Polish citizens flock to survival courses amid Russian threat

This trend reflects growing concerns about a possible military threat from Russia, as Poland could find itself on the front line in the event of conflict.

Expanding basic training and defense budget

The Polish government plans to expand basic military training for adult men and is allocating around 4.5% of GDP to defense this year, one of the highest rates in Europe. These measures underline the country’s serious approach to national security and citizen preparedness for emergencies.

Growing popularity of survival and tactical courses

More Poles are turning to public and private organizations offering training in survival skills, weapon handling, and tactics — including the Polish Survival Network, shooting clubs, military academies, and volunteer groups.

Shooting instructors note that demand for courses has sharply increased since the start of Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine, and recent drone incidents violating Poland’s border have further fueled public interest in training.

Youth programs

Special attention is being given to youth: programs teach self-defense, first aid, and basic survival skills to help shape a generation ready to respond to crises and security threats.

As reported earlier, Poland has advocated involving neighboring states in intercepting Russian missiles and drones targeting Ukraine. However, such actions would require NATO-level coordination. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said the initiative enjoys broad domestic support, with polls showing most Poles favor the idea of helping protect Ukrainian airspace.

It was also reported that Poland expanded its national sanctions list to include two companies, SteelTrade and Omni GRP, accused by the National Tax Administration of supplying steel to Russia.