Polish Ministry of Defense: Hesco Bastion fortifications to be built on border with Belarus
After consultation with the border service, the Polish Defense Ministry has decided to build posts on the border based on the Hesco Bastion system. These are unique fortifications, which, among other things, will protect officers and soldiers of the border service at low temperatures,” Deputy Minister of National Defense Wojciech Skurkiewicz said recently.
Wojciech Skurkiewicz took part in a meeting of the Parliamentary group and the Committee of Internal Affairs on the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border. He reported that the head of the Ministry of Defense, Mariusz Blaszczak, decided to build unique posts on the border for officers and soldiers of the border service after consultation with the border service. Construction of the fortifications reportedly began on September 27.
The deputy head of the Ministry of Defense stressed that the posts would be built using the Hesco Bastion system.
“These are such special fortifications that will help the border guards as well as the Polish military in carrying out their tasks given the changing weather conditions and lower temperatures,” Skurkiewicz said.
One may think that these constructions are to provide uniform protection not only against bad weather. Minister Mariusz Blaszczak told MPs today that Belarusian border guards commit provocations with weapons: they aim at Polish soldiers, shoot in the air and throw firecrackers in the direction of the border.
Hesco Bastion barriers are polyester bags reinforced with a steel frame. You can quickly build fortifications against small arms, fire, and shrapnel by filling them with earth. This technology was used extensively by Allied forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Deputy Minister Skurkiewicz added that the Polish armed forces have participated and supported the border service since July 5 this year.
“At the moment, we have already completed almost 90 km of vertical engineering structures and about 140 km of horizontal, that is, three levels of barbed wire, which are being implemented,” he said.
He noted that soldiers are also building a network to protect animals from wounds. Such security measures are already in place – reportedly – for about 100 kilometers.
“As of today – this is the exact figures – 2,400 soldiers are involved in these actions,” the deputy minister said.
He noted that territorial defense forces in the border zone – in 183 communes – are carrying out tasks related to the transfer of information or additional training with local government units. “More precisely, 651 soldiers,” added Skurkiewicz.
A state of emergency has been in effect in the border zone with Belarus since September 2. It covers 183 cities. The state of emergency was imposed for 30 days following the decree of President Andrzej Duda, issued at the request of the Council of Ministers. The government justifies the need for a state of emergency by the situation on the border with Belarus, where the regime of Alyaksandr Lukashenka is waging a “hybrid war.”
