Sikorski: Poland prepares a comprehensive response to Russia's actions
Poland is preparing a set of measures in response to Russian provocations and the growing threats near its borders. The authorities are considering legislative changes and additional measures to protect the population, and specific action plans are to be prepared in the near future.
This was announced by Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski after a special meeting convened by Prime Minister Donald Tusk with the participation of ministers, military command and representatives of the special services.
According to Sikorski, the meeting was serious and substantive, because the Polish authorities believe that Russia is increasing pressure. Warsaw intends to respond with measures that should strengthen the country's security.
«We are in a gray zone of a crisis situation, this needs to be clarified. We agreed that plans for various actions will appear quickly», – said the head of the Polish Foreign Ministry.
Sikorski did not reveal details of the decisions being prepared, noting that it is premature to do so. However, he specified that it concerns, in particular, strengthening the protection of the population and changes in legislation.
Warsaw proceeds from the fact that such Russian actions may be repeated. Sikorski stated that Russia, in his opinion, is trying to intimidate Poland in this way, but achieves the opposite effect.
The special meeting of the Polish leadership was convened after a series of Russian strikes in the immediate vicinity of the Polish-Ukrainian border.
On the morning of September 13, Russian drones attacked facilities in western Ukraine. One of the drones damaged a locomotive of the Kyiv–Warsaw passenger train at Yahodyn station, about two kilometers from the Polish border. Another drone struck a gas station near the Dorohusk–Yahodyn border crossing.
Because of the Russian attack, Poland put its aviation and air defense systems on alert. The military reported that Polish systems detected an attack by a group of reactive Russian drones on the western regions of Ukraine, with individual strikes being carried out a few kilometers from Polish territory.
After the meeting, Tusk said that the intensification of Russian activity can no longer be viewed as isolated episodes. According to him, the Polish authorities had received their own and allied data in advance about possible escalation and attempts to disrupt the operation of border infrastructure.
The prime minister also drew attention to the risk of congestion near Ukrainian-Polish border crossings. Warsaw believes that accumulations of cars, trucks and other vehicles near the border may become vulnerable targets, so Poland intends to speed up the movement of transport through the checkpoints.
Another incident occurred on Polish territory. The military detected and recovered a drone from the Baltic Sea near Rusinowo in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. Based on preliminary examination, Polish authorities stated that it could be a Russian military drone.
Thus, the Polish response being prepared is to affect not only direct military measures. Sikorski's statement indicates that the authorities are considering a broader set of solutions – from civil protection to legislative adjustments for action in conditions of threats that lie between peacetime and open armed conflict.
Source: Onet
