We visited a group protecting the Polish-Belarusian border. We were in the vicinity of Michałów, in 1 of the bases and on the border “strip”. We asked the soldiers about the details of their regular service, about what is the biggest challenge for them. 1 of our callers was Matthew, Honker's driver from the fast consequence Force (QRF).
Soldiers serving on the Polish-Belarusian border were asked, among others, about the details of regular service, what is the biggest challenge for them.
What are fast consequence forces? ZZ Podlasie?
We are a mobile sub-unit that enters action erstwhile there is an effort to illegally cross the border or erstwhile Migrants gather at the dam And there's a hazard they're gonna effort to force it. Our occupation is to catch them or scare them away.
What are you doing with all these migrants?
We're handing them over to colleagues in the Border Guard.
What is deterrence?
Usually it is adequate to show up at the place – and disappear. But there are besides situations erstwhile despite our presence, despite the arrival of the Military Gendarmerie and Border Guard, migrants do not give up. Sometimes they're aggressive, especially in a larger group. They throw stones, rods, glass bottles at us. Or objects that can be found in the forest. They're trying to put up ladders and walk.
One of our callers wasMateusz, a soldier serving on the Polish-Belarusian border, a Honker driver from a division of fast consequence forces (QRF).
Men?
Women with children, girls, teenagers are actually no longer at the border. Young, strong men dominate. Their aggression has grown, erstwhile specified situations were rare. I think they're more desperate today.
You have besides changed your course of action.
Yes, We now have more means of direct coercion. Smooth-bore weapons, bang grenades, sticks, pepper spray. At first, we were not equipped with this or as an army prepared to usage specified equipment. Now training takes place in parent units, before going to the border.
The fixed dam makes your occupation easier?
Definitely. And I say this from the position of a individual who knows how things were without a fence, without a strategy of cameras and motion sensors. All this allows us to execute our ministry much more effectively.
What makes it difficult?
For example, strong haze or lascivious rain. Generally, the conditions in which part of our instruments are little functioning.
A lush vegetation?
Absolutely. dense grasses, advanced hulling in the forest or just trees – places where you just gotta lie down to “disappear”.
Soldiers serving on the Polish-Belarusian border.
But nature is besides natural barriers.
Of course. Only in the summer, erstwhile we're 30 degrees on the plus side, quite a few earthquakes are drained. In the spring or in the fall, there's no way to pass them, now you can. And migrants are trying.
Where are they from?
They are primarily citizens of Afghanistan, Eritrea and Somalia.
How many crossings do you have in your service?
It's hard to say. Such data change depending on Since the period or the day. In general, the warmer it gets, the more people trying to illegally cross the border. It's been a fewer attempts a day lately.
Which time do you service at the border?
Counting from 2022 is my 4th mission, each in a different place.
A lot of burden for you and your family...
It's hard, it's a fact, but it's a service. I swore to defend Polish borders, that's why I became a soldier. And knowing you're doing something crucial helps. Besides, I think our wives have worse. They're doing everything we'd do if we were home.
How do you respond to stress?
Everyone has their own way. I go to the gym, there I can clear my head a small bit from what happened on the belt. any play chess, at Play Station, there are ping-pong tournaments. Most choose sports, runs, swims – there are excellent conditions for this.
Family contact?
I talk to my wife a lot. I know she and my boy are waiting for me, Knowing that they're arrogant of what I do is crucial to me.
How old is your son?
He'll be 10 soon. He understands a lot, he frequently asks me what it looks like here. He's worried. all kid's looking at the Internet, watching TV, processing quite a few information. He knows what happened to Sergeant. Matthew Sitk. I'm telling him I think I'll come back, that I'm doing this for him. And besides, the boy just misses...
You finish your shift in the last days of July. I take it in August, household vacation?
Sure thing. We gotta make up for the next long absence.
The 2nd change of the Task Force of the Podlasie, the core of which is the 12th Szczecin Mechanized Division, is slow moving into history. By the end of July, after a six-month mission, the military will return to their home units. Soldiers from Western Pomerania will be replaced by colleagues from Warmia and Mazury, from the 16th Division.
