President launches electronic barrier on Poland’s border with Russia

The Polish president has officially launched an electronic barrier built along the country’s border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad as part of efforts to strengthen national security.  

Poland's President Andrzej Duda (first from left) and Interior Minister Mariusz Kamiński (first from right) visit a border guard facility in the northeastern town of Kętrzyn on Friday, October 13, 2023.

KPRP/Marek Borawski

Andrzej Duda unveiled the barrier at its control centre in the northeastern town of Kętrzyn on Friday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

Interior Minister Mariusz Kamiński accompanied the president during the ceremony.

Prezydent @AndrzejDuda oraz Minister @MSWiA_GOV_PL @Kaminski_M_ wzięli udział w otwarciu Centrum Nadzoru bariery elektronicznej na granicy polsko–rosyjskiej.

💬 Nikomu nie trzeba mówić, jak wzrosła skala zagrożeń w ostatnich latach. Na granicy polsko-rosyjskiej nie mamy ataku… pic.twitter.com/GfeyyY0P9n

— Kancelaria Prezydenta (@prezydentpl) October 13, 2023

Duda said: ”I am happy that the electronic barrier has been launched as it definitely represents an important additional part of Poland’s security system.”

The president added that for the past two years, Poland had been "under a hybrid attack" at its border with Belarus, with Minsk’s officials “pushing migrants towards our border.”

He said these actions “are undoubtedly coordinated with Russian authorities.”

Duda told reporters that the new electronic barrier, comprising “around 3,000 cameras” as well as motion sensors, would “protect our border against a potential influx of illegal migration” and against smuggling from Russia, the PAP news agency reported.

“And so it will help keep Poland secure and protect the interests of Poland and us all,” the president said.

(pm/gs)

Source: IAR, PAP, prezydent.pl