Poland is building a formation that will take over part of the tasks related to border protection from professional soldiers, while strengthening state security in areas most vulnerable to hybrid activities. This is the largest reform of border protection since the Second Polish Republic, long-awaited and important not only for the army, especially the Territorial Defense Forces (WOT), but also for the country’s defense.
Since July 1, 2026, the Territorial Defense Forces have been developing the Border Defense Component within their structures. Part of the WOT units will be transformed into a new structure modeled on the pre-war Border Protection Corps (KOP). The reform is part of the „Eastern Shield” program and strengthens Poland’s resilience.
Currently, the border fence on Poland’s eastern edges is guarded – apart from the Border Guard and other uniformed services – by professional soldiers from various formations. This idea has been criticized for years. Soon, soldiers from combat line units will be gradually and systematically replaced by specialized units.
A history of border protection challenges
From 1924, the Polish eastern border was protected by units of the Border Protection Corps (KOP). This formation distinguished itself in history as an efficient border protection component that, despite huge disparities in forces, resisted the Soviet troops entering Poland on September 17, 1939. After the war, from 1945, the Border Protection Troops (WOP) played a similar role. In 1991, WOP was replaced by the Border Guard (SG), designed as a police formation, not a military one. SG had no combat structure or ability to operate in hybrid or military threat conditions.
In peaceful times, this formation performed well enough. Problems began when Belarus instigated the migration crisis. In August 2021, when aggressive actions against officers began at the border, SG officially asked the Ministry of National Defense for military support. By decision of then-Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak, the first 900 soldiers were sent to the border in August 2021. By autumn of the same year, their number had reached about 10,000 – almost a fifth of our land forces.
The army was sent to the border in crisis mode, procedures were created „on the fly,” and soldiers often operated under stress, time pressure, and unclear rules of engagement. Sending troops to guard the border was criticized by Polish generals from the start. For commanders of units sending soldiers to the border, it was a serious logistical and training problem – with reduced personnel, combat training in subunits suffered.
The new KOP component takes shape
The most dramatic and symbolic moment of the crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border was the death of a Polish sergeant in 2024, who died as a result of migrant attacks on the border barrier. This event became a turning point in the debate on whether professional soldiers should perform border guard tasks. The idea of building a formation modeled on the pre-war Border Protection Corps emerged to relieve soldiers from their border service.
– A soldier is not a criminal at the border – said General Waldemar Skrzypczak, former commander of land forces. – This is a glaring example that the army is not a formation designed for police-border tasks, and pressure, chaos and lack of clear procedures lead to situations that should not happen – the general argued.
In 2024, the Ministry of National Defense announced that the army cannot permanently serve as border guards and a specialized border protection formation is needed. The creation of the Border Defense Component, even in its abbreviated name (KOP), refers to the glorious traditions of the Border Protection Corps, which in the Second Polish Republic was responsible for protecting state borders.
– The Border Defense Component is an important step in the development of the Territorial Defense Forces and strengthening state security. Terytorialsi serve where they live, work and train every day. They know the terrain, local communities and the specifics of border regions. Today we combine these experiences with new structures, tasks and capabilities to respond even more effectively to the challenges of the modern security environment – emphasizes Major Rafał Rylich, press spokesman for the Territorial Defense Forces.
The new formation will be created from four WOT brigades: 1st Podlaska Territorial Defense Brigade, 4th Warmińsko-Mazurska Territorial Defense Brigade, 19th Nadbużańska Territorial Defense Brigade and 20th Przemyska Territorial Defense Brigade. The Border Defense Component will consist of border defense battalions deployed in the areas of responsibility of these brigades. The transformation will not be limited to name changes, but also tasks and organizational structures. Specialized border defense battalions will be created to serve in the border zone. Skills will be developed in reconnaissance, fire support, use of unmanned systems, countering unmanned aerial vehicles and logistical support.
The new structure also fits into the National Deterrence and Defense Program „Eastern Shield”, strengthening the security of the eastern and north-eastern border, supporting infrastructure protection and increasing the state’s ability to respond to crisis situations. Therefore, it is no exaggeration to say that the transformation of Territorial Defense Brigades into Border Defense Brigades, which began on July 1, is an important moment not only for these units, but also for the Territorial Defense Forces, the Polish Armed Forces and our state.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. WOT
