Poland Plans to Send 10,000 Soldiers to Its Border with Belarus

Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak announced on Thursday that the country intends to deploy an additional force of around ten thousand soldiers to the border with Belarus to support border guard troops. The minister stated in a radio interview: "About ten thousand soldiers will be at the border; four thousand will directly support the border guard, and six thousand will be on standby." He added, "We are transferring army forces near the border with Belarus to deter the aggressor so that they do not dare to attack us." Poland has been increasingly concerned about the border area since the arrival of hundreds of fighters from the Russian Wagner Group in Belarus last month at the invitation of President Alexander Lukashenko. Belarus has continued military maneuvers near the border this week, and President Lukashenko has repeatedly stated that he is keeping the Wagner fighters in check, who want to attack Poland.