What is happening on the Poland-Belarus border: military break down fence, security forces gather

The EU believes the migration crisis was deliberately provoked by Alexander Lukashenko.

A crisis caused by an influx of migrants continues on the border between Poland and Belarus. Belarusian soldiers broke down a fence, and armed security forces are gathering near the border. Here are the latest news updates for today. 

Attempts to destroy the barrier

On the night of November 13, Belarusian soldiers tried to destroy a temporary barrier on the border with Poland using a service vehicle. 

"They tore out fence posts and ripped through barbed wire with a service vehicle. Polish services were blinded by laser beams and a strobe light," the Polish Border Guard said. 

The incident took place near the village of Czeremcha. Polish border guards published a video showing Belarusians using laser pointers and strobe lights. 

The border service also said that near the site of the incident, migrants tried to break through the Polish border, and Belarusian authorities had given them gas canisters for this purpose. 

"The Belarusians equipped them with tear gas, which was used against Polish services. This and further attempts to illegally cross the border were prevented," the statement said. 

Security forces gather

Armed Belarusian security forces are arriving at the Polish-Belarusian border near the Kuznica crossing point. The Polish Ministry of Defense published a video showing about 25 people in military uniform led by a commander. 

They are walking along the barbed wire fence, and some are carrying weapons. A large group of migrants who arrived there on November 8 remains near this crossing point. 

Major Katarzyna Zdanowicz, spokeswoman for the Podlaski Border Guard Unit, said on November 12 that the number of migrants had already exceeded 1,000. Belarusian security forces are monitoring the migrants. Since November 8, there have been several attempts to break through the border, which Polish authorities stopped. 

Death of a Polish soldier

On November 13, a Polish serviceman died while on duty near the border with Belarus. 

The command of the 17th Armored Mechanized Brigade of the Polish Armed Forces noted that, according to preliminary data, the soldier died from a shot from his service weapon, and that "third parties" were not involved in the incident. 

"The soldier served in the reserve and was not carrying out tasks directly on the Polish-Belarusian border. He arrived at his place of service just over a week ago. Since being assigned, he had not been in contact with migrants," the statement said. 

Restrictions for airlines

Under pressure from the European Union, several Turkish and Middle Eastern airlines suspended flights to Minsk this week, and Belavia said on November 12 that it would no longer allow citizens of Iraq, Syria and Yemen holding one-way tickets to board flights from Turkey. 

The Belarusian airline cited a demand from Turkish authorities. Iraqi authorities, according to media reports, have completely halted air traffic with Belarus. The EU is discussing including airlines in a new package of sanctions against Belarus, based on accusations of aiding and abetting people in smuggling. 

In recent months, dozens of planes arrived in Minsk each week from Istanbul, Damascus and Dubai.

The EU believes that the migration crisis on the border of Belarus with Poland and the Baltic states was deliberately provoked by Alexander Lukashenko to take revenge for sanctions imposed after the suppression of protests against the falsification of presidential elections and police violence in 2020.