Warsaw, August 30, 2025 — Minister of abroad Affairs Radosław Sikorski made an unprecedented, dramatic appeal to Poles, powerfully informing against disregarding authoritative travel safety recommendations. In a strong message that the media, the head of Polish diplomacy, stressed that ignoring MFA warnings not only exposes to the mortal danger of travellers themselves, but besides generates giant costs for the state budget, reaching possibly millions of PLN for evacuation operations. Moreover, in the most critical scenarios, rescue may simply be impossible.
“In spite of the guidelines of the MFA, we not only exposure Poland to the costs of possible evacuation, which is not always possible. As TOPR warns against avalanches, you don’t go to the mountains!” wrote Minister Sikorski on platform X (formerly Twitter), simply comparing the recklessness of tourists to ignoring avalanche alerts. This strict informing is simply a reflection of the increasing concern of the ministry of diplomacy with the mass disregard of threats by Poles in conflict regions, political instability or terrorism.
Millions of dollars for recklessness? The Dramatic Appeal of Minister Sikorski
The costs of evacuation operations are not abstract numbers, but real burdens for the Polish taxpayer. In the past, even during the evacuation from Afghanistan or Ukraine, the Polish state incurred immense expenses. Hire of specialised aircraft, coordinate with global partners, guarantee safety for diplomatic staff and emergency services – all this adds up to amounts that can even scope several million zlotys for 1 large operation. These measures are deducted from another key abroad and consular policy priorities.
Minister Sikorski clearly points out that although the Constitution of the Republic of Poland guarantees freedom of movement and the MFA cannot legally prohibit travel, moral and financial responsibility for the consequences rests on travellers. Ignoring warnings is not only playing with its own fate, but besides endangering the lives of Polish diplomats and rescuers who, in highly dangerous conditions, frequently under fire, hazard everything to aid irresponsible citizens. In many cases, as in the besieged Gaza Strip, evacuation may be logistically impossible due to damaged infrastructure, deficiency of safe corridors or deficiency of cooperation of local forces.
Where is travel a deadly risk? Black MFA letters
The Ministry of abroad Affairs maintains the most restrictive recommendations for a number of countries and regions, which in 2025 stay on the "black list" of places to which Polish citizens should avoid travel. 1 of them is Russian Federationwhere Poles can become targets of repression by safety services or be utilized as hostages in an ongoing geopolitical game. The hazard of arbitrary detention, espionage or propaganda is alarmingly high.
Equal warnings concern Ukraine. Despite heroic resistance, the safety situation remains unpredictable there. The presence of civilians from 3rd countries can complicate military and humanitarian activities. MFA explicitly advises against all travel in Ukraine, where The hazard of rocket attack, war or mines is real and omnipresent. Situation in Israel and the Gaza Strip is another example of regions where the escalation of the mediate East conflict can at any time lead to a situation where evacuation becomes impossible. Especially in the Gaza Strip, the strength of the combat effort puts all effort to assist at risk. These warnings are based on sound analyses of intelligence and diplomatic services that have a full image of the threats.
Four Threats: How to admit actual Risk?
The MFA informing strategy is transparent and consists of 4 degrees that accurately find the level of risk:
- 1. Just be careful: safety situation comparable to Poland. Standard precautions are sufficient.
- 2. Take peculiar care: Increased level of threat. Increased vigilance and additional safety measures required, e.g. avoidance of demonstrations, monitoring of local media.
- 3. MFA advises against travel that is not necessary: A importantly increased risk. The hotel recommends limiting travel to absolutely essential (professional, family, urgent). Tourist and recreational travel are in this case strongly advised. The decision on “necessity” lies with the citizen, but the MFA calls for responsibility.
- 4. MFA advises against all travel: An highly advanced threat. The hotel categorically advises against any trips, regardless of the purpose. The hazard to life and wellness is so advanced that no circumstances can justify it. Countries and regions covered by this level are de facto unavailable for safe travel.
Understanding and complying with these recommendations is crucial to your own safety and avoid costly and sometimes impossible rescue operations. These are not arbitrary prohibitions, but based on hazard analysis data.
Odyssey: Your safety passport or just a formality?
In the face of expanding global threats, an electronic registration strategy is simply a key component of the travel safety strategy Odyssey. This tool, though voluntary, is strongly recommended, especially for those who go to regions with unstable political or safety situations. Registration in Odysseus allows the Ministry of abroad Affairs:
- Keeping in contact with Polish citizens abroad.
- Quick notification of the changing safety situation in the region of residence.
- Close monitoring of the number of Poles in a given country, which is essential to plan and estimation the scale of possible evacuation operations.
- Improvement of consular assistance in emergency.
The Odysseus strategy may prove essential if evacuation or urgent assistance is required. Without registration, the ministry has far limited access to citizens in a critical situation which may hold or even prevent effective assistance. This is not just a formality, but a formality. active component of your individual safety plan.
The modern planet is becoming increasingly unpredictable. From intensification of regional conflicts, through increased activity of terrorist groups, to natural disasters associated with climate change – risks are ubiquitous. Minister Sikorski and MFA appeal for responsibility, awareness and reason. Ignoring these warnings is not only a threat to your own life and wallet, but besides a immense burden on the Polish state and diplomatic staff, who, with the hazard of life, is on the front line to defend their citizens. Before you pack your bags, check the MFA recommendations and registry in Odysseus. This could save your life and millions of dollars from the state budget.
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Sikorski thunders: Ignore the abroad Office? Poland will pay millions, rescue can be impossible!
