Deputy Minister of National Defence Cezary Tomczyk announced at a press conference in Polowce at the border with Belarus the creation of components of the Shield East in each border municipality. The construction is to be completed within the next 14 months.
"In the next 14 months, in each border municipality with the Russian Federation, Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine, peculiar retention places will be created, where engineering elements will be stored to safe the borders of the state" - said Tomczyk. The conference was held jointly with the Minister of the Interior Marcin Kierwiński.
Logistics hubs in districts
In each district, logistics hubs will be established in cooperation with various departments subordinate to the Ministry of abroad Affairs and civilian services. They are intended to keep the readiness of troops and border services.
Major General Marek Wawrzyniak, Head of the Board of Engineering Forces, stressed the importance of monitoring drone activities and countermobility. "Any action that is taken to block, halt the opponent is simply a very crucial component that gives us the chance to act" - he pointed out.
Billions for local entrepreneurs
The government plans to prioritise the engagement of local companies in the construction of the Shield East infrastructure. "As part of the Shield Programme, the East spends billions of PLN and we very much want the majority of these funds to stay here in the east and Northern provinces of the Republic" - emphasised the Deputy Minister.
Local entrepreneurs from Podlaskie, Lubelskie, Warmian-Masurian and Podkarpackie provinces are to be active in the construction of military roads and infrastructure. "So that this money is spent here so that it is companies from Podlasie, from Lublin Voivodeship, from Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, from Podkarpackie may be active and are primarily engaged in road construction, infrastructure construction, military infrastructure, engineering infrastructure" - explained Tomczyk.
Close supply chains
The Deputy Minister pointed out the benefits of close supply chains for the safety and economy of the region. "The supply chains, the supplier, who is close to the place, are billions of zlotys, which will be located here in local companies" - he said, answering the question about economical aid for regions affected by cutting off contacts with the east.
PLN 10 billion programme
The government adopted a resolution on the National Shield deterrence and defence program in June 2024. The budget of the programme for the years 2024-2028 is PLN 10 billion.
The programme envisages building fortifications, field obstacles and military infrastructure at borders with Russia, Belarus and Ukraine over a distance of about 800 kilometres. The plans include fortifications, hazard designation systems, extended bases, logistics nodes and anti-drone systems.
International cooperation
Tomczyk noted that Poland is "forpost" in the implementation of specified defence investments. akin projects are presently being implemented by Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland for years.
The program is consulted with the United Kingdom and the USA, which communicate their experiences to the Polish Army. Poland shares its cognition with the Baltic countries under the Baltic Defence Line programme.
First tests and implementation
In mid-October 2024, the first tests of the Shield elements took place at the Orish camp. At the end of the year Prime Minister Donald Tusk informed about the start of the first work on the border with Russia.
General Wawrzyniak stressed that the Baltic Defence Line and Shield Programme of the East must be united. The aim is to make the Polish Army as much easier as possible to defend the border and hinder possible aggressor from entering the country.
Sources used: "PAP" Note: This article has been edited with the aid of Artificial Intelligence.
