The new regulations will take effect starting Saturday, September 6, 2025, and will remain in place until December 4, 2025. The primary purpose of the buffer zone is to safeguard Poland's national border and to combat the activities of human smugglers who operate on the Polish side by aiding individuals attempting to cross the border illegally.
Minister Kierwiński emphasized the strategic importance of the border, stating, “The Polish-Belarusian border, with a security tightness of nearly 98 percent, is crucial for the safety of both Poland and the entire European Union.”
According to the MSWiA, the number of illegal border crossing attempts from Belarus has nearly doubled compared to the previous year. Between June and August 2025 alone, the Polish Border Guard recorded almost 13,800 such incidents.
The restricted area, where access will be prohibited, will cover a stretch of more than 78 kilometers along the border. This includes the territorial jurisdiction of the Border Guard stations in Michałowo, Narewka, Białowieża, Dubicze Cerkiewne, and Czeremcha.
Authorities stress that maintaining the buffer zone is a necessary measure to ensure border security and to curb organized smuggling operations, which continue to pose challenges along the eastern frontier of the European Union.
(aj)
SOURCE: IAR