Poland reviews wartime laws, citing lessons from Ukraine

Poland has launched a comprehensive review of its national legislation to prepare the country for the possibility of armed conflict, drawing on lessons learned from Ukraine's experience during Russia's full-scale invasion.

According to Polish officials, the government is examining how Ukraine was forced to rapidly amend its legal framework after the invasion exposed shortcomings in existing wartime regulations. Warsaw aims to address any similar gaps before a potential crisis, Polsat News writes.

The Ministry of Justice has prepared a briefing outlining proposed amendments to the Criminal Code, with a particular focus on strengthening military discipline during combat operations.

"It is important to understand that the country must be legally prepared. This is the foundation of defence. However, no final decisions have been made yet. No decisions have been adopted at this stage. We will analyse the situation in order to draft legislation that guarantees the effective defence of the Republic of Poland," Polish Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said.

Among the measures under consideration are tougher penalties for military personnel in critical combat situations, including harsher punishment for insubordination, prison sentences of up to 30 years for serious offences such as disobeying orders during combat, and the possibility of life imprisonment.

The proposed changes are still under review, and the government has not yet adopted any final decisions.

By Sabina Mammadli