Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz called on citizens wishing to defend the country’s borders to enlist in official security services rather than participate in self-organized vigilante patrols, Euractiv reported.
Speaking in the Sejm on Tuesday, the minister highlighted 1,500 vacancies in the Border Guard, urging patriotic Poles to join state forces instead of unofficial groups.
The appeal comes amid heightened tensions along Poland’s western border with Germany, where groups such as Straż Narodowa (National Guard), Patrioci Przeciwko Islamizacji Europy (Patriots Against the Islamisation of Europe), and the newly formed Ruch Obrony Granic (Border Defence Movement) have taken to patrolling frontier areas.
These groups claim to be filling a security gap, but critics warn of potential vigilantism and human rights violations. Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasised that those wishing to serve Poland should do so through official channels.
Everyone who wants to serve Poland, everyone who wants to protect our borders, is welcome – whether in the Border Guard, the Territorial Defence Forces, or the Police.
While illegal crossings from Belarus have dropped sharply, from 12,000 in 2023 to 800 in 2025, the minister noted a shift in migration routes toward Latvia and Lithuania via Belarus. He also pointed to a 25% reduction in visas issued under the current government, framing these measures as part of a broader “philosophy of border protection.”
The rise of vigilante groups sparked concerns over escalating tensions and potential clashes. While some view these organisations as grassroots defenders of national sovereignty, others warn they risk inflaming xenophobic sentiment and undermining state authority.
