Polish Soldiers Use Rubber Bullets to Defend Against Migrants
The soldiers of the Podlasie Task Force used smoothbore firearms to repel an attempt by migrants to cross the Polish‑Belarusian border. One of the migrants was injured.
On 22 July 2025, in the evening hours near the Border Guard post in Narewka, an incident occurred during an attempt to illegally cross the state border from Belarus. While detaining a group of migrants who had breached Polish territory, the soldiers of the Podlasie Task Force were compelled, following established procedures, to employ direct coercive measures, including smoothbore firearms.
According to the official statement of the Podlasie Task Force, these actions were in response to the migrants« aggressive behavior and their refusal to comply with orders. It was emphasized that the safety of the officers and the integrity of the border were the top priorities. Five detained foreign nationals were then handed over to the Border Guard for further proceedings.
As a result of the intervention, one of the migrants, a Sudanese national, suffered a gunshot wound to the thigh caused by a rubber, non-lethal round fired from a smoothbore weapon. The injured man was transported to the hospital in Hajnówka, where he received the necessary medical assistance. His life is not in danger.
The Podlasie Task Force statement reminded that operations on the eastern border are extremely challenging and demand constant readiness. Every day, soldiers and Border Guard officers stand watch over the country’s security, often exposing themselves to danger in the face of a growing number of illegal border‑crossing attempts and aggressive incidents. Together with the Border Guard, our soldiers perform a difficult and demanding service every day under heightened risk conditions, safeguarding the inviolability of the state border and responding to increasingly frequent illegal crossing attempts. Their dedication and professionalism are a crucial element of national security. In light of the ongoing migration crisis and the rising number of aggressive incidents on the Polish‑Belarusian border, let us support all the soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces and Border Guard officers who selflessly protect Poland’s security, underscored Major Błażej Łukaszewski, spokesperson for the Podlasie Task Force.
