Poland has decided to send more troops to its border with Belarus following what Warsaw described as a violation of Polish airspace by two Belarusian military helicopters on Tuesday.
The Polish Foreign Ministry called on Minsk to explain the incident “immediately and in detail,” and summoned the Belarus representative in Poland, while the Defence Ministry warned NATO of the incident and sent more troops to the border, including helicopter gunships.
Belarus denies the accusations, saying its aircraft were involved in an announced military exercise.
Tensions have been rising between Poland and Belarus since the Russian mercenary army, Wagner, sought refuge on Belarusian territory following the uprising by Wagner boss Evgeniy Prigozhin last month. The Polish government fears Wagner fighters will invade Poland along with illegal migrants.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Tuesday that the US was not aware of any such threats against Poland or other NATO Member States. This week, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda also warned of “all kinds of provocations” by Wagner’s mercenaries on his country’s border.
