Belarus accuses Poland and Lithuania of hybrid war, citing border closures and aircraft intrusions, while Polish officials report confusion and confirm drone activity over their territory.
Belarus Accuses Poland and Lithuania of Hybrid Warfare
On Wednesday, 5 November, Belarus State Security Council Secretary Aleksander Wolfowicz said Poland’s temporary border closures linked to the Russian‑Belarusian “Zapad‑2025” manoeuvres and Lithuania’s violations of its airspace by Belarus‑origin meteorological balloons are “an element of hybrid war.” He added that the closures mainly harm countries that transport goods east‑to‑west and would hurt Belarus itself, and noted that Polish Minister Marcin Kierwiński will open two border crossings with Belarus in the coming weeks.
Poles Were Completely Confused
Wolfowicz said that Polish citizens were “completely confused” after unmanned aircraft intruded over Polish airspace the night of 9‑10 September. He reported that the drones were heading toward Poland, that a warning was sent to Polish authorities, and that a drone was shot down over Belarusic territory but failed to engage. He added that Poland is unprepared for such events, despite its self‑image as a leading European military power.
Polish General Confirms Belarusian Drone Flights Toward Poland
On TVN24, General Wiesław Kukułai confirmed that Belarusians had warned Poland of drones flying toward Polish territory through their airspace. He described the action as helpful and expressed surprise that Belarus, which is intensifying military tensions on the land border, would cooperate in this manner.
Belarusian Drones and Balloons Disrupt Polish and Lithuanian Airports
According to the Eastern Studies Centre, meteorological balloons from Belarus have violated Lithuanian airspace and grounded airports. Belarusian drones have also been detected over Poland and Lithuania, contributing to a series of airspace violations that disrupt aviation operations.
Border Guard Detects Belarusian Drone Used for Cigarette Smuggling
On Wednesday, 5 November, the Polish Border Guard reported finding a Belarusian drone in the Krynki municipality of Podlaskie Voivodeship, which was used to transport cigarettes. Since the start of the year, the Podlaskie Border Guard brigade documented 18 such incidents, while meteorological balloons were used for cigarette smuggling 118 times. The Institute of National Defense said that tobacco smuggling, controlled by Lukashenko’s entourage, generates significant revenue.