Poland: Europe's defence sentinel?

On 22 April, some 5,000 soldiers from seven European countries and the United States took part in a NATO defensive exercise 80 kilometres south of the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Part of Operation Steadfast Defender 2024, the largest series of manoeuvres by the Atlantic alliance since the end of the Cold War, to test the inter-operability of forces.

“In line with our regional plan, we are exercising the defence of the eastern flank of Europe”, General Krzysztof Król, advisor to the Polish Army’s Chief of General Staff, told Euronews.

Our journey takes us further north to the border post of Goldap, just two kilometres from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. It has been closed since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

The proximity of NATO forces reassures the area’s inhabitants, but they want to be ready for any eventuality. Piotr Bartoszuk, Headmaster of a Vocational High School in Goldap, shows us the virtual shooting range installed in the school’s basement. Military training, subsidized by the Ministry of Defense, was added to the curriculum this year.

“Everything is done to prepare our society to defend itself in the event of an attack.” says Bartoszuk, “The civil defence act being processed in Poland requires us to educate people, and to build shelters and warning systems in Poland. Whether it’s a science fiction scenario that Putin will attack us or not – it’s good to be prepared.”

The largest European contributor to military aid to Ukraine, Poland urges its EU partners to step up their support, and boost defence budgets.

“We never had a greater sense of such immediate threat. If we don't stop this fierce war that's happening at the borders of Poland, of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, we might soon be