Last night, Poland took an unprecedented measure, completely closing all of its border crossings with Belarus. The decision, which affected both road and rail traffic, is a response to the tense situation in the region, which has escalated due to joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises. The sight of the closed crossings was marked by the deployment of barbed wire, shields, and physical barriers, which clearly signaled a halt to all crossings between the two countries.
Poland Responds to the "Zapad-2025" Military Exercises
This move by Warsaw comes in response to the joint "Zapad-2025" military exercises, which are being held from September 12 to 16. The Polish government justified its decision by the need to strengthen border security. According to information from Lithuanian intelligence, up to 30,000 servicemen are participating in the large-scale maneuvers, which is a serious indicator of the scope of the exercises.
The situation was further complicated by the recent violation of Poland's airspace by Russian drones. This incident, combined with the military exercises, has raised serious concerns about the country's sovereignty and security. To ensure maximum safety, Polish authorities also announced a flight ban in the border zone with Belarus and Ukraine, which will remain in effect until December 9.
Russia Condemns Poland's Actions
Warsaw has not specified when the closed border crossings will be reopened, leaving thousands of travelers in uncertainty. The decision was met with sharp criticism from Moscow. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation called Poland's actions
"destructive"and called on Warsaw to immediately reconsider them. The ministry's press secretary, Maria Zakharova, stated that Poland's actions lead to
"an escalation of tension in the center of Europe"and violate
"humanitarian principles", including freedom of movement. This position is an attempt to shift the responsibility for the tension, caused by the large-scale military exercises and drone incidents, onto Poland.
- Belarus announced that despite Poland's decision, the border crossings on their side will remain open and operational.