Many soldiers, who spent Christmas on duty near the border, took part in Midnight Mass held in churches and chapels in the border area, Minister of National Defence Mariusz Blaszczak said on Twitter.
“Christmas is a time of prayer, reflection, and family gatherings. This year, some soldiers are spending Christmas on duty guarding the security of our borders. Many of them attended midnight masses celebrated in churches and chapels in the border area,” the Head of the Ministry of National Defence wrote.
The minister attached photos of the Midnight Mass, in which the soldiers took part, to the post.
On Friday, Mariusz Blaszczak and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki took part in a Christmas meeting with soldiers serving on the border with Belarus organized in the encampment of Nowa Łuka (Podlaskie Voivodeship).
There has been a crisis on the EU and Belarusian borders since the number of attempts by migrants from the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere to illegally cross the Belarusian border with Lithuania, Latvia and Poland rose sharply in the spring.
Since the beginning of the year, the Border Guard has recorded almost 40,000 attempts to illegally cross the Polish-Belarusian border, including 8,900 in November, 17,500 in October, 7,700 in September and 3,500 in August. Since the beginning of December, there have been almost 1,400 attempts.
From December 1 to March 1, 2022, the area near the border with Belarus is closed to residents and local entrepreneurs.