Poland will build a second border barrier on the border with Belarus

A new security structure will soon rise along the Polish-Belarusian border. Polish authorities are preparing to install an additional four-metre-high mesh fence parallel to the existing steel wall. The aim: to strengthen the ability of border units to intercept migrants who manage to breach the first line of defence.

Materials Already Arriving — Construction to Begin Within Days

Transport trucks have begun delivering construction materials to the border area, signalling that preparations are already underway. Military engineering units are expected to begin assembly in the coming days, with the project scheduled for completion by the end of January.

The new barrier will be built directly along the service road that runs parallel to the main steel fence. Plans include:

• a 4-metre-tall mesh fence,

• two layers of barbed wire placed alongside it,

• reinforcement points enabling rapid deployment of patrols.

Purpose of the Second Barrier

While the primary steel wall—completed in 2022 and standing 5.5 metres tall including razor wire—stops most illegal crossings, a portion of migrants still manage to exploit weak spots or attempt risky passages.

The new fence is designed to slow these individuals down, creating a buffer zone that gives the Border Guard additional time to react and safely detain those who breach the first barrier. This layered-defence concept is commonly used in high-pressure border areas across Europe.

Escalating Pressure on the Border

This decision comes amid continued attempts to destabilize the border by Belarusian authorities, who—according to Polish security officials—coordinate migrant pressure as part of hybrid operations against EU and NATO states. Each additional layer of border fortification aims to reduce the effectiveness of these tactics.

Last year alone, thousands of attempts to cross the Polish-Belarusian border were recorded, and several hundred individuals managed to temporarily evade detection before being intercepted. The new structure is meant to significantly reduce that number.

A Second Wall in an Already Fortified Zone

Poland’s first large-scale barrier on the Belarusian frontier was constructed in 2022, following an unprecedented wave of illegal crossings orchestrated by Minsk. The steel structure — 5.5 metres tall with half a metre of razor wire — was completed within months and remains one of the most robust border fortifications in Europe.

The upcoming fence marks the next stage in Poland’s efforts to strengthen its eastern border, which also serves as the external boundary of the European Union and NATO.