Warsaw, 2 July 2023 (dpa/MIA) – Poland is to deploy additional police officers to its border with Belarus to boost security in response to plans by the Wagner Group of Russian mercenaries to set up base there, Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski said on Sunday.

The 500 extra police, including members of the anti-terrorism unit, will support 5,000 border guards and 2,000 soldiers already stationed along the border with the country's eastern neighbour.

Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who is responsible for security issues, recently announced that uniformed personnel would be increased and border fortifications strengthened.

According to Kaczynski, Poland has learned that up to 8,000 Wagner fighters could be accommodated in Belarus. Poland shares a border of 418 kilometres with the Russian ally.

Following an abortive mutiny last weekend, Wagner Group boss Yevgeni Prigozhin decamped to Belarus after Belarussian strongman Alexander Lukashenko offered him and his mercenary force a safe haven.

Last week, Wagner troops occupied a southern Russian city then made for Moscow, after Prigozhin accused Russian Defence Minister Shoigu and top general Valery Gerasimov of incompetence, blaming them for Russian battlefield failures in Ukraine.

The brief mutiny and abrupt end left many analysts puzzling over the situation in Russia, while heightening security concerns in EU countries neighbouring Belarus, namely Poland, Latvia and Lithuania who are also part of NATO.

Photo: MIA Archive