Poland Plans Fence on Border With Russia’s Kaliningrad

The Polish government on Wednesday, Nov.2 announced the construction of a fence along the border with Russia’s exclave of Kaliningrad to prevent illegal crossings.

Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak announced the decision amid concerns in Warsaw that Russia plans to orchestrate an influx of migrants.

“The airport in Kaliningrad is now accepting flights from the Middle East and North Africa. I decided to take action to enhance the security of the Polish border,” Blaszczak told reporters.

“Already today work will begin… on a temporary barrier” along the 210-kilometre (130-mile) border, he added.

He said the razor-wire fence will be 2.5 metres (over eight feet) high and three metres deep and will also feature electronic equipment.

Poland already built a steel wall last year along its border with Russian ally Belarus after a migrant influx there.

Tens of thousands of migrants and refugees, mostly from the Middle East, have crossed or attempted to cross into Poland from Belarus since 2021.

Poland’s border guard and NGOs on site continue to report dozens of attempted illegal crossings there on a daily basis.

The West believes the influx was orchestrated by Minsk to destabilise the region, a charge denied by the Belarusian regime.

Poland sent thousands of troops and police officers to reinforce border guard patrols at the height of the crisis and approved a law allowing migrants to be forced back into Belarus.

The so-called pushbacks, and the government’s overall tough anti-migration stance, drew condemnation from activists and aid organisations.

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