Lithuania is preparing for a possible evacuation to Poland. Kosiniak-Kamysz Declaration

“Helping civilians is a dimension of our decency and humanity.”

Lithuania is preparing for "various scenarios" from Russia - one of them is the evacuation of people to Poland. Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, asked at the conference in Dorohusk by RMF FM reporter Dominik Smaga where in Poland - in the event of Russian aggression - Lithuanians will be evacuated, said that such places are designated at the commune, poviat, voivodeship and state level. He did not indicate anything specific, but he clearly confirmed that "Poles will help Lithuania."

We have already practiced this quite well when 3 million Ukrainians entered Poland. We could then count on the open doors of each of our homes. (...) If any of the Baltic states, such as Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, were attacked, we will request the activation of Art. 5. We are a loyal ally, we will fulfill all alliance obligations. Helping the civilian population is not only a legal dimension, but also a dimension of our decency and humanity, said Kosiniak-Kamysz.

Minister Marcin Kierwiński added that "we will be prepared for such a situation", but expressed hope that it would never happen.

Decision after the attack near the Polish border

During a press conference at the border crossing with Ukraine, Dorohusk-Jagodzin, Kosiniak-Kamysz announced that after recent Russian drone attacks on installations near the border crossing on the Ukrainian side, the army supported the border guard, including: rapidly building HESCO fortifications, allowing for safe shelter in the event of a drone attack, and strengthening air defense on the Polish-Ukrainian border.

As the head of the Ministry of National Defense pointed out, Russia has recently been targeting border crossings, among others. between Ukraine and Moldova and Ukraine and Romania, as well as at border crossings with Poland. We are dealing with an attempt to destabilize border checks and an attempt to destroy border crossings between Poland and Ukraine, he said. He also assured of good cooperation and trust between the army and the Border Guard.

Kosiniak-Kamysz also said that threats from Russia - including possible drone attacks - were the subject of, among others, the recent meeting of the most important NATO military commanders in Copenhagen, where Poland was represented by the Chief of the General Staff, General Wiesław Kukuła. The head of the Ministry of National Defense said that at the Tuesday morning meeting of the government Security Committee, the general presented a report from this meeting.