Poland Begins Construction of Eastern Shield Fortifications on Border with Kaliningrad Region

Poland has begun constructing part of the Eastern Shield fortifications on the border with Russia’s Kaliningrad region.

This is confirmed by satellite images shared by X (ex-Twitter) user Clément Molin.

According to the author, construction is only now starting in the fourth year of the war in Ukraine, and Poland – together with the Baltic states – has only recently begun building fortifications along its eastern borders.

According to the analysis of satellite images, only three small fortified areas have been identified so far, all located in Poland near the border with the Russian exclave.

The fortifications include anti-tank ditches, dragon’s teeth, and trenches. The author notes that these elements resemble Ukrainian fortifications but emphasizes the need for defense in depth, as moving troops close to the border in the event of an invasion could be extremely risky.

The author of the analysis also criticizes traditional fortifications, calling them outdated because of the threat posed by drones. He stresses that when building such defensive lines, it is important to take into account Ukraine’s experience, where there has been a shift toward concealed positions in tree lines and protected shelters for equipment.

The author also draws attention to the insufficient preparation of Lithuania’s fortifications, where there is currently only a small section with dragon’s teeth. In other Baltic countries and in Finland, fortifications are still in the planning or preparation stages.

Instead of fully developed defensive lines, the EU’s eastern border is currently protected mainly by anti-migration barriers and road-blocking checkpoints.

Poland has announced a large-scale fortification program called the Eastern Shield to strengthen its border with Russia’s Kaliningrad region as well as with Belarus.

As part of this program, the Polish Ministry of National Defence plans to purchase engineering equipment worth PLN 600 million to build approximately 700 kilometers of defensive lines, which will include:

• fortification structures,
• surveillance and reconnaissance systems,
• infrastructure elements.

The project is scheduled to be implemented from 2024 to 2028. Initial work has already begun in 2024, with a focus on constructing fortifications in key sections of the border.

The total cost of the project is estimated at approximately $2.55 billion for the first four years. Funding comes from Poland’s state budget, with potential support from the European Union, which has designated the Eastern Shield as a flagship project for EU security. This enables the use of EU funds to enhance external security.