived. The following day, the investigation intensified, with a report filed about possible criminal activity and all soldiers in the vehicle being questioned.

– stated the spokesperson for the Podlaskie police to a Telewizja in Poland reporter.

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Unclear message from the Ministry of Defense

The first Ministry of National Defense response on social media came from Deputy Minister Cezary Tomczyk, who asserted that no one should spit on the Polish army and that 17 individuals had been interviewed, with the Military Police being promptly notified.

– wrote Tomczyk.

An official statement from the Ministry of Defence echoed the claim that 17 people had been questioned. The incident reportedly occurred overnight on July 13-14, 2024, when soldiers on duty at the border were attacked by a crowd of about twenty people. The actions described included spitting on uniforms, insulting gestures, and vulgar slogans. The Border Guard, the Military Police, and the police were notified, and an investigation began. The ministry stated that so far 17 people had been interviewed.

– said the Ministry of National Defense.

Politicians from PiS pointed out that the ministry’s statement mentioned 17 “people” without clarifying whether those questioned were soldiers or activists. The Bodnar Prosecutor’s Office had not yet issued a formal statement on the border incident. Deputy Minister Tomczyk highlighted that seventeen people had been questioned but did not specify that they were all soldiers. A media outlet later reflected on the coverage, hinting at broader political narratives surrounding the episode and the response from authorities. Critics argued that the focus remained on morale and public perception rather than on the immediate welfare of border defenders. A former defense official, Mariusz Błaszczak, voiced concern over the handling of the incident and the response to those involved.

Another participant in the discourse claimed that among the 17 interviewed, there were no individuals who spat on the uniform, indicating that 16 soldiers and a commander were the ones involved.

– wrote Michał Moskal on X.

The narrative continued with assertions that the number 17 had been cited repeatedly, with some statements indicating that 16 soldiers plus a commander were involved, while others suggested different interpretations of the group’s composition.

READ ALSO: Statements from the defense leadership about the attack on soldiers; discussions on accountability and leadership before and after these events

– Commentary suggested that the sequence of events included a political dimension surrounding two activist figures, described by some as orchestrating or influencing the actions that followed the border incident.

maz/wPolityce.pl/X

Source: wPolityce