The Ministry of Interior and Administration has extended the validity of the buffer zone at the border with Belarus by another 90 days. The decision, which came into effect on March 5, maintains a special regime until June 3 in a 200-meter-wide strip on the Polish side of the border. The Ministry justifies this with "constant pressure" and security threats from Belarusian services. Over the past three months, there have been several hundred attempts at illegal border crossings. The buffer zone was introduced by a law signed by the president in March 2023, and its existence is regularly extended by the ministry.
Another Extension of the Regime
The Ministry of Interior and Administration has extended the validity of the buffer zone until June 3, 2026. The decision announced on March 5 means another three months of maintaining special regulations along the entire border with Belarus. This is a continuation of the regime introduced in 2023.
Justification by 'Constant Pressure'
The Ministry explains the decision with 'constant pressure' from Belarus, which 'still poses a serious threat to the security' of Poland. Among the threats listed are the organization of smuggling of people and goods and the use of so-called smuggling balloons by Belarusian services for transporting people.
Prohibitions for Citizens
In the buffer zone, staying, parking, stopping, and conducting any activity is prohibited. Exceptions include permanent residents, property owners, service officers, and persons performing work in the zone. Entering the zone without authorization is punishable by a fine.
Operation 'Eastern Shield'
Activities at the border, including control of the buffer zone, are conducted under the 'Eastern Shield' operation. It includes services of the Ministry of Interior and Administration: Border Guard, Police, Military Police, and Territorial Defense Forces. In November 2025, the government extended the operation to the entire border with Russia and Belarus.
Polish authorities have extended the validity of special regulations in the border zone with Belarus by another three months. The Ministry of Interior and Administration announced on March 5 that the buffer zone will remain in force until June 3, 2026. This decision, which took effect on the day of the announcement, means the regime will be maintained along the entire land and water border with Belarus. The Ministry justified the decision with "constant pressure" from the neighbor, which "still poses a serious threat to the security" of Poland. The ministry's statement noted that Belarusian services continue to organize the smuggling of people and goods, and also use so-called smuggling balloons for this purpose. „„Białoruś w dalszym ciągu stanowi poważne zagrożenie dla bezpieczeństwa Polski. Służby białoruskie organizują w sposób zorganizowany przemyt towarów i ludzi oraz wykorzystują tzw. balony przemytnicze.”” — Over the past three months, Border Guard officers have recorded several hundred attempts at illegal border crossings. In the 200-meter-wide buffer zone on the Polish side of the border, staying, parking, stopping, and conducting any activity is prohibited.The buffer zone at the border with Belarus was introduced under a special law signed by President Andrzej Duda on March 16, 2023. This institution was created in response to the migration crisis provoked by the regime of Alexander Lukashenko, which since the summer of 2021 has been instrumentally using migrants for political purposes, directing them towards the borders of the European Union. Poland then built a steel barrier over 180 kilometers long. The buffer zone, initially introduced for 90 days, has been regularly extended by the interior minister since then. Exceptions to the prohibitions are provided for permanent residents, property owners, service officers, and persons performing work in the border zone. Entering the zone without appropriate authorization is subject to a fine. Control of the area is ensured by services operating under the "Eastern Shield" operation, which includes the Border Guard, Police, Military Police, and Territorial Defense Forces. In November of last year, the government extended the scope of this operation to the entire border with Russia and Belarus.