The Podlaski Border Guard unit, responsible for the most heavily fortified stretch of Poland’s 418-kilometre border with Belarus, reported on 18 May 2026 that its patrols stopped more than 20 illegal-crossing attempts between 15 and 17 May. Migrants—mainly from Afghanistan and Pakistan—used ladders to scale the 5.5-metre steel barrier near Narewka and Michałowo but retreated when confronted by Polish officers. Although the numbers are far below the thousands recorded during the 2021 crisis, the weekend spike is a reminder that Minsk still tests the EU’s eastern flank. For global mobility teams, the incidents underscore why business travellers should avoid the restricted buffer zone and why logistics managers should build extra transit time into routes passing Terespol or Kuźnica in case spot checks intensify. The report also feeds into Warsaw’s argument for maintaining a 200-metre no-go strip along parts of the frontier. Employers with factories or forestry concessions inside the strip must continue to apply for special entry passes for foreign technicians—a paperwork step that can take up to two weeks.
![Border Guard Logs 20 Illegal-Entry Attempts Over Weekend on Belarus Frontier]()
At this point, it’s worth noting that VisaHQ can streamline the visa and entry-permit process for corporate travellers headed to Poland or transiting its borders. Our online platform (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) lets mobility managers check the latest requirements, submit documentation, and track application status in real time, helping teams avoid delays when sudden policy shifts or buffer-zone restrictions arise.
Security advisers note that the attempts coincide with Russia’s latest drone assaults on Ukraine, suggesting coordinated hybrid pressure. Companies evacuating staff from Kyiv through Poland should monitor alerts from the Government Security Centre (RCB), as military air traffic over eastern Poland temporarily reroutes civil flights and may disrupt connections at Warsaw Chopin Airport. On the upside, the Border Guard confirmed that no crossings succeeded, and no violence against officers occurred. For now, the risk to travellers remains low provided they respect the exclusion zone and carry passports at all times.
At this point, it’s worth noting that VisaHQ can streamline the visa and entry-permit process for corporate travellers headed to Poland or transiting its borders. Our online platform (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) lets mobility managers check the latest requirements, submit documentation, and track application status in real time, helping teams avoid delays when sudden policy shifts or buffer-zone restrictions arise.
Security advisers note that the attempts coincide with Russia’s latest drone assaults on Ukraine, suggesting coordinated hybrid pressure. Companies evacuating staff from Kyiv through Poland should monitor alerts from the Government Security Centre (RCB), as military air traffic over eastern Poland temporarily reroutes civil flights and may disrupt connections at Warsaw Chopin Airport. On the upside, the Border Guard confirmed that no crossings succeeded, and no violence against officers occurred. For now, the risk to travellers remains low provided they respect the exclusion zone and carry passports at all times.
