East Front News #57: New Polish President; NATO prepares to expand fuel pipeline network on Eastern Flank

Five Defence Challenges Facing Poland's President Nawrocki

President Karol Nawrocki faces several critical challenges in strengthening Poland’s national defence. These issues will require close cooperation with both Parliament and the government, regardless of political divides.

According to the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, the President is the „supreme commander of the Armed Forces.” In times of peace, this authority is exercised through the Minister of National Defence. This structure requires a constructive relationship between the President and the government, particularly the Ministry of National Defence (MON), even when they represent different political camps.

In light of Russia’s aggressive posture—manifested through its invasion of Ukraine and open threats against NATO members, including Poland—the responsibilities of the President and the government in the realm of defence have never been more important. While many decisions, such as defence procurement, lie primarily with the government, there are several strategic areas where collaboration is not only necessary but essential to effective action.

Author: Jakub Palowski

We know how many Rosomaks with the new turret the Polish Army has (DEFENCE24 EXCLUSIVE)

The Polish Armed Forces are gradually taking delivery of additional Rosomak wheeled armored personnel carriers (APCs) fitted with the ZSSW-30 turret (with that turret they could be viewed as wheeled IFVs). The Armament Agency has provided Defence24.pl with information regarding these deliveries.

Until now, we had been informed of two deliveries of Rosomak APCs with ZSSW-30 turrets to the Polish Army—five vehicles in December 2023 and five more in December 2024. Since then, no further delivery updates have appeared, even though, based on contract schedules, we should be seeing many more this year. We therefore asked the Armament Agency how many vehicles in this configuration have been delivered so far, and how many are planned for handover to the Army before year’s end. 

The Agency’s Press Office replied that since December 2024, 11 vehicles have been delivered, and that by the end of 2025 they expect to deliver another dozen or so Rosomaks with the ZSSW-30 turret. Thus, the Polish Army currently possesses 21 vehicles in this configuration, and this number will rise by another dozen-plus in the coming months.

Author: Adam Świerkowski

Contract for F-16 Modernization. We Know the Date and Location

Even before this year’s Polish Armed Forces Day, the contract to modernize the F-16C/D „Jastrząb” multirole fighters is set to be signed, Defence24.pl has found off the record.

According to our sources, the signing will take place at the premises of WZL-2 facility in Bydgoszcz, where a portion of Poland’s F-16 fleet is already undergoing work. The same facility has carried out MLU (mid-life update) procedures on US Air Force F-16C/Ds based in Europe. The choice of location may therefore indicate that at least part of the Jastrząb modernization will be performed in Poland.

Author: Maciej Szopa

Russia's violent homecoming: War veterans and the rise in Crime

A growing wave of violent crime is shaking post-invasion Russia. In the first half of 2025, over 333,000 serious crimes were registered—Russia’s highest figure in 15 years. While general crime has declined, violent offences are surging, driven by returning veterans, PTSD, and the proliferation of smuggled battlefield weapons. 

According to investigations, Russian soldiers have been linked to over 750 fatal or near-fatal incidents since February 2022. The state’s leniency—such as dropping charges in exchange for military contracts under Article 80.2 of the criminal code—has only worsened the situation. Experts warn of a „Wagnerisation” of Russian organised crime, as ex-soldiers, including convicts, fuel a new underworld arms race. 

The black market for weapons is thriving. The FSB shut down 62 illegal arms factories and 157 trafficking rings in just two months. With insufficient reintegration support and employment limited to low-wage security jobs, Russia is confronting an internal security crisis. Analysts warn that without major reinvestment in rehabilitation and disarmament, the violence may spill beyond Russia’s borders.

Author: Infosecurity24

Engine for Poland's Perun rocket completes final test

Gdynia-based company SpaceForest has announced the completion of the final test of its SF-1000 hybrid engine for the sub-orbital Perun rocket. The next flight is scheduled for autumn 2025.

The rocket firm from Gdynia has been running test campaigns on the modified SF-1000 engine for months in preparation for Perun’s next launch. On Monday, 4 August 2025, SpaceForest reported that it had tested the qualification model of the engine and its thrust-vector control system. The unit had been specially adapted for rigorous conditions, including mechanical, thermal, pressure and vibration trials.

The SF-1000 ran continuously for 46 seconds, confirming both performance and safety. Thrust-vector control is essential for course corrections—a capability the Gdynia company stresses is vital for launches from sea-based platforms, which will also be used for Perun missions.

Author: Space24

NATO prepares to expand fuel pipeline network on Eastern Flank

In light of the long-term threat posed by Russia and the lessons from the war in Ukraine, NATO is preparing a major expansion of its military fuel logistics infrastructure. At the recent summit in The Hague, allied leaders committed to boosting defense spending by 2035 – including investment in a new Eastern European Pipeline System (EEPS).

The network is to be integrated with the existing Central Europe Pipeline System (CEPS), creating a seamless, underground supply chain from Western Europe to NATO’s eastern front. The goal is to ensure uninterrupted fuel delivery for allied forces in both peacetime and wartime – while also strengthening deterrence and resilience on the eastern flank.

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East Front News is a weekly newsletter and article on Defence24.com summarizing the past week’s most important events concerning security and the situation in the Central and Eastern Europe region. It includes original opinions and comments, along with key news items significant from a Polish perspective.

Aleksander Olech, Jakub Palowski, Deputy Ed. in Chief and Michał Górski