Poland extends operation of buffer zone on border with Belarus

MINSK. Sept 5 (Interfax) - The operation of a buffer zone established by Poland on the border with Belarus has been extended, the press service for the Polish Interior and Administration Ministry said.

"The interior and administration minister has extended the operation of the buffer zone on the Polish-Belarusian border for another three months. [...] The order will be in effect from September 6 to December 4," the press service said.

"The buffer zone needs to be maintained due to the growing migratory pressure from Belarus. The Polish-Belarusian border, the impermeability of which is nearing 98%, is crucial for the security of Poland and the entire European Union," the press service quoted Interior and Administration Minister Marcin Kierwinski as saying.

"The number of attempts of illegal crossing of the border with Belarus has nearly doubled in the past few months compared with the previous year. From June to August 2025, the Border Service recorded nearly 13,800 such cases compared to 7,500 in the same period of the previous year, which means a growth by 83%," the press service said.

"The Border Service recorded over 5,400 attempts of illegal crossing of the Polish-Belarusian border in August 2025 alone. There were less than 2,300 of them in August 2024, which means a growth nearly by 2.5 times," it said.

On June 13, 2024, Poland established a buffer zone on the border with Belarus envisaging a temporary ban on the presence of unauthorized individuals in a certain section of the border area. In addition, servicemen of the Military Gendarmerie and additional police forces were sent to reinforce the Polish-Belarusian border, as explained by the Polish side due to "an increase in the number of migrants' attacks on border guards and servicemen performing their duties in the border area." The restrictions were initially imposed for 90 days and were subsequently extended.