Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on Tuesday that border crossings between Poland and Belarus will reopen at midnight from Wednesday to Thursday, ending a temporary closure that had been in place earlier this month.
The decision to shut the border was taken in response to Russia-led “Zapad” (West) military exercises being conducted on Belarusian territory. The drills had heightened security concerns in Poland, a member of both NATO and the European Union.
Those concerns intensified after 21 Russian drones reportedly violated Polish airspace during the night of September 9–10, raising alarm over the potential risks linked to the exercises.
“The conclusion of these exercises reduces — although I can’t say eliminates — various threats, and taking into account the economic interests of Polish carriers and railways, we concluded that this measure has served its purpose,” Tusk told his cabinet.
He emphasized that while the reopening decision balances security with economic considerations, Poland remains alert:
“If tensions increase, we will not hesitate and we will make appropriate decisions.”
The reopening is expected to bring relief to Polish transport operators and rail services, which were affected by the temporary closure.
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