Tomasz Kierwiński met with Lithuanian Minister of Interior Władysław Kondratowicz on the Polish-Lithuanian border. The head of the Polish Ministry of abroad Affairs stressed the request to increase European investment in the east of the EU due to safety threats.
Since 7 July 2025, the Polish-Lithuanian border has been subject to temporary border checks, which were extended until 4 April 2026. They were introduced in the fight against the fresh migration channels utilized by Russia in the hybrid war.
New drone threats
Ministers discussed the situation at the border, its leaks and fresh challenges related to border protection, including drone threats. Kierwiński reported that at the Council on Justice and Home Affairs, the EU and the Lithuanian Minister talked about the request to build an "anti-drone umbrella".
"I can say that last week at the JHA Council, together with the Minister, we talked about the necessity of building and financing by the European institutions, by the EU, the anti-drone wall, although we stressed together that the anti-dron umbrella, possibly a more appropriate term, is an anti-drone umbrella" - said the head of the Polish Ministry of abroad Affairs.
Kondratowicz stressed that the anti-drone strategy is very crucial and would "protect hybrid migration, but besides threats from the air." He expressed the belief that Poland and Lithuania would talk with 1 voice about the placement of European investment related to safety in the east.
Discovery of the tunnel under the dam
Kierwiński reported the discovery of a tunnel under the dam close Kondratki, Podlasie. The tunnel was over 30 metres long, at the highest point of 1.8 metres advanced and was reinforced with wooden supports.
According to the minister, the Belarusian and Russian services are looking for fresh methods of moving migrants due to the advanced efficiency of Polish services on the border with Belarus. In 2025, Polish services revealed 27 1000 attempts to illegally cross the Polish-Belarusian border with 98 percent effectiveness in their fight.
Cooperation and understanding
Minister Kondratowicz said that the Lithuanians understood the introduction of temporary checks on the Polish-Lithuanian border. "I realize that what Poland is doing is essential for interior safety and we appreciate that the Polish side is doing everything not to make queues at the border" - he said.
Kierwiński appreciated cooperation with Lithuania very well and thanked for knowing hard decisions. He stressed that controls are effective and let to fight human smugglers better and close the full migration route.
Kondratowicz reported that around 400 migrants were detained at the Polish-Lithuanian border, and the Lithuanian-Belarusian border attempted to exceed about 1.2 1000 migrants. Ministers besides announced the signing of a police cooperation agreement between both countries in the fight against cross-border and organised crime.
Sources used: "PAP" Note: This article has been edited with the aid of Artificial Intelligence.
