Poland completes first section of Eastern Shield border fortifications
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on Saturday that the first section of fortifications, known as the "Eastern Shield," along Poland's borders with Russia and Belarus, is now complete. He emphasized that all measures implemented along these borders represent an investment in peace, according to the EFE news agency.
"The first section of the Eastern Shield along the Russian border is now complete," Tusk announced on the social media platform X, after visiting troops stationed about 200 meters from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
The initial plan had scheduled the completion of this first section for the first quarter of 2025.
"Everything we are doing here—and will also implement at the borders with Belarus and Ukraine—is designed to deter potential aggression, making it truly an investment in peace," Tusk emphasized.
"We will invest billions of zlotys in this, and at this moment, all of Europe is closely monitoring these efforts with great satisfaction and will offer support if needed," he added.
The prime minister also highlighted that countries in the Baltic region will collaborate with Poland to ensure that this infrastructure is effective not only along the Polish sections but across the entire border, "primarily with Russia and Belarus."
Tusk described the initiative as "the largest project of its kind in Europe's history since 1945," noting that "the entire Eastern Shield will be an unprecedented undertaking."
The Shield is a program developed by the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff of the Polish Army. It involves constructing various types of fortifications, terrain obstacles, and military infrastructure along Poland's borders with Russia and Belarus, spanning a total of approximately 800 kilometers.
The plans include building advanced systems for reconnaissance and threat detection, operational bases, logistics centers, storage facilities, and deploying anti-drone systems.
Warsaw has allocated around 2.3 billion euros to this plan, which is expected to be fully operational by 2028. The Shield will be integrated into NATO's broader defense infrastructure on the eastern flank to counter threats from Belarus and Russia.
Tusk further emphasized, "This is a highly modern approach to border protection, incorporating infrastructure like concrete barriers, anti-tank ditches, and even natural environmental features."
Translation by Iurie Tataru
