Tusk: Suspicious activity by "people with flashlights" seen on Poland's border with Russia

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told a Council of Ministers meeting that suspicious activity was observed on the Polish-Russian border in the north overnight into 3 November. The remarks were reported by Polish outlet RMF24 and cited by Ukraine's European Pravda. The report matters because Warsaw has been expecting possible provocations on the Russian frontier in early November.

What Tusk said

According to the prime minister, shortly after midnight he received a message from the border guard about suspicious activity, which he described as "people with flashlights". Tusk said the necessary forces and resources were mobilised there very quickly, and that this made it possible to prevent a provocation.

He also acknowledged that it was not the case that tragic incidents had been avoided overnight. In his view, Poland must remain extremely vigilant, because tension and escalation from Russia may continue.

Warnings of possible incidents

Tusk said Poland had received information from its own intelligence services and from allies that sabotage, more serious provocations or acts of sabotage organised by hostile intelligence services could take place on the Russian border in the first days of November.

General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, had also warned of such a scenario. After receiving more precise information that incidents could occur in the first half of November, including an incursion of armed individuals into Polish territory, the government decided to deploy substantial police and counter-terrorism forces to the border and to strengthen border protection.

Earlier steps

It was previously reported that a special operation headquarters was set up within Poland's police main headquarters. The operation is being carried out in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship and in Podlasie by police working with the military, the border guard and security services.