Poland expects Russian strikes on border crossings with Ukraine, Tusk says

Poland expects that Russian forces may attempt to attack border checkpoints on the Polish-Ukrainian border in the coming weeks. Prime Minister Donald Tusk made this announcement after a series of Russian strikes on international border infrastructure in southern and western Ukraine.

Tusk stated this on Thursday, September 10, during a press conference in Slovakia, Reuters reports.

According to the Polish prime minister, last night Poland managed to prevent a threat to one of the checkpoints on the border with Ukraine. Tusk did not provide details of this episode: he did not name the crossing and did not specify what exactly the threat was.

The head of the Polish government warned that Warsaw assumes the possibility of further attacks on border infrastructure.

"We expect that in the coming weeks our border crossings may also become targets", — Tusk said.

The warning came amid a change in the nature of Russian attacks against Ukraine. In recent weeks, Russia has repeatedly struck automobile checkpoints connecting Ukraine with Moldova and Romania, as well as adjacent transport infrastructure.

One of the latest targets was the international border checkpoint "Starokozache – Tudora" on the Ukrainian-Moldovan border. On the night of September 9, Russian strike drones damaged the infrastructure of the crossing and the surrounding area. As a result of the attack, two people were killed, three more were injured, and 16 were evacuated.

After the strike, the movement of people and vehicles through the checkpoint was temporarily stopped. Subsequently, the crossing was reopened after the area was inspected and the consequences of the attack were eliminated.

According to the Ministry of Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, "Starokozache – Tudora" became already the fourth automobile checkpoint attacked by Russia in recent weeks.

Earlier, Russian forces struck the "Tabaki – Myrne" and "Vynohradivka – Vulcănești" crossings on the border with Moldova, as well as "Orlivka – Isaccea" on the border with Romania. In addition, a service zone for vehicles near the "Reni – Giurgiulești" crossing was attacked.

Ukrainian authorities regard these strikes as part of Russia's systematic attempts to disrupt the country's foreign trade and logistics. Minister of Development of Communities and Territories Oleksii Kuleba previously noted that Russia simultaneously attacks seaports, civilian vessels, railways and border infrastructure – the main routes for Ukrainian exports, imports and passenger transportation.

After the start of the full-scale war, Ukraine's land border with the European Union acquired additional importance for trade and passenger traffic. The Polish direction remains one of the key ones: it carries large flows of freight transport, buses and passenger cars.

Amid the Russian strikes, Poland raised the readiness of its air defense forces several times on September 10 due to the activity of Russian drones over western Ukraine. Polish military aviation conducted preventive actions, and ground-based air defense and radar surveillance means were put on high alert.

At the same time, Tusk did not report any confirmed data on Russia preparing a strike against a specific Polish checkpoint. His statement relates to the threat assessment for the coming weeks against the backdrop of already occurred attacks on Ukrainian border infrastructure.

Based on materials from: Reuters, Ministry of Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine