Hundreds of migrants swarm Poland’s border as tensions with Belarus escalate

A corner of Europe has descended into chaos this week, with hundreds of people attempting to storm a border as tensions escalate.

Poland announced this week that hundreds of migrants in Belarus were descending on its border, aiming to force their way into the country. Picture: Leonid Shcheglov/various sources/AFP

An explosive showdown between two European neighbours has caught the world’s attention this week, with the crisis threatening to destabilise the entire region.

For months, tensions have been rising between Belarus and some of its neighbours, including Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.

In a nutshell, those countries have accused Belarus’ leader, President Alexander Lukashenko, of “weaponising” migration in retaliation following a string of sanctions imposed against the regime.

Lukashenko critic Roman Protasevich was arrested after his Ryanair flight from Athens, Greece to Vilnius, Lithuania, was diverted to Belarus in May. Picture: EPA/Stringer

Those sanctions – organised jointly by the European Union, the US and Britain – were in response to Belarus’ authoritarian regime generally, and following the scandal ignited after a Ryanair flight was diverted to Belarus in May, which led to the arrest of reporter and political activist Roman Pratasevich, a passenger who had long been critical of the Lukashenko government.

According to the allegations, Belarus is now assisting migrants and refugees – including those from Africa and the Middle East – to pass through Belarus and illegally cross into neighbouring states.

Similar claims have been made by some of the migrants themselves, who recalled being aided by Belarusian soldiers.

Belarus is accused of “weaponising” migration. Picture: Leonid Shcheglov/BELTA/AFP

But on Monday, the crisis reached new heights, after Poland blocked hundreds of migrants attempting to storm its border.

The Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland’s Twitter account shared footage of the crisis, posting that: “We are dealing with organised destruction of border fortifications. There are also direct attacks on Polish Border Guards officers, police and soldiers”.

Poland also warned that thousands more migrants were on their way – and that future attempts could be “armed in nature”.

Government representative Piotr Muller claimed that up to 4000 migrants were now nearing Poland’s border, and that authorities were bracing for violent clashes.

“We expect that there may be an escalation of this type of action on the Polish border in the near future, which will be of an armed nature,” he told local media.

Current situation on the Polish-Belarusian border. We are dealing with organised destruction of border fortifications. There are also direct attacks on Polish Border Guards officers, police and soldiers. https://t.co/XS3Ec6dej7

— Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland (@PremierRP_en) November 8, 2021

Poland’s defence ministry also slammed the tactic in a tweet this week.

“Interior ministry forces and soldiers managed to stop the first mass attempt to breach the border,” the tweet states.

“Migrants have set up a camp in the Kuznica region. They are constantly guarded by Belarusian services.”

Poland has warned that future clashes will likely be “armed in nature”. Picture: Leonid Shcheglov/various sources/AFP

So far, Mr Lukashenko has denied the accusations that the border tensions are the result of a deliberate Belarusian tactic.

But Poland is beefing up its defence, with Poland’s Defence Minister, Mariusz Blaszczak, tweeting on Monday that thousands of Polish soldiers were “prepared to defend the Polish border”.

“More than 12,000 people are on duty at the border … We raised the state of alert,” he posted on social media.

Polish Border Guard spokesman Michał Tokarczyk also told CNN there were around 4500 border guards and 9500 Polish Army soldiers waiting at the border in preparation for “a group of several thousand migrants” allegedly heading their way.

“Belarusian services are moving large groups of migrants towards the Polish border. We are waiting for their further move and we are prepared for any scenario,” he told the network.

Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko has denied the allegations. Picture: Sergei Gapon/AFP

But the Belarus State Border Committee hit back in a statement posted to Facebook. “Foreigners who are near the border with Poland declare their intention to enter the territory of a neighbouring country and exercise their right to apply for refugee status in the EU. All of these people, including women and children, do not pose a security threat and do not behave aggressively,” the post reads.

Poland’s EU battle

Meanwhile, Poland’s spat with Belarus comes in the midst of an entirely different conflict, after Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki publicly attacked the “creeping” growth in EU powers last month.

It sparked claims Poland was considering leaving the EU altogether – with the potential move dubbed “Polexit” – which could seriously disrupt the union’s stability.