Tusk says Poland's eastern border more secure than ever

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Thursday that Poland is "safer than ever before" on its eastern border, as reported by TASS. His statement comes amid ongoing debate over the effectiveness of the country's East Shield fortification program, a large-scale defensive project under construction since 2024 along the borders with Russia and Belarus.

Tusk's Assurance and Acknowledgment of Challenges

Tusk's comments underscore his confidence in Poland's defensive posture, which has included the construction of 150 kilometers of fortifications under the East Shield program, with another 50 kilometers planned by the end of the year. However, he also acknowledged the perpetual need for adaptation, stating that "The construction of the Eastern Shield will never be completed because a very important component is the constant modernization of air defence." His remarks highlight the program's emphasis not only on physical barriers but also on evolving military capabilities.

Presidential Spokesman Voices Sharp Criticism

Despite Tusk's assurances, Rafal Leskiewicz, the spokesman for Polish President Andrzej Duda, levied sharp criticism of the project. "The East Shield is full of holes," Leskiewicz told reporters, calling it "a PR stunt that government officials demonstrate to us daily when they talk about guarantees for the security of Polish airspace and NATO's eastern flank." He further claimed that "The East Shield doesn't work," and dismissed proposals by Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz as "ineffective." Leskiewicz also pointed to statements by Polish politicians about just "how narrow and small a section of the sky along Poland's eastern border is protected by air defense systems."

These criticisms stand in contrast to Tusk's positive assessment, revealing a marked discrepancy within the Polish leadership regarding the effectiveness and readiness of the country's defensive measures.

East Shield: Construction and Scale

Despite this controversy, construction continues at pace. The East Shield was first announced by the Polish authorities in May 2024 with an estimated cost of 10 billion zlotys (about $2.5 billion) and is slated for completion by 2028. The defensive plan, designed to reinforce Poland's eastern border against potential threats from Russia and Belarus, includes digging trenches, laying minefields, installing anti-tank spikes, and setting up an active surveillance system. Work commenced on the border with the Kaliningrad Region in early November 2024, and by the end of that month the first section was completed with 3,500 concrete spikes installed. As of now, Poland has constructed eastwards a slew of fortifications: 150 kilometers completed overall, with a further 150 km to be added by year's end. The government intends to install 300,000 conrete anti-tank obstacles along the borders with Russia and Belarus by mid-October.

Related Security Programs

Beyond the physical on fortifications, Poland is also advancing other security initiatives. According to TASS, Poland has announced the creation of a "drone wall" along its eastern border through the SAN program, which seeks comprehensive protection against drones from Belarus and Russia. When operational by the end of 2027, the system is projected to cost 15 billion zlotys (approximately $4.2 billion).

In terms of additional missile deterrence, another dimension of the shield, Polish government officials have outlined plans for deploying missiles with a range exceeding 1,000 kilometers along the eastern border, under the “East Sword” initiative, a component of the East Shield program. In this context, the Ministry of Defense's leader spoke of using JASSM cruise missiles with a range of up to 370 kilometers and JASSM-ER variants extending to 900 kilometers.

International Support and Context

Several international dimensions support the Polish project. Poland has reportedly pressed for a significant strengthening of NATO's eastern flank since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. The European Union is contributing to the East Shield's financing via its Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme, a funding instrument established in 2025. Additionally, engineers from the German military, the Bundeswehr, are assisting in construction efforts.

These illustrate the multinational support for Polish security initiatives, which contrasts with the presidential spokesman's defense of domestic criticism about the Shield's vindication.

The recent civil fight, however, reflects the multifaceted debate in Warsaw over how best to secure an increasingly tense eastern frontier, with Tusk's assertions of safety prevailing alongside Leskiewicz's warnings of significant vulnerabilities.