Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that Poland has started the construction of a comprehensive defense line along its borders with Russia and Belarus, the Polish news agency PAP reported, as quoted by BTA.
"Building the 'Eastern Shield' started", wrote Tusk on the platform "X". on Thursday evening, attaching a photo showing excavators at work. "The first (construction) works are on the border with Russia," he added.
At the end of May this year, Poland allocated 10 billion zlotys (about 2.3 billion euros) for the multi-year defense and deterrence plan "East Shield". In the period 2024-2028, Warsaw must secure its borders with Russia and Belarus with suitable fortifications, stretching along about 800 kilometers.
Within the program "East Shield" Poland will build fortifications, but will also use natural obstacles. In addition, intelligence and threat detection systems, military posts, logistics centers, warehouses and anti-drone systems will be built.
Poland has decided to launch its new defense program amid hybrid attacks from Belarus and Russia's war in Ukraine. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have also agreed to build the so-called Baltic Defense Line due to similar concerns. The two projects should be integrated.