There's no soft game. The threats are huge. You are faced with immense challenges, but you besides have friends," said Paweł Bejda, Deputy Minister of National Defence, to the soldiers of the 16th Mechanized Division during the solemn transfer of command under Operation Safe Podlasie. It is the Amber Division for the next six months that will support the Border defender in defending the east border.
The solemn handover of command between the second and 3rd changes of the Task Force “Podlasie” took place at the “Green” Training Centre in Karakule, little than 40 km from the border with Belarus. The background of the outgoing change was the 12th Szczecin Mechanized Division. The 3rd change is made up of subdivisions of the 16th Pomeranian Mechanized Division. The ceremony was attended, among others, by Deputy Minister Paweł Bejda, General of Arms Stanisław Czosnek, Deputy Head of the General Staff of the Polish Army, General of Dyw. Maciej Klisz, Operational Commander of Types of Armed Forces and General of Arms Sławomir Owczarek, Deputy Commander of General Staff of Types of Armed Forces.
– You're putting your life and your wellness at risk. You do not spare blood, sweat, soldier's effort to defend the border of the Republic of Poland. Unfortunately, there are increasingly attacks of aggression on soldiers and officers who defender and defend the Polish border," said Deputy Minister Bejda, pointing out the ongoing hybrid war. “For many years our enemies have been watching and acting through immigrants, studying our vigilance and preparing for this kind of threat,” added the deputy chief of the MON.
In the speech he besides mentioned The heroic death of the sergeant. Matthew Sitka. I am asking you to take peculiar care of your ministry. Take care of your life and wellness – appealed Bejda. He besides assured that all soldiers on the border could number on the support of the ministry. As an example, he gave a decision to be taken at the next gathering of the method Modernisation Council to buy in urgently 500 smooth barrel shotguns. Another sign of soldiers' support at the border is Act 'protecting a soldier who uses weapons in individual cases'.
- Remember! Behind you is the strength of the Polish state, which you besides build. Let your service be happy – the deputy chief of the MON has finished.
Gen. Dyw. Maciej Klisz, who is liable for Operation “Safe Podlasie” as the operational commander of types of armed forces, said that the border with Belarus became a de facto frontline. – However, we do not lead a conventional fight as soldiers. We face cynical and perfidious aggression. The regimes of Russia and Belarus usage migrants as weapons, trying to undermine the sovereignty and stableness of our homeland. In the face of specified a test, we must be one. We must be tough and firm," General Klisz said.
– I have no uncertainty that your mission is difficult, but I am certain that your training, your character and determination will enable you to meet this challenge. Let your presence be an impenetrable wall on which all effort to breach the borders of the Polish land will break," added the operating commander.
"Testing time" was summed up by six months of service at the border of Gen. Szymon Koziatek, the commander of 12 DZ and the second shift of ZZ Podlasie. – We faced unprecedented challenges. Migratory force controlled by hostile forces, hybrid actions and continuous attempts to destabilise our state. In hard conditions, you proved that the Polish soldier is 1 of the foundations of a safe nation – said General Koziatek.
– We have a time ahead of us that is demanding, but at the same time giving us the chance to test ourselves as soldiers and as a team. I believe that together we will carry out the task entrusted to us with the highest professionalism – said Gen. Wojciech Ziółkowski, taking command of the ZZ “Podlas”.
Operation of the Polish Army under the name "Safe Floors" began on 1 August 2024 as a continuation of the assistance of the armed forces to the Border Guard, which continues continuously since 2021. The decision to replace earlier military operations at the border was dictated by the request to increase the efficiency of operations, harmonise command procedures and optimise the usage of forces and resources. In the first round, the soldiers served mainly the 18th Mechanized Division. Six months later, duties were taken over by the 12th Mechanized Division, supported, among others, by the divisions of the 11th Armoured Cavalry Division and territorial defence troops.
