Poland to Erect New 4-Metre Fence on Belarus Border as Part of “Eastern Shield”

The Polish government has confirmed that work will begin within days on a four-metre-high steel fence running along the most porous stretches of the 418-kilometre frontier with Belarus. Engineers from the army’s 2nd Engineer Brigade started unloading prefabricated panels near the Kuźnica-Bruzgi crossing on Wednesday afternoon, after road surfaces were cleared of deep snow that had delayed the project by almost three weeks. Officials say the barrier will complement the 2022 razor-wire wall but add electronic sensors, ground-surveillance radar and a fibre-optic cable able to detect vibrations from tunnelling or saws. Warsaw insists the move is defensive. Since late 2025 the Border Guard has logged more than 14,000 attempted illegal crossings, most allegedly facilitated by Belarusian authorities in retaliation for EU sanctions. Night-vision footage released this week shows groups being bussed to the tree line before trying to cut through coils of wire. Under the new plan, army patrols will be doubled and a 200-metre construction exclusion zone will keep journalists and activists away from worksites. Human-rights NGOs have already criticised the fence as another step toward militarising the EU’s eastern flank. The interior ministry counters that irregular migration routes are endangering both asylum seekers and local residents, citing 17 drownings in the Biebrza marshes over the past year. It stresses that official checkpoints remain open and that genuine refugees can still lodge protection claims, but only at designated facilities.



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For corporate mobility managers the announcement matters on two fronts. First, cargo hauliers using minor forest tracks to avoid congestion will face permanent closures and possible fines from April. Second, companies that employ Belarusian technicians on weekly commuter visas must prepare for longer queues at the two authorised pedestrian crossings that will stay operational throughout construction. The Border Guard says it will add digital appointment slots, yet warns that initial processing times could double to 90 minutes during peak hours. Poland’s “Eastern Shield” programme is budgeted at PLN 8 billion (≈ €1.8 billion) through 2028 and also includes anti-drone jamming masts and new accommodation blocks for 3,000 additional guards. Parliament is expected to vote next month on fast-track land-acquisition powers so that the fence can be completed before winter sets in again.