Poland officially possesses six ground forces divisions, but only two of them are combat-ready and capable of engaging in battle from the first hours of a potential war with Russia, as reported by the daily „Rzeczpospolita”. The remaining divisions are either still being formed or operate in older structures that require weeks to achieve full readiness.
The two divisions that can be deployed immediately are the 16th and 18th Mechanized Divisions, stationed in eastern Poland. However, even these units have not completed the formation of all their new subunits, the newspaper notes. The current situation highlights significant gaps in the Polish Army’s readiness, despite ongoing modernization efforts and increased defense spending.
Two other divisions – the 1st Infantry Division of Legions and the 8th Infantry Division of the Home Army – are still in the process of being formed. This leaves Poland’s eastern flank with only a limited number of fully operational forces capable of immediate response to any aggression.
Western divisions require weeks to mobilize
The remaining two divisions, the 11th and 12th, are based in western Poland. They were established earlier and operate under an older organizational structure consisting of three brigades instead of four, and with a regiment of artillery instead of a full artillery brigade. These divisions are considered second-tier and are partially skeleton units, meaning their subunits need to have their personnel complements filled before they can enter combat.
– Most of their subunits would not be capable of engaging in battle on the first day of the war. They would likely need between a dozen and even 30 days to reach full combat readiness – explains the daily „Rzeczpospolita”.
Gaps in Poland’s defense capabilities
The disparity between the six divisions on paper and the two that are actually ready underscores the challenges Poland faces in building a credible deterrent against potential aggression. The ongoing formation of new units and the modernization of older ones are critical, but time is of the essence given the security situation in the region.
The situation also raises questions about the pace of military reforms and the allocation of resources. While Poland has been increasing its defense spending and acquiring new equipment, the gap between declared and actual combat readiness remains a concern for military planners. The two eastern divisions, though considered first-line, have also not finished incorporating all their new subunits, further complicating the defense posture.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. PAP/Tomasz Waszczuk
