Thousands of Wagner mercenaries are stationed at the polish border which has created an “extremely dangerous” situation on the eastern flank.
Poland is on full alert and has sent attack helicopters to the Belarusian border over concerns there could be a full invasion.
The attack helicopters have been sent to Podlaskie Voivodeship and will immediately respond to any cross-border intrusions.
Marek Sokolowski, deputy commander of the Polish Armed Forces, said, “They are very experienced. If something disturbing happens, they will not hesitate to use weapons.”
Polish defence officials have said that Bystra radar stations are also to be sent to the border which will “will significantly strengthen anti-aircraft and anti-missile operations.”
The Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said alongside Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda in a news conference, “The Wagner group is extremely dangerous and the units of this group are deployed to NATO’s eastern flank to destabilise it.”
This week the Polish government put NATO on alert after two Belarusian military helicopters entered Poland’s airspace.
Poland’s Ministry of Defence, Mariusz Błaszczak has now ordered more than 1,000 soldiers to the border as tensions continue to rise as Wagner mercenaries are training Belarusian troops.
A Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopters of the Belarusian Air Force crossed the border into Poland at low altitude which made it difficult for the Polish military to detect them on radar.
The Polish MoD said, “Therefore, in the morning announcement, the Operational Command of the Armed Forces Branches informed that the Polish radar systems did not record any violation of Polish airspace.”
The Polish Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Tuesday evening, “After the commanders and service chiefs presented conclusions from the analysis of the situation, it was established that today, August 1, 2023, there was a violation of Polish airspace by two Belarusian helicopters that were training near the border.
“The Belarusian side had previously informed the Polish side about the training.
“The border crossing took place in the Białowieża area at a very low altitude, making it difficult to detect by radar systems.
“Therefore, in the morning announcement, the Operational Command of the Armed Forces Branches informed that the Polish radar systems did not record any violation of Polish airspace.”
The Belarusian Ministry of Defense said in a statement, “The accusations of violation of the Polish border by Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopters of the Belarusian Air Force are too far-reaching and created by the Polish military and leadership to justify the concentration of troops and equipment on the Belarusian border.”
