Monitoring of the Polish airspace, recognition of threats and, if necessary, neutralisation of them, are part of the tasks to be performed by soldiers of the Polish Army as part of the “Eastern Lights”. The operation will begin on 1 August, and the Operations Command of Types of Armed Forces will be liable for its course.
Around six 1000 soldiers are presently stationed in the Polish-Belarusian border area. Part of them, together with Border defender and Police officers, within the framework of the operation ‘Griff’, takes care of the tightness of the east wall of Poland, the others execute training tasks in the framework of Operation Rengaw. Soon, however, this will change. On 1 August, a fresh operation will begin – "Safe Floors". Then even 17,000 soldiers will be involved, of which 8,000 will service straight on the border, and 9 will stay in retreat. The 18th Mechanized Division will lead the top forces to action.
But that's not all. The Operations Command is besides preparing to carry out fresh tasks. According to Colonel Jacek Goryszewski, the press spokesperson for DORSZ, on 1 August, the same day the “Safe Podlasie” begins, the operation “East Zorza” will besides begin. The aim will be to increase the safety of Poland's airspace. This will be done by soldiers from various units, including the Air Operations Centre – Air Component Command. Their task will be to monitor airspace, identify emerging risks and, if necessary, neutralise them. Soldiers will cooperate with allies, and the number of exercises they will participate in will be increased.
While the Operations Command has already dealt with specified activities before, Colonel Goryszewski informs that the launch of the operation "East Zorza" will facilitate coordination and increase their effectiveness. – The main aim is to optimise the usage of forces and resources, increase their efficiency and harmonise procedures. But I can't inform you about the details for known reasons," said the officer in an interview with “Polish Armed Forces”. The operation, as noted by the officer, is simply a consequence to safety needs arising, among another things, from Russia's aggressive actions. “Effective defence of airspace is essential for protecting Poland’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” emphasises the Command Advocate.
Polish Army soldiers have helped the Border defender defend the border since 2021, erstwhile Belarus began hybrid attacks in the territory of the Republic of Poland. In 2022, following Russia's attack on Ukraine, further threats arose. It is primarily about trespassing in Polish airspace of various types of aircraft and rockets. akin events have occurred respective times. In 2022 in Wire, 2 men were killed as a consequence of an detonation of a rocket that flew from Ukraine. A Russian rocket a fewer months later was besides identified close Bydgoszcz. In turn, in 2023 the Polish border was crossed by a Belarusian helicopter, the service besides tracked down a balloon that flew from the territory of the royal circuit.
