Poland foiled possible border provocation, Tusk says

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland had prevented what may have been a provocation overnight on its border with Russia’s Kaliningrad enclave.

Tusk said he was informed shortly after midnight about suspicious activity on Poland’s northern border. He said security forces were quickly sent to the area and that Poland “successfully prevented” any attempted provocation, while adding that the intention could not be fully confirmed.

Tusk said the incident followed weeks of warnings from Polish and allied intelligence that Poland’s border with Russia could be targeted by acts of diversion or more serious provocation, including the possible intrusion of armed people into Polish territory.

He warned that Poland could face a prolonged escalation from Russia and called for heightened vigilance against sabotage operations and other threats.

Poland is an EU and NATO member on the alliance’s eastern flank. Warsaw has repeatedly accused Russia of sabotage since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and Poland plays a key role in moving Western military and humanitarian aid into Ukraine.