Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish warned on 11 September in Bircza that Russia would proceed hybrid attacks, acts of sabotage, arson, airspace violations and GPS interference. The head of the MON spoke after disclosure of the CIA study to Prime Minister Donald Tusk. For Poles this means the request for efficient services, infrastructure protection and close cooperation with NATO.
Russia strikes below the threshold of open war
Deputy Prime Minister and National Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz referred on Friday in Bircza, Podkarpacie to the threats described in the CIA report. The paper was to be handed over to Prime Minister Donald Tusk by the manager of American agency John Ratcliffe. Its full content has not been made public. We described earlier that report on the hazard of Russian provocation in Poland.
The head of the MON indicated a list of activities to be expected by Poland: sabotage, arson of weapons plants, breach of airspace and disruption of GPS signal. It's hybrid warfare. Moscow tries to make losses, origin chaos and test the resilience of NATO states without declaring war on them.
This informing must be taken seriously, without panic and without propaganda theatre. Russia uses gaps in infrastructure protection, people's vulnerability to recruitment and misinformation. The answer must be counterintelligence, fast investigation, physical protection of facilities and honest information for citizens.
Intelligence cooperation serves the Polish interest
Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed the importance of cooperation with the United States and another NATO countries. According to the head of the MON, access to advanced quality intelligence is translated into the activities of the interior safety Agency and the Military Counterintelligence Service. Polish services halt persons suspected of diversionary activity. Their guilt will be decided by the courts.
Alliances make sense erstwhile they strengthen the Republic's ability to defend its own territory. Exchange of data with partners is essential but will not replace national competences. Poland must have its own recognition, efficient services and procedures besides erstwhile the decision must be taken immediately. Sovereignty is not about loneliness. It involves the ability to act independently and the reasonable usage of the power of allies.
The Minister considered NATO unity and respect for the Washington Treaty to be the right consequence to Russian pressure. That's an crucial statement. It must be followed by a permanent military presence, a readiness for air defence and a clear signal that sabotage in the territory of the Allied State will meet with an costly response.
The state is to defend people and infrastructure
To a common citizen, hybrid warfare sounds abstract until it stops the train, cuts off communications or threatens the workplace. Therefore, protecting railways, energy, waterworks, telecommunications networks and the defence manufacture is simply a primary work of the authorities. Negligence in these areas pays Poles with their own safety and money.
Russian operations besides have an information dimension. Their goal is to weaken trust in the state, to quarrel society and to paralyze decisions. Government criticism remains the right of the citizen and the foundation of free debate. Conscious dissemination of hostile misinformation is something else. The State should disclose it with facts alternatively than usage the threat as an excuse to gag legal opinion.
On the scale of Russian methods are besides evidenced by erstwhile reports that Poland is simply a hybrid war test ground. The Minister's informing cannot so end at a press conference. Measureable actions are needed: secured facilities, proven procedures and services capable of terminating the opponent's operation before harm occurs.
Russia examines the hardness of the Polish state. The answer must be calm, fast and firm. The safety of the Republic requires national resilience and alliances subordinate to the Polish interest.
Source: PAP via Virtual Poland, Ministry of Defence
Source: WP News
