Poland to close Belarus border due to Russia-led military exercises

On September 9, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the decision to close the Poland–Belarus border as of September 12.

The Polish Ministry of the Interior and Administration has published a regulation temporarily suspending traffic through all border crossings with Belarus, except for those specifically designated. The legal basis is the Law “On the Protection of the State Border” and the 1992 bilateral agreements with Belarus.

The measures take immediate effect and are intended as a preventive safeguard. The justification explicitly states that the Zapad-2025 joint Russia-Belarus military exercises, scheduled for September 12–16, have an openly anti-Western character and are accompanied by the deliberate use of migration pressure by the Lukashenka regime.

The border closure is aimed at ensuring Poland’s national security, strengthening control over illegal migration, minimizing the risk of sabotage and other hybrid threats, and creating economic and logistical pressure on the regime in Belarus by restricting trade and movement.

We are in constant contact with Polish and international partners. Information on the implementation of these measures will be updated regularly as data is received from the responsible state institutions.

Advisor on Legal Affairs in Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office, Leanid Marozau, comments on the decision:

“Poland remains a reliable refuge for thousands of Belarusians seeking protection from repression. Naturally, we would like the closure of border crossings not to affect humanitarian crossings. At the same time, the ongoing challenges posed by the Lukashenka regime – including the migration crisis, military maneuvers, and threats of hybrid attacks – create justified concerns for Poland. We expect these measures to be temporary and remain in close contact with the Polish government to keep Belarusians informed of further developments”.