Tusk says Poland thwarts Russian provocation after unusual movement near Kaliningrad border
Police sent to border
Tusk said Polish police units were dispatched on Tuesday to the border with the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. He said border guards had reported disturbing movement shortly after midnight.
“We managed to prevent attempts at provocation – if that was indeed the intention,” Tusk told reporters, according to France24. He said authorities mobilised forces and resources quickly, but did not specify who was involved in the movement.
Security measures expanded
Military, border guard and intelligence services had already been conducting additional work in the area to strengthen security, Tusk said. He said authorities later received more precise information about possible sabotage in the first half of November.
The warnings included a potential incursion into Poland by armed people, according to Tusk. Additional police and troops were deployed on Tuesday as part of a special operation in border regions.
Tusk warns of instability
Tusk said he had received warnings about possible escalations from Nato’s supreme allied commander in Europe during a visit to Warsaw in October. He also accused Russia of trying to encourage instability by involving itself in a dispute between Poland’s government and president over the Constitutional Tribunal.
Russian politicians, including Security Council deputy chairman Dmitry Medvedev, described the government’s actions in the dispute as “a coup”. Tusk said Russia and pro-Russian politicians were active both internationally and within Poland around the issue.
Key points
- Tusk said Polish authorities stopped a possible provocation near Kaliningrad.
- Police were deployed after border guards reported unusual movement shortly after midnight.
- Warnings included possible sabotage and an incursion by armed people.
- Tusk accused Russia of seeking to fuel instability over a dispute concerning the Constitutional Tribunal.