The Polish Ministry of Defense reported that the situation on the country’s border with Belarus has worsened, with a surge in attempts by migrants to cross illegally.

Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that individuals attempting to breach the barrier are throwing stones, using tree branches, and even using power tools to damage fencing.

He said Polish authorities are responding promptly to what Warsaw sees as actions coordinated by the government of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

According to the Minister, approximately 300 illegal border crossing attempts were recorded overnight on April 5 alone.

Kosiniak-Kamysz said the pressure is increasing from both Belarusian and Russian territories, describing the situation as part of an organized effort to destabilize Poland and the wider European Union.

The minister said the security system functions effectively, claiming it prevents 98% of illegal crossings.

He also announced changes to border policy, stating Poland will no longer process asylum applications from individuals who cross the border unlawfully.

A migration crisis began on the Polish-Belarusian border in 2021 and continues today. Belarusian authorities refer to these incidents as the “forced expulsion of refugees.”

The crisis began after Belarus facilitated the movement of migrants from the Middle East and Africa toward EU borders.

Tensions escalated further following EU sanctions on Minsk over the 2020 presidential election, widely criticized by Western governments as neither free nor fair.

Poland has recently increased the number of troops deployed to the Belarusian border to 11,000.

The country has also invested 2.7 billion zlotys (€630 million) in constructing a border barrier.