Polish defence minister says hybrid attacks from Belarus 'coordinated in Kremlin'

Record ID: 1736431

  • Title: Polish defence minister says hybrid attacks from Belarus 'coordinated in Kremlin'
  • Date: 3rd August 2023
  • Summary: POLAND-BELARUS BORDER (JULY 20, 2023) (REUTERS) VIEW FROM POLAND ACROSS BUG RIVER TO BELARUS, SIGN READING (Polish): "STATE BORDER, CROSSING PROHIBITED" (AUDIO OF EXPLOSIONS IN BACKGROUND FROM BELARUSIAN EXERCISES) BUG RIVER FLOWING FIELDS AND ROAD CLOSE TO THE BORDER
  • Embargoed: 17th August 2023 17:04
  • Keywords: Mariusz Blaszczak Poland-Belarus border Polish Defence Minister Wagner Group hybrid attacks from Belarus
  • Location: BIALYSTOK, USNARZ GORNY AND PODLASKIE REGION, POLAND / GIVEN AS BREST, BELARUS / POLAND-BELARUS BORDER
  • City: BIALYSTOK, USNARZ GORNY AND PODLASKIE REGION, POLAND / GIVEN AS BREST, BELARUS / POLAND-BELARUS BORDER
  • Country: Poland
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Europe
  • Reuters ID: LVA004209903082023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Hybrid attacks from Belarus on Polish territory are coordinated in the Kremlin, Poland's defence minister said on Thursday (August 3) after visiting areas close to the Belarusian border.
    Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said he expected such attacks to continue and the Polish military had to be ready to respond and repel them.
    Poland and its allies say Belarus has been engaging in hybrid warfare with its neighbour since 2021 when they say Minsk engineered a migrant crisis that saw tens of thousands trying to cross into Poland and its EU and NATO fellows Lithuania and Latvia.
    In response, Poland fortified the border and increased its military presence in the area.
    The arrival of Wagner Group mercenaries in Belarus following a failed mutiny in Russia has increased the likelihood of hybrid attacks, Polish officials say.
    Wagner soldiers have begun training with the Belarus national army, in exercises that could be heard on the Polish side, and prompting Poland to start moving more than 1,000 troops closer to the border. On Tuesday (August 2), it accused Belarus of violating its airspace with military helicopters.
    (Production: Lewis Macdonald)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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