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Poles encouraged to attend Warsaw military parade

08.08.2023 21:30
A massive military parade in Warsaw next week will showcase the new modern look of the Polish army on its special day, the country’s deputy prime minister has said, encouraging the public to attend the event in large numbers.
Polish Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński (right) and Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak (left) hold a media briefing at a military base in the Warsaw district of Wesoła on Tuesday, August 8, 2023.
Polish Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński (right) and Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak (left) hold a media briefing at a military base in the Warsaw district of Wesoła on Tuesday, August 8, 2023.Photo: PAP/PAP

Jarosław Kaczyński made the remark in a speech in the Warsaw district of Wesoła on Tuesday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

Looking ahead to the Armed Forces Day parade on August 15, the deputy prime minister said: “Today we are able to show that the expansion and modernisation of the Polish army is taking place. It’s not a declaration, it can be demonstrated for every Polish citizen to see.”

Kaczyński stated: “We encourage our compatriots to come to the Armed Forces Day ParadeIt will be a very interesting and I believe also a very uplifting experience for us."

Kaczyński, who leads Poland’s ruling conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, said the military parade would "demonstrate to everyone that the government is fulfilling its mission” and responding to threats such as Russia's military invasion of neighbouring Ukraine, the PAP news agency reported.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak encouraged young Poles to join the army, saying it was "worth it to serve the country in the military."

Błaszczak also said that next week’s Armed Forces Day Parade would feature Poland’s most advanced weaponry, including US-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), K2 battle tanks bought from South Korea and the American-made F-16 fighter jets, as well as domestic equipment such as the Baobab-K mine-laying vehicles, the PAP news agency reported.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.

Tuesday is day 531 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

(pm/gs)

Source: PAP, polskieradio24.pl