Polish government defines buffer zone on border with Belarus

This was announced during a press conference on Monday by the head of the Polish government, Donald Tusk, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"We have adopted a resolution, which resulted in the order of the Minister of the Interior and Administration to create a zone on the border with Belarus, which has been loudly discussed in recent days," Tusk said.

He noted that the aim is to complicate the process of smuggling illegal migrants across the border and to create better conditions for border guards, police and military personnel.

Tusk stressed that the government is aware of the growing discomfort of residents of the border regions from the creation of this buffer zone. However, everything possible will be done to help the locals in connection with the hybrid war of Russia and Belarus against Poland.

The head of the Polish government noted that the buffer zone on the border with Belarus would range from 200 metres to 2 km. He added that the places where the buffer zone will be 2 km deep are not long. It will depend on the terrain, including forests, where smugglers arrive and wait for the arrival of illegal immigrants for their further transportation to the west.

Tusk said that Polish border guards and the military have used firearms "more than a thousand times" over the past six months to scare away illegal migrants who tried to force their way through the fence to enter Poland, and in May there were 770 such cases.

He informed that the Minister of National Defence has prepared a draft law on the specifics of the use of firearms at the border so that military, border guards and police officers are not held liable for possible abuse of power in the context of the use of firearms.

As reported, a soldier died in Poland after being stabbed a few days ago by an illegal migrant trying to enter Poland from Belarus.

After several incidents involving injuries to soldiers and border guards, the Polish government decided to send additional forces to the border with Belarus.

Photo: twitter.com/mblaszczak