Poland plans to reinforce 200 kilometres of its border with Russia, Belarus PHOTO / VIDEO

Poland plans to reinforce an additional 200 kilometres of its border with Russia and Belarus by the end of the year as part of the large-scale Eastern Shield defence program.

About 65 kilometres of new fortifications were completed last year, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The Eastern Shield is described as the largest defence project in Poland’s history, involving a multi-layered system along the eastern and northern borders with Belarus, Russia’s Kaliningrad region, and the strategically important Suwałki Gap between Poland and Lithuania. The system includes trenches, concrete anti-tank barriers such as “dragon’s teeth” and hedgehogs, the use of natural obstacles like forests and wetlands, shelters, and counter-drone measures.

The project aims to slow any potential advance by Russian troops and armoured vehicles in the event of a conflict and to improve protection for both military personnel and civilians.

Poland’s General Staff said fortifications will cover about 38% of the eastern and northern border by the end of the year. In 2025, authorities have already closed five border crossings and prepared plans to shut another 17.

Poland is NATO’s largest military donor relative to GDP and continues to expand its defence capabilities amid the war in Ukraine and repeated airspace violations, including the intrusion of Russian drones last September.

Other countries are taking similar steps, with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania implementing the Baltic Defence Line project, which includes bunkers, trenches, and anti-tank barriers.

Construction of the Eastern Shield began in autumn 2024 and is scheduled for completion by 2028, with Polish authorities stressing that Europe is neither at war nor at peace, making deterrence and defence a top priority.

By Jeyhun Aghazada