We went from words to deeds very, very quickly," said Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Orzysz. “The national programme of deterrence and defence under the code name “Tarcza East” becomes a fact,” added Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. Representatives of the government observed exercises on which soldiers checked the effectiveness of the obstacles to the east border of Poland.
“Tarcza East” is simply a national programme, which will make infrastructure at the east border of Poland to prevent the opponent from entering the country. Various ministries, including the Ministry of National Defence, will be active in the implementation of a task worth at least PLN 10 billion, to be implemented between 2024 and 2028. On Monday, soldiers checked the effectiveness of any elements to be located on the Polish border. – I'm glad "The Tartar East" goes so seriously said Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who watched the military's actions. Among another things, it was tested whether military vehicles, simulating the actions of the opponent, are able to penetrate through a number of alleged reinforced hedgehogs, overcome anti-tank ditches or minefields. “This is why there are all these mechanical fortifications and those utilizing the environment, e.g. the terrain and the improvement of it, to prevent the mobility of opposing troops”, explained Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
On the another hand, Prime Minister Donald Tusk pointed out that The task of the “Hard East” is to deter the possible opponent. – All the exercises, installations, dams, drones, billions we're going to spend here, it's all to make certain that a possible opponent doesn't dare enter here. Let us treat this as an investment in peace and security, not in exercise," stressed the head of the government. “I wanted to thank you very much for the fact that we went from words to deeds very, very quickly,” said the head of government at the camp.
Exercises, during which soldiers checked the effectiveness of the obstacles to be built in border areas, were held in Orzysz for a reason. It is in the area of the camp that an informal school-test centre is created to train engineering sub-divisions, which will carry out key tasks under the program.
The Prime Minister besides reported that the “Tarcza East” is simply a task not only Polish, due to the fact that akin actions are besides carried out by the Baltic States or Finland. “I am glad that the British are working with us on “Tarcza”. The Americans are ready for this too," declared Tusk. He added that the funds allocated to the task would come from not only the Polish budget but besides the European budget. “In the coming days and weeks, I will be talking about this in Brussels,” the Prime Minister announced. He pointed out that the conversation would address the main problems: the war in Ukraine, the Polish borders, which are constantly attacked by groups of illegal migrants organized by peculiar services of Belarus, yet the Polish border adjacent to the royal circuit, where effective defence will besides be needed in the event of a threat.
Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed that the national deterrence and defence programme "Tarcza East" was given precedence by the government. This is our land, our homeland. We will defend all inch, all inch of the Republic – he assured. He explained that the “Tarcza East” takes into account not only the construction of various types of obstacles that would hinder the opponent from entering Poland. It besides includes the location of surveillance systems, radio-location systems, anti-drone systems, warehouses where military equipment can be stored in border areas. It was besides planned to pave the way for soldiers of the Polish Army to have freedom of movement if necessary. There are besides solutions to guarantee the safety of not only them but besides civilians. The Deputy Prime Minister added that although it was originally assumed that the construction of fortifications or warehouses under the “Tarchy East” would begin in 2025, the first of them would emergence again this year. – The national programme of deterrence and defence under the codename “Tarcza East” becomes a fact. Not only the plan, but already the real action – the Deputy Prime Minister pointed out.
Gen. defends Stanisław Czosnek, Deputy Chief of General Staff The Polish Army, he emphasized that the exercises at the Polish Army in Orzysz were only a test of the first elements to be created as part of the “Hard East”, but the barriers prepared by the Polish Army’s bomb squads have already proved effective. He added that the programme besides includes a number of another safeguards that will be created in the following stages of the Tarcza. "We are counting on cooperation with the extra-military agreement, authorities and links to guarantee the safety of the country," he stressed.
