‘I’d defend our nation’: Poles prepare for growing threat of war

The Guardian - World NewsEN 6 min read 100% complete by Shaun Walker and Ada Petriczko in WarsawDecember 8, 2025 at 06:00 AM

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long article 6 min

Poland is preparing its citizens for a potential war amid growing concerns about threats from its eastern neighbors. The government has launched a voluntary program to train 400,000 citizens in survival and defense skills by 2027, including schoolchildren and pensioners. This initiative follows increased awareness of Poland's vulnerability due to its location and recent events like the invasion of Ukraine, drone incursions, and sabotage attacks linked to Russia. In response, Poland is increasing defense spending to 4.8% of GDP, constructing an "eastern shield" along its borders with Belarus and Kaliningrad, and requiring new buildings to have bomb shelters. The heightened state of alert reflects a national effort to bolster security and resilience.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Russia ×460% Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz ×270% Poland ×980%

Keywords

poland 100% war threat 90% national security 80% defence spending 70% civilian resilience 70% eastern shield 60% bomb shelters 60% military training 60% russian intelligence 50% ukraine invasion 50%