Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski announced on Thursday that Poland has closed its border with Belarus for an indefinite period, a move that goes beyond the timeline of the Zapad-2025 joint military exercises between Moscow and Minsk.
“I want to emphasize that this is not a temporary closure for the duration of the Zapad-2025 exercises. The border is closed for an indefinite period and will be opened only when the situation allows for total security to be guaranteed,” Kierwinski said in an interview with a Polish radio station.
The decision follows Wednesday’s incident in which Russian drones entered Polish territory via Belarusian airspace, prompting heightened security concerns.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that the closure would begin on September 11, initially citing the Russia-Belarus military drills as a primary reason. However, the Interior Minister’s latest statement suggests that the border will remain sealed until Warsaw is satisfied with security conditions.
The move underscores escalating regional tensions, with Poland reinforcing its stance as a frontline NATO member amid Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine.
