On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced on social media that, following a government decision after the latest Russian attack near the Polish border, the 4th Engineer Regiment named after Gen. Romuald Traugutt from Dęblin and the 18th Engineer Regiment named after Col. Franciszek Niepokólczycki from Nisko had begun reinforcing Border Guard infrastructure at border crossings with Ukraine.
Photos: Armed Forces General Command
“We are strengthening the security of our border crossings with Ukraine. The events of recent days show that Russia’s actions threaten the security of all of Europe. In accordance with our government’s decision, infrastructure used by the Border Guard is being reinforced, among other measures. Soldiers of the 18th Engineer Regiment are already carrying out tasks that will strengthen posts and infrastructure near the Polish-Ukrainian border.”
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz
“Soldiers of the 4th and 18th Engineer Regiments are carrying out tasks under the East Shield program related to the construction of border fortifications using HESCO Bastion systems. They are also providing engineering support to the Nadbużański Border Guard Regional Unit, including the construction of observation and guard posts near the Polish-Ukrainian border in Dorohusk, Medyka, and Korczowa.”
Armed Forces General Command
On Sunday, a special briefing was held with the participation of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Minister of the Interior and Administration Marcin Kierwiński, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, and representatives of the security services.
“This morning [Sunday — ed.], 2 km from the Polish-Ukrainian border, an attack took place on a gas station or the area nearby, as well as on a freight train located on a siding. The coming weeks and months will be a period of very intensified Russian activity. Unfortunately, we cannot rule out that this escalation will also affect Polish territory,” the Prime Minister said.
Sunday’s attack shows that Russia is prepared to use more dangerous equipment than before — jet-powered drones. In accordance with the government’s decision, the relevant services have been operating in a heightened readiness mode since Sunday. Operations at border crossings will also require special measures. The government will also analyze ways of mobilizing Poland’s allies. Poland and its partners must be prepared for a joint and coordinated response if necessary.
Russia escalates its actions. Services move to heightened readiness
Recently, Russian attacks on Ukraine have intensified, while Russian operations have been taking place increasingly close to the Polish border.
“As we expected, and as I have repeatedly warned, the escalation of actions by the Russian Federation is becoming a reality, and examples of this are appearing ever closer to our border,” the Prime Minister said during the briefing at the Government Centre for Security.
An attack or attempt to paralyze border crossings would not be the first incident of this kind.
“We knew that Russia’s plan would include attempts to disrupt, paralyze, and possibly destroy border crossings with Ukraine,” Donald Tusk said. “As of today, the relevant services will operate in a heightened readiness mode.”
“The coming weeks and months will be a period of very intense Russian activity, and unfortunately we cannot rule out that this escalation will also affect our territory,” the head of government explained.
Sunday’s Russian attack shows that Moscow is prepared to use more dangerous equipment than before — jet-powered drones.
“We will analyze how to mobilize our allies. There is no doubt that, together with them, we must be prepared for a coordinated response if necessary,” the Prime Minister stated.
Donald Tusk also said that he would expect the services to maintain full capability for the ongoing verification of all information, particularly under emergency conditions. Any information appearing in the public domain should be confirmed as quickly as possible in order to avoid mistakes in situations requiring an urgent response.
“Precise information is important. We are certain that a gas station or the area near it, as well as a freight train on a siding, were attacked 2 kilometers from our border. Reports that a convoy of trucks or a locomotive from a Kyiv-Warsaw passenger train had been attacked appeared not only in our media but also in some Ukrainian reports. I cannot say that they are false, but we are not confirming such incidents,” the Prime Minister stressed.
He added that the operation of border crossings would require special arrangements in the coming months. Talks on this matter were held with the Ministry of Finance on Monday.
During the briefing at the Government Centre for Security, Brig. Gen. Jarosław Chojnacki, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Operational Command, said that the Russian attacks on Ukraine had most likely involved more than 700 drones and 40 ballistic missiles.
“The Operational Commander activated ground-based air defense and aviation assets, including F-16s and Mi-17 and Black Hawk helicopters,” Gen. Jarosław Chojnacki said.
Polish airspace was not violated.
Maj. Gen. Robert Bagan, Commander-in-Chief of the Border Guard, said that the situation at border crossings with Ukraine was currently under control and traffic was proceeding normally.
❗Wzmacniamy ochronę naszych przejść granicznych z Ukrainą. Ostatnie dni pokazują, że działania Rosji zagrażają bezpieczeństwu całej Europy. Zgodnie z decyzją naszego rządu wzmacniana jest m. in. infrastruktura wykorzystywana przez Straż Graniczną. Żołnierze 18 Pułku Saperów… pic.twitter.com/xo6XvNzQkr
— Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz (@KosiniakKamysz) September 15, 2026
Żołnierze 4 i 18 Pułku Saperów realizują zadania w ramach #TarczaWschód, związane z budową umocnień granicznych z wykorzystaniem zestawów fortyfikacyjnych HESCO Bastion 🛡️.
✔️ Prowadzą również działania w zakresie wsparcia inżynieryjnego na rzecz Nadbużańskiego Oddziału Straży… pic.twitter.com/8PC7PnupgO
— Dowództwo Generalne (@DGeneralneRSZ) September 15, 2026
Wczoraj wieczorem zakończyło się wzmacnianie posterunków @Straz_Graniczna na przejściu granicznym w Dorohusku. Dziękuję Wojsku Polskiemu i @KosiniakKamysz za sprawnie przeprowadzona operację. @CTomczyk pic.twitter.com/vBjSw3pYnx
— Marcin Kierwiński (@MKierwinski) September 16, 2026
Żołnierze Wojsk Inżynieryjnych z 4. i 18. pułku saperów wzmacniają ochronę granicy w odpowiedzi na zagrożenia związane z agresywnymi działaniami Rosji. Dla Straży Granicznej rozbudowują osłony i posterunki z wykorzystaniem systemu HESCO na granicy z Ukrainą. To wymagająca służba… pic.twitter.com/w5aNAB1O8Y
— Cezary Tomczyk (@CTomczyk) September 16, 2026
