Poland reinforces border with Ukraine after Russian drone attacks

Poland has begun reinforcing its border with Ukraine using military engineering units after a series of Russian drone attacks on Ukrainian border areas on Sunday. Servicemen from the 18th and 4th Engineer Regiments have already begun work as part of the "Eastern Shield" project, Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced on X.

According to him, "Russia's recent actions threaten the security of all of Europe," which is why soldiers are reinforcing checkpoints and infrastructure near the Polish-Ukrainian border. Troops are building protective barriers out of steel mesh and sandbags, and helping border guards erect observation towers and posts near the crossing points in Dorohusk, Medyka and Korczowa. According to Polish radio, work at the Dorohusk crossing has already been completed, Poland's Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński confirmed on Wednesday.

Border guards on alert

Speaking at a briefing on Sunday alongside Prime Minister Donald Tusk, General Jacek Szczęchowicz of the Polish Border Guard said that heads of checkpoints have been ordered to place helmets and body armour at control posts. "As soon as an alarm is declared, border guards will be able to use them immediately. We have also marked out shelter locations," the general said.

Tusk, who visited the Ukrainian-Polish border on Sunday, said that in the coming months the work of local border crossings would take on a "special character."

Drone strikes near the border itself

The heightened security measures were prompted by Russian drone attacks on the Ukrainian side of the border on Sunday. One of the drones struck a train travelling from Kyiv to Warsaw at Yahodyn station, roughly two kilometres from the border. Another drone hit a petrol station less than a kilometre from the Yahodyn-Dorohusk crossing. No injuries were reported in either incident.

Notably, shortly before the strike, the train that stopped at Yahodyn station had been carrying security advisers from various EU countries, as well as former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz