Jacek Siewiera made the statement at a media briefing on Tuesday, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
The official, who heads President Andrzej Duda’s National Security Bureau (BBN), was speaking after a meeting with his predecessors at the helm of the BBN agency.
Their talks focused on the war in Ukraine, its consequences for Poland and migration challenges, according to officials.
‘Worrying’ new flight routes
Siewiera told reporters: “Currently we are witnessing an increased share of illegal migration on the border between Poland and Belarus.”
He said “the trend has visibly intensified over the past month" and there were “worrying signs” of new flight routes being established between Russia’s Kaliningrad region and countries in the Middle East and Africa.
He said the establishment of air links from the Middle East and Africa to Belarus last year preceded "the exploitation of civilian migrants as a weapon" during "the hybrid aggression" launched against Poland from Belarusian territory at the time.
Poland building barrier on Russian border
Siewiera said: “Poland is building a fence and an electronic barrier on the Kaliningrad border. This sends a clear message to the Russian Federation that Poland is looking in this direction and is aware of the risks that might be associated with the use of migrants as hostages in a hybrid attack.”
He added that "President Duda wants the BBN’s current and former leadership to meet on a regular basis."
Siewiera said such get-togethers would be held “at moments that require serious reflection on key issues of national security.”
The head of Poland's National Security Bureau (BBN), Jacek Siewiera (fourth from right), and several of his predecessors meet in Warsaw on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Photo: PAP/Leszek Szymański
Siewiera noted that the BBN was tasked with advising the president, who oversees Poland’s armed forces.
Tuesday was day 258 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, dziennik.pl, bbn.gov.pl