Poland closes its border with Belarus: Reason explained
Photo: The timing of the resumption of work at checkpoints will be announced later (Getty Images)
On the night of September 12, Poland closed its border with Belarus. This is related to Russian and Belarusian military exercises, Onet, BELTA, and other media report.
In particular, Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kerwiński said at a press conference at the Terespol border crossing that traffic on the border with Belarus had been closed at midnight due to the Zapad-2025 military exercises.
According to Kerwiński, these exercises are aimed directly against Poland and the European Union. At the same time, a Polish high-ranking official clarified when the border will reopen.
The Polish Interior Minister added that traffic would resume only when there was confidence in the guaranteed safety of Poles, and that from an economic perspective, the authorities would strive to reopen the border as soon as possible.
The suspension of movement applies in both directions - both exiting Poland into Belarus and entering Poland. The restrictions cover both road traffic and freight trains.
Drivers of passenger cars will not cross the border at the Terespol-Brest road checkpoint, and truck drivers - at the Kukuryki-Kozlovichi road crossing.
Three railway border crossings for freight transport were also closed: Kuźnica Białostocka-Hrodna, Siemianówka-Svisloch, and Terespol-Brest.
Meanwhile, BELTA reported that Poles stretched barbed wire at the border, installed barricade shields, and as of 01:00 a.m. Belarusian time, Poland had not allowed a single car through.
So far, several buses remain on the bridge between Belarus and Poland. Drivers will have to find alternative routes to return to the EU.
Poland closes border
Earlier on Tuesday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that on the night from Thursday to Friday, the country would close its borders with Belarus due to the joint Russian-Belarusian Zapad-2025 military exercises.
These drills are scheduled for the period from September 12 to 16. They are taking place on Belarusian territory and separately at training grounds in Russia.
In Moscow and Minsk, officials stated that the goal is to test the allies’ capabilities in the field of ensuring security and repelling potential aggression.
