On November 8, more than a hundred refugees gathered at the Bruzgi-Kuznica border crossing on the Polish-Belarusian border. Polish authorities immediately intensified perimeter security – two battalions of Territorial Defense Troops were mobilized.
In the afternoon of the same day, migrants tried to break through the border, but Polish border guards used gas against them.
The Ministry of Defence of Belarus announced the deployment of about 12,000 Polish soldiers near the border. This, according to Minsk, was a significant military activity. Polish President Andrzej Duda, in turn, said that several refugees were trying to break through the border from the direction of Belarus.
The authorities of Warsaw stressed that there was “the largest attempt so far of massive forcible entry” into the country. Amid the complications, Warsaw declared that it is closing the crossing point «Forge» on the border with Belarus.
On November 8, the media also reported that shooting sounds were heard on the Polish side of the border.
The refugees themselves, when asked what prompted them to emigrate from their countries, replied that “they left their countries because their lives were in danger.
Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on November 9 that the Kremlin is closely monitoring the situation on the Belarusian-Polish border and considers it dangerous.
“In this situation, the most important thing, after all, is the life and health of those people, a large number of people who have piled up near the border”, – the words of Dmitry Peskov transfers RIA Novosti.
How did it start?
Since the beginning of 2021, more than 30,000 migrants from various countries have tried to cross the Polish-Belarusian border. For this reason, Poland imposed a state of emergency in the regions bordering Belarus, Warsaw is still systematically increasing the number of soldiers to guard the border.
The Government decided to build a fence 5 metres high. Belarusian neighbors – Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia – accuse Belarusian authorities of deliberately sending refugees from the Middle East to the border to harm their neighbors and the European Union in retaliation for the sanctions.
Now the European Union is developing sanctions against Belarus involved in the situation with migrants.
“Working on the 5th package of sanctions against Belarus is in progress…About 30 people and organizations involved in the influx of migrants to the borders of Poland, Lithuania and Latvia will be included”, – wrote «Radio Freedom» correspondent Ricard Jozniak.
