Polish soldier stabbed to death by migrant on border with Belarus

Concerns about security at the Belarusian border have grown in Poland. Photo: Attila Huseynov/SOPA Images/Shutterstock

A Polish soldier who was killed last week by a migrant while patrolling Poland's border with Belarus has died.

His death comes amid growing concerns in Poland over security on the Belarusian border, as troops and border guards now come under frequent attacks from people trying to cross the border.

The soldier, whose full name has not been released, had been in critical condition since the attack on May 28, and earlier this week his commander asked for blood donations.

“It is with great sadness that we report that he passed away on June 6 a soldier of the 1st Armored Brigade who was stabbed,” the Polish Army High Command wrote on platform “X.”

“Despite the first aid provided in the hospital At the scene of a criminal attack on the border with Belarus and the efforts of doctors His life could not be saved.”

Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland, wrote: “Young soldier Mateusz gave his life defending the border of the Republic of Poland. His homeland and his countrymen will not forget his sacrifice.”

The soldier was attacked while trying to block a hole in the newly installed fence that runs the length of the border with a shield to keep out a group of migrants. from entering Poland.

According to the local prosecutor's office, the man climbed through the fence and stabbed the soldier in the chest.

The perpetrator of the attack has not been found or identified, and is believed to be at large in Belarus .

Border violence on the rise

On Friday, Belarus said it would investigate the death if Poland provided information. specific information» about the «circumstances» of the attack.

Polish government officials on Thursday demanded an explanation after it emerged that three soldiers were handcuffed and detained by Polish military police in March for firing warning shots when confronted with an advancing group of migrants on the border with Belarus.

The soldiers allegedly fired warning shots first into the air and then into the ground in an attempt to stop the advancing group of migrants in Poland. No one was hurt. Polish media reports growing discontent among the military over the treatment of their colleagues.

Government officials have called the detention excessive given the circumstances.

“This is a shocking incident, given the fact that recently our soldiers have been repeatedly attacked by aggressors from the Belarusian side,” said President Andrzej Duda, who is the supreme commander of the Polish armed forces.

Incidents with use of violence. on the border is growing Poland has warned that Belarus and Russia may try to orchestrate a repeat of the 2021 crisis, when thousands of migrants tried to get into Poland.

Warsaw says Minsk and Moscow are using migrants who are granted visa-free access to their countries , as instruments of an asymmetrical military campaign to destabilize both Poland and the EU.

This, along with growing geopolitical tensions in the region due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, led to Poland deploying up to 10,000 troops.

Earlier this week, Radoslaw Sikorski, Poland's foreign minister, announced the launch of an information campaign targeting migrants who might consider entering Poland, warning them they were being «misled » Russian and Belarusian authorities.