Poland Closes Belarus Border Amid Tensions

The news in Polish

1. zamykać
   zamknąć coś, np. drzwi lub granicę, aby nie było dostępu lub przejścia. ↩︎
2. ćwiczenie  (n.)
   zorganizowana aktywność mająca na celu doskonalenie umiejętności. ↩︎
3. wojskowy
   związany z wojskiem, militariami. ↩︎
4. krytykować
   wyrażać swoją opinię o czymś negatywnie, wskazując na wady. ↩︎
5. zestrzelić
   strącić coś z nieba strzałem, np. samolot lub drona. ↩︎
6. przestrzeń  (f.)
   obszar, w którym coś istnieje lub się porusza, np. powietrzna. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Why did Poland close the border with Belarus?

Question 2: What action did Poland take against Russian drones?

Vocabulary

Polish	English
zamykać	close
ćwiczenie  (n.)	exercise
wojskowy	military
krytykować	criticise
zestrzelić	shoot down
przestrzeń  (f.)	space

Read the full story

In response to escalating regional tensions, the Polish government has announced the closure of its border with Belarus due to imminent military exercises between Russia and Belarus. The closure is set to begin at midnight between Thursday and Friday, affecting both road and rail crossings. This move comes as a measure to mitigate potential security threats associated with the military manoeuvres dubbed “Zapad 2025,” scheduled to take place in close proximity to the Polish border.

The Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, stressed that these exercises are perceived as “aggressive from a military doctrine perspective”. He further indicated that recent provocations by both Belarus and Russia have raised security concerns, prompting the temporary shut down as a preventive action. Alongside this, Polish and allied forces are conducting concurrent drills named “Iron Defender 25” on Polish soil to ensure robust defensive capabilities.

Reacting sharply, the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has criticised Poland’s decision, labelling it as an “abuse of geographical position” and accusing Poland of privately benefiting from European Union borders. Minsk issued a formal protest against the closure, claiming that such actions predominantly aim to obscure Poland’s internal affairs rather than address any real threat from Belarus.

Compounding the tension, Poland has expelled a Belarusian diplomat for allegedly supporting aggressive Belarusian state activities within Poland. Minsk has condemned this expulsion as an irrational decision and has vowed to retaliate, asserting that such actions are part of a broader coordinated effort, possibly with Czech actions against Belarusian intelligence networks in Europe.

The complex geopolitical landscape has been further strained by the reported intrusion of Russian drones into Poland’s airspace. Prime Minister Tusk confirmed these incidents, which resulted in the drones being shot down by Polish defense forces, asserting this as a large-scale provocation. In a historic first for NATO, these actions were viewed seriously by the alliance’s partners, with coordinated efforts underway to address any ongoing threats.

Polish authorities have urged caution among residents, advising against approaching any remains of downed drones, emphasizing public safety amidst active military operations. Meanwhile, the national security framework continues to operate in high alert, with intense diplomatic, military, and public communication channels engaged to maintain regional stability.

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