Poland's prime minister, Donald Tusk, announced that a large-scale security operation has been launched along the country's border with Russia's Kaliningrad exclave.
What happened
The operation, which began on Monday and is set to run until at least November 8, involves the deployment of additional police and counterterrorism units, as well as troops from the elite military special forces unit GROM.
According to Tusk, suspicious movements were observed overnight near Kaliningrad, including individuals carrying flashlights close to the border area. He stated that the quick reaction by Polish security forces may have prevented an unspecified provocation this week.
The security operation is aimed at protecting the public, detecting suspicious activities early, and preventing attacks on critical infrastructure. A special command center has been set up at Polish national police headquarters to coordinate the operation.
The move comes after intelligence warnings of possible sabotage operations and provocations during the first half of November, particularly along Poland's border with Kaliningrad. Russia's exclave of Kaliningrad is of considerable military and strategic significance, and it is widely believed that Russian security agencies have a presence in the territory.
