Poland will deploy anti-personnel landmines along its eastern border.

18.12.2025 18:05

Poland has decided to resume the production of anti-personnel landmines for the first time since the Cold War and to deploy these mines along the country's eastern borders with Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

Poland has taken action to increase its border security.

LAND MINES WILL BE DEPLOYED ON THE EASTERN BORDER

Poland's Deputy Minister of National Defense Pawel Zalewski stated in an interview with the British news agency Reuters that the country will deploy anti-personnel land mines to strengthen its borders with Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

"POLAND WILL WITHDRAW FROM THE OTTAWA TREATY ON FEBRUARY 26"

Zalewski announced that Poland will also withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty, which bans the use, storage, and production of anti-personnel mines, on February 26, 2026, following the announcement that all European countries with a border with Russia, except Norway, would withdraw from the treaty.

FIRST TIME SINCE THE COLD WAR

Pawel Zalewski stated that they will begin producing anti-personnel mines for the first time since the Cold War, adding that the mines will be a component of the Eastern Shield project. "We are looking to deal with large quantities as soon as possible," said Zalewski, noting that the produced mines could be exported to Ukraine after meeting Poland's security needs.

6 MILLION MINES ARE NEEDED

According to Belma, the state company supplying mines to the Polish army, there is a need for 5-6 million mines for the eastern border. Belma, which produces nearly 100,000 mines annually, stated that it could increase this number to 1.2 million.