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Poland to protect its eastern border with mines

2026-02-21 15:21:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Poland to protect its eastern border with mines

After withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention, Poland wants to protect its eastern border with anti-personnel and anti-tank mines.

"These mines are one of the most important elements of the defensive structure that we are building on NATO's eastern flank, in Poland," said Deputy Defense Minister Pavel Zalevski. According to Zalevski, his country must be protected from Russia, which "has very aggressive intentions towards its neighbors."

The so-called Ottawa Convention is a 1997 international treaty banning the use of landmines. Russia and the United States have never signed this agreement.

Protection on the borders with Russia and Belarus

Poland had initially ratified the Convention in 2012 and subsequently destroyed its mine stockpiles. However, following the start of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, Poland announced in 2025 that it would withdraw from the agreement, along with Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine.

Zalevski said that Poland will order anti-personnel and anti-tank mines from domestic companies to protect the border with the Russian region of Kaliningrad and Belarus.

The mines will only be laid if there is a real risk of Russian aggression. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland will soon be able to mine its eastern border within 48 hours. /DW





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