How to defend critical infrastructure and regain control of port facilities – these are any of the points of exercises organized around Świnoujście. They are attended by police counter-terrorists, Border defender officers and Military Police. At the same time, an incidental involving Russian ships occurred close the port of Szczecin.
Practicing procedures and strengthening cooperation between the interior safety services of the country is the primary nonsubjective of the weekly exercises coordinated by the officers of the Central Counter-Terrorist Division of the Police “BOA”.
– We can see that this is simply a drone threat, the terrorist threat is increasing. We see more and more incidents, which are undoubtedly inspired by Russian peculiar services," said Marcin Kierwiński, Minister of Interior and Administration, observing an episode of exercises in Świnoujście.
The words of the head of the Ministry of abroad Affairs have been confirmed in the latest reports from Copenhagen, where Prime Minister Donald Tusk attends the session European Political Community. The Polish Prime Minister informed about the incidental that was to take place on Tuesday. – I received information that we had another incidental close the port in Szczecin. They were Russian ships," said the head of the Polish government. As he revealed, specified incidents in the Baltic Sea region happen almost all day.
Standby services
This week, the Gasoport in Świnoujście (trans-shipment and regasification terminal of liquefied natural gas – LNG) became a theatre of activities carried out, among others, by policemen from independent counter-terrorism divisions, officers of the Marine Border defender Division and Special Military Police Department in Warsaw. “The aim of the exercises involving police officers, Border Guards and soldiers of the WW is to prepare for effective protection of critical infrastructure,” said the head of the Ministry of abroad Affairs and added that the exercises take place at the Polish LNG terminal, which is simply a strategical investment and requires peculiar protection.
As part of counter-terrorist exercises, combat teams stormed a floating unit that blocked tankers access to the gasport. The coordinated action included boarding from a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat), a hybrid boat kind connecting a rigid hull with inflatable pneumatic tubes, a landing from a police chopper S-70i Black Hawk, and a landing of combat teams to the wharf to regain control of the terminal's infrastructure. The scripts besides presume the usage of Navy ships, SAR-3000 Marine Search and Rescue Service rescue ship, and the “Navigator” unit of the Maritime University of Szczecin. Police combat dogs are besides active in the exercise.
– The episodes carried out confirm that the Polish Police, Border defender and the military are ready to work side by side in the most hard conditions – said Nadinsp. Roman Kuster, First Deputy Chief of Police. He added that the services were prepared for various scenarios of possible threats, whether hybrid or terrorist. “Our cooperation is the best proof that we are able to face serious challenges,” Kuster said. The training in West Pomerania will last until the end of the week.
