On Friday, the mission on the Polish-Belarusian border was completed by soldiers of the Iron Division. As of tomorrow, the half-year service under II will begin with the military from the 12th Division. “You are a model for the young generation”, Deputy Minister Paweł Bejda said to the soldiers during the ceremony of handing command to the operation.
Commander of the first shift, Gen. Dyw. Arkadiusz Szkutnik (Commander of the 18th Mechanized Division), handed over the duties of the Second Amendment Commander on Friday. It was Gen. Dyw. Szymon Koziatka, commander of the 12th Mechanized Division, which forms the core of the group. "Twelve" will support 11 Lubuska Division of Armored Cavalry, territorials (19th Nadbuzhian Territorial Defence Brigade) and specialists: logistics, chemists, pilots and gendarmerie.
Delegation ceremony Operation Safe Podlasie was held at the “Green” Exercise Centre close Białystok. It was attended by Deputy Minister of Defence Paweł Bejda and Stanisław Wzątek, Maj. Gen. Maciej Klisz, Operational Commander of the Types of Armed Forces, who is liable for the planning, management and implementation of Operation “Safe Podlasie”.
Soldiers from the 18th Mechanized Division, who are finishing their mission on the border today, were thanked by the Secretary of State in the MON-Pali Paweł Bejda. You're all heroes to me. Soldiers, police officers and Border Guards have been jointly guarding the border of Poland," said the Deputy Minister. He besides stressed their readiness to "go to the belt" regardless of the conditions (as defined by the patrol service). - At night, in the rain, cold. Not knowing what is waiting for them behind the fence," said the Deputy Minister. “You are a model for a young generation,” he added. Paweł Bejda besides spoke about good cooperation between the troops and the SG, the Police and the Military Police. A fresh change he wished good service and soldierly happiness.
Film: Anita Blinkiewicz, Aleksander Kruk / ArmedTV
The commander of the first shift operation, Gen. Dyw. Arkadiusz Szkutnik, recalled that it was 27 weeks, 190 days of service for soldiers of the Task Force Podlasie. – During this time, 59 1000 pedestrian patrols were carried out together with Border Guard, Police, Military Gendarmerie and Forest Guard, over 16,000 mobile patrols and over 600 hours of chopper raid – said the general. He added that 5.5 1000 people were captured, who illegally, frequently utilizing force, entered Poland.
General Szkutnik He thanked his soldiers, emphasizing that he is arrogant of them. For his support he besides thanked the military chieftain SG, Major General SG, Robert Bagan.
The commander of the fresh change, Gen. Dyw. Szymon Koziatek, recalled that in 1945 the 12th Division was directed to the protection of the western border of the country, and present it received a "very crucial task" of protecting the east border of Poland. – The year 2025 is not only the time of our Jubilee, but besides a period of fresh challenges. The beginnings of our division date back to 1945, erstwhile it was directed just after the formation to defend the western border of the reborn Polish state. On its 80th anniversary, the 12th Division received an crucial task of protecting the east border. I am convinced that all soldiers of II changes to Operation “Safe Podlasies” will carry out their tasks proudly according to the words of the soldier's rota," said the commander of the fresh change.
The tasks of WZZ Podlasie stay unchanged. According to Major Błażej Łukaszewski, the military, together with border guards, will patrol the border in order to counter attempts to illegally cross it. In carrying out these tasks, so far, they will cooperate with soldiers of another units from operational troops, territorial defence troops, as well as with local authorities.
The change is due until the end of July 2025.
