‘I’d defend our nation’: Poles prepare for growing threat of war
Poland is launching a massive civilian defence programme to teach 400,000 people basic survival and emergency skills by 2027, while simultaneously reinforcing its eastern border with new fortifications. The effort reflects heightened anxiety after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and recent sabotage in…
Poland has launched an ambitious civilian defence initiative that aims to train 400,000 citizens in basic survival, first‑aid and shelter use by 2027. The voluntary scheme, open to schoolchildren, pensioners and anyone in between, is part of a broader security overhaul triggered by Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and a series of sabotage attacks on Polish territory.
From Cold‑War drills to modern survival courses
Veteran Cezary Pruszko, 60, recalls the civil‑defence lessons of his Communist‑era school – map reading, fire‑making and gas‑mask fitting – as a routine part of daily life. On a frosty Saturday at an army base outside Warsaw, he joined dozens of civilians for a hands‑on refresher: touring a bomb shelter, testing gas masks and striking flint to spark a fire. "My generation grew up with those threats. You didn’t have to explain why this mattered," he said, underscoring the generational memory that fuels today’s programme.
Poland’s defence minister, Władysław Kosiniak‑Kamysz, framed the effort as a response to “the most dangerous times since the end of the Second World War.” He stressed that every citizen should possess the practical know‑how to survive a crisis, whether a natural disaster or a hostile act.
Why the urgency has risen
The country’s central European location has historically made it a crossroads for conflict. The full‑scale invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in February 2022 sharpened Polish public awareness of the Russian threat. In the months that followed, Polish airspace experienced several drone incursions, and a railway line was blown up in an attack that officials attributed to Russian intelligence. These incidents prompted a rapid reassessment of national security priorities.
Budgets reflect the shift. The government’s draft for next year proposes defence spending of 4.8% of GDP – a level that exceeds most NATO allies. New construction codes now require bomb shelters in public buildings, and a programme to refurbish dilapidated shelters is already under way.
The “eastern shield” and border fortifications
Beyond civilian training, Poland is building a physical “eastern shield” along its borders with Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. The project combines traditional trenches and concrete fortifications with modern technology such as GPS‑linked surveillance towers designed to detect drone activity and illegal crossings.
At a forward operating base near the Belarusian frontier, Brigadier General Roman Brudło, commander of the 9th Armoured Cavalry Brigade, explained that Russia’s war in Ukraine has fundamentally altered Poland’s threat calculus. "The quiet times have unfortunately passed," he said, adding that intelligence forecasts suggest a possible full‑scale invasion within the next five years, though he hopes it never materialises.
Brudło, a career officer since 1996, admitted that traditional tank‑centric training must evolve. "In a war against drones or sabotage threats, my training in conventional warfare would need to be revised," he noted, highlighting the shift toward hybrid tactics that stay below the threshold of open war.
Hybrid warfare, migration and NATO exercises
Hybrid tactics, according to both Brudło and Capt. Karol Frankowski of the brigade’s communications unit, include the weaponisation of migration. Sensors along the newly erected border wall alert soldiers to any attempted crossing, and the brigade assists border guards in intercepting migrants who could be used as leverage by Moscow or Minsk.
During NATO’s annual Saber Junction exercises in Germany, Frankowski participated in wargames that simulated a hybrid attack leading to martial law. Actors played local officials, journalists and civilians, forcing participants to practice crisis communication and civilian‑military coordination.
The narrative linking migration to Russian aggression has been embraced by Poland’s current government, despite criticism from human‑rights groups. Activist Aleksandra Chrzanowska of the Grupa Granica alliance warned that the rhetoric fuels a “far‑right, racist narrative” that obscures the genuine humanitarian plight of asylum seekers.
Local perspectives on the border threat
In the town of Gołdap, only a few kilometres from the Kaliningrad border, residents view the threat with measured concern. Piotr Bartoszuk, head of the local vocational college, said the proximity to Russia influences thinking but that Warsaw feels more vulnerable. "Strategically, they’re not going to target us here," he explained.
Teenager Kornelia Brzezińska, who studies on the college’s military track, expressed a willingness to defend her country if needed. "I’d go to the front. I really do love Poland," she said, pointing to shrapnel‑etched bricks on the college wall as a stark reminder of World War II’s devastation.
Pruszko, after completing the training, arranged for his company’s younger employees to attend the same course. He hopes the skills will remain dormant but useful should a crisis arise, noting that many of today’s youth have grown up in a period of relative peace within the EU.
What comes next?
The civilian programme will continue to expand, with regional training centres scheduled to open in the next two years. Simultaneously, construction of the eastern shield is expected to finish by 2028, integrating anti‑drone systems, reinforced bunkers and rapid‑response units.
Poland’s approach illustrates a broader European trend: blending civilian resilience, modern fortifications and NATO cooperation to counter a perceived Russian hybrid threat. Whether the measures will deter aggression or simply prepare the population for a conflict that may never materialise remains to be seen.
Why it matters
Poland’s expansive civilian defence programme and border fortifications signal a shift toward total‑society resilience in the face of hybrid threats, reshaping security policy across Central Europe.
Key points
- Poland aims to train 400,000 civilians in basic survival skills by 2027
- Defence spending is set to rise to 4.8% of GDP, the highest among NATO members
- The ‘eastern shield’ will combine trenches, shelters and anti‑drone technology along the Belarus‑Kaliningrad frontier
- Hybrid tactics, including weaponised migration, are a central concern for Polish military planners
- Human‑rights groups warn that security rhetoric is being used to justify stricter migrant controls
Frequently asked questions
What is the civilian defence programme in Poland?
It is a voluntary training scheme that teaches basic survival, first‑aid, gas‑mask use and shelter procedures to any Polish citizen, with a target of 400,000 participants by 2027.
How is Poland reinforcing its eastern border?
Through the ‘eastern shield’ project, which adds trenches, fortified shelters, sensor‑linked fences and GPS‑based anti‑drone installations along the borders with Belarus and Kaliningrad.
Why does the Polish government link migration to security threats?
Officials argue that Russia and Belarus may use irregular migration as a hybrid tool to pressure Poland, a claim contested by human‑rights organisations.
What role does NATO play in Poland’s new security measures?
Poland participates in NATO exercises such as Saber Junction, integrates allied intelligence, and aligns its defence spending and border projects with NATO standards.
